







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 | |
|---|---|
| That's nice, I guess I like the house very much! | 좋은 걸요, 전 이 집이 되게 마음에 들어요! |
| My lovely wife always tells me how good your spring rolls are. | 제 사랑스러운 아내가 언제나 이 집 춘권을 칭찬한답니다. |
| I'm hungry, but it's better to have something when we meet the guys. | 나도 배 고프지만, 걔네랑 같이 먹는 게 나으니까. |
| I guess mine is older than yours! | 내가 좋아하는 영화가 네 것보다 오래된 거 같은데! |
| And Pogo gets very scared of the crowd and the noise. | 그러면 포고가 사람들이랑 소리 때문에 엄청 겁을 먹는다구. |
| But I don't know him well. | 잘 아는 사이는 아니네. |
| Do we have a sieve? | 우리 체 있어? |
| So I want to cook as much as I can now. | 그래서 지금 요리할 수 있는만큼 최대한 해두려고. |
| Let me check, we only need butter. | 보자, 버터만 더 있으면 돼. |
| Yes I did, why, isn't it normal? | 응, 그랬는데. 왜, 그럼 안돼? |
| Um, on this floor, it's only me and a French girl next door. | 음, 이 층에는 나하고 옆집에 프랑스 여자애가 살아. |
| Yes, it's in Piccadilly Circus right in the centre. | 응, 딱 중앙에 피카딜리 서커스에 있어. |
| But for how many people? | 몇인분인데? |
| How old are you? | 몇 살이에요? |
| Until you just light your cigarette. | 담배에 불 붙일 때 까지는. |
| Why is that? | 그건 왜 그런데? |
| They don't usually work after ten o'clock. | 밤 10시 지나면 보통 끝나거든. |
| Is there anything else I can do for you, love? | 다른 거 필요한 건 없구, 자기? |
| My sisters live nearby, they help her sometimes. | 우리 언니들이 근처에 사니까, 가끔씩 도와드리곤 해. |
| Thank god there is nothing to worry about. | 천만다행으로, 걱정할 일 없어. |