







In English we use the present simple tense to talk about facts or things that are always true, as well as things in general. Present simple is also used to talk about a repeated action such as a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens.
In English we use 'do' and 'does' as auxiliary verbs in negatives and questions and we often use the present simple with adverbs of frequency such as sometimes, always, often, never, usually, rarely, and hardly ever.
Notes for use of present simple :
In the third person, ‘s’ is added to the verb form. For example;
work --> works
run --> runs
live --> lives
For verbs that end in 'o', 'sh', 'ch', 's' and 'x', we add 'es' to the verb form. For example;
go --> goes
wish --> wishes
watch --> watches
kiss --> kisses
fax --> faxes
For verbs that end in a consonant + 'y', we change the 'y' to 'i' and add 'es'. For example;
try --> tries
study --> studies
The table below shows the different forms of present simple :
Example Verb : Work | I / You / We / They | He / She / It |
| Positive | ... work. | ... works. |
| Negative | ... don't work. | ... doesn't work. |
Questions | Do ... work? | Does ... work? |
| Short answers | Yes, ... do. / No, ... don't. | Yes, ... does. / No, ... doesn't. |
For the verb 'to be' we use 'am', 'is', 'are' in the present simple. No auxiliary verbs are used in negative sentences and questions.
Verb: Be | I | You / We / They | He / She / It |
| Positive | I'm ... | ... 're ... | ... 's ... |
| Negative | I'm not ... | ... aren't ... | ... isn't ... |
| Questions | Am I ... ? | Are ... ...? | Is ... ...? |
| Short answers | Yes, I am. / No, I'm not. | Yes, ... are. / No, ... aren't. | Yes, ... is. / No, ... isn't. |
Present Simple Example Sentences :
Positive Examples of Present Simple :
Negative Examples of Present Simple :
Question Examples of Present Simple :
| Present simple example sentences | |
|---|---|
| You are right, it's probably worth more than one cigarette. | 인정할게. 담배 한 개피보다는 비쌀 거다. |
| But he hisses occasionally, is it normal? | 하지만 가끔 하악질을 하는데, 정상이야? |
| Sorry, they don't serve chips here... | 미안하지만, 여기선 감자튀김 안 팔아... |
| What else could I do? Do you expect me not to sleep till I die? | 달리 뭘 해야 했는데? 나는 죽을 때 까지 잠도 못 자고 버텨야 했다는 거야? |
| My favourite movie is Pulp Fiction. | 내가 제일 좋아하는 영화는 <펄프 픽션>이야. |
| Alright, I think I know who he is... | 아하, 알긴 아는데... |
| What's up? Is everything okay? | 무슨 일이죠? 문제라도 있어요? |
| Yes, it is, but yours isn't so obvious. | 그건 맞지만, 네 억양은 그렇게 세진 않아. |
| Is there a problem with your phone battery? | 배터리에 뭔가 문제 있는 거 아냐? |
| I think that *hand caught on fire* thing is a joke! | 손에 불이 붙었다는 거 농담 같단 말야! |
| Watch out for the 3rd step, it's not very stable. | 계단에 세번째 발판 조심해요, 고정이 잘 안돼있으니까. |
| But on the ad it says the house is fully furnished! | 하지만 광고에는 완전히 가구가 갖춰져 있다고 돼있던데요! |
| Hello dear, how is it going, do you need any help? | 안녕 자기. 어떻게 돼 가? 필요한 거 있어? |
| Okay, how much salt do you want me to add? | 좋아, 소금은 얼마나 칠까? |
| Thank you, dear... For helping me to be a liar! | 고마워, 자기... 거짓말쟁이가 되도록 도와줘서! |
| So, it's obvious you have no clue how much renting a house costs. | 그러니까, 집 구하려면 얼마나 돈을 내야 하는지 네가 전혀 감이 없다는 게 드러났네. |
| I don't like smoking in the kitchen. | 난 부엌에서 담배 피는 거 싫어. |
| To me, wasting it is weirder! | 내 생각에는 기껏 생긴 걸 버리는 게 더 이상해! |
| But... I'm not good at lying... | 그치만... 나 거짓말 잘 못하는데... |
| I need to wake him up now! | 이제 가서 깨워야겠다! |