







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 | |
|---|---|
| Yes, they are all around 2 pounds. | 응, 전부 2파운드 언저리야. |
| Umm, Dick is here, dear, he is the landlord... | 음, 니기미씨가 왔는데, 집주인이셔... |
| It's impossible for me to commute from zone-9 to 1 everyday. | 런던 9구역에서 1구역까지 매일 통근하는 건 나한테 불가능한 일이야. |
| They're there, under the duvet. | 저기 이불 밑에 있네. |
| Diego, do you want me to get you anything to eat? | 디에고, 뭐 먹을 거 갖다줄까? |
| Good point, I'm sure they don't pay that much! | 맞아, 그 사람들은 그만큼 돈 안 낼 걸! |
| I haven't been there before, where is it? | 거긴 안 가봤는데, 어디야? |
| I think that *hand caught on fire* thing is a joke! | 손에 불이 붙었다는 거 농담 같단 말야! |
| Maybe she really is allergic to cats, we don't know that. | 정말 고양이한테 알레르기가 있어서 그럴 수도 있지, 그건 모르는 거야. |
| But I don't know him well. | 잘 아는 사이는 아니네. |
| Except mosquitoes because they ruin my sleep. | 모기는 빼고. 잠자는 시간을 망쳐놓으니까. |
| Where are you? | 지금 어디야? |
| Nothing, 'cause I don't know what the woman looks like. | 나야 아무 것도 안하지, 그 할머니가 어떻게 생겼는지 모르니까. |
| It sounds like a good deal. | 좋은 생각 같은걸. |
| My housemates don't clean anything in the kitchen. | 우리 하우스메이트들은 부엌에 있는 건 아무것도 안 치운다구. |
| What genre do you listen to? | 너는 어떤 장르 들어? |
| Yeah, do you mean tricycles? | 아, 인력거 같은 거? |
| Hello mate, where are you? | 안녕 친구, 어디야? |
| Oh really? That's not good. | 아 정말? 그건 별론데. |
| He's a... Sorry Mike, what do you do? | 뭘 하냐면... 미안한데 마이크, 너 직업이 뭐지? |