







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 | |
|---|---|
| Yeah, that's a good idea! | 응, 그거 좋은 생각인데! |
| I see them around a lot where I work, actually. | 내가 일하는 곳에도 되게 많아. |
| The recipe is not from the internet, it's from a Jamie Oliver book. | 인터넷에서 긁은 게 아니라, 제이미 올리버 책에서 찾은 거라구. |
| How long does the flight usually take? | 비행기 타고 보통 얼마쯤 걸려? |
| Hang on a minute, they are both 300 gr and the same brand. | 잠시만, 둘다 300그램에 같은 브랜드인데. |
| My friend noted here it is your wedding anniversary! | 동료가 적어놓기를 두분 결혼기념일이시라구요! |
| Does that help you to believe me? | 이제 좀 내 말이 믿어져? |
| Umm, oh yes, I can see it now, the ad number is 9845... | 음, 아 맞아요, 이제 보이네요. 광고 번호는 9845예요... |
| Of course! It's my favourite pub. | 당연하죠! 내가 제일 좋아하는 술집인데. |
| What's the time, are we early? | 지금 몇 시지, 우리가 일찍 왔나? |
| Erm... They pay 170 weekly. | 음... 매 주 170파운드를 내요. |
| What do you expect English teachers to look like? | 영어 선생님은 어떻게 생겼다고 생각하길래요? |
| I need some parsley, but it looks a bit limp. | 파슬리가 좀 필요한데 약간 싱싱하지 않아보여. |
| Well, not really! I don't like cooking much. | 어, 그건 아니. 난 요리 별로 안 좋아하거든. |
| That's why they're 50% off. | 그러니까 50%를 깎았지. |
| No, what is that? | 뭔데? |
| But for how many people? | 몇인분인데? |
| I'd like to one day, when they invent teleportation. | 순간이동이 발명되는 날 가보면 좋겠다. |
| Nope, as I said before, they live in Australia. | 응, 얘기했다시피, 호주에 살아. |
| It's always the same. | 꼭 이런 식이야. |