







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 | |
|---|---|
| Why don't we pay 100 more each, and get a house in Mayfair? | 인당 100씩 더 내고, 메이페어에 집을 구하는 건 어때? |
| It's Marvin Gaye, from the 60's, but this is the remix. | 마빈 게이야, 60년대 노래. 근데 이건 리믹스고. |
| Hey, Cate! Do you need anything? | 이야, 케이트! 뭐 필요한 거 있어? |
| Hmm.. yes, I need mushrooms, stock, celery... | 으음... 맞아, 버섯하고, 육수, 셀러리... |
| Erm... Yeah... Sure! It's our first anniversary! | 어... 네... 그럼요! 저희 첫번째 결혼기념일이에요! |
| Yeah, but the room is square and there are only four main objects in it. | 그래, 근데 방은 네모 모양이고 주요 가구라고는 4개밖에 없잖아. |
| He hasn't realised that we are at a vet yet. | 아직 동물병원인 걸 눈치 못채고 있네. |
| I am alone till my friend comes. | 나는 친구 올 때까지 혼자인데. |
| But everybody calls him Rocco. | 다들 로코라고 불러요. |
| Until you just light your cigarette. | 담배에 불 붙일 때 까지는. |
| Hmm.. I think it's overdue. | 어라... 지난 것 같은데. |
| Yeah, it's better not to fully fill the bath, it leaks downstairs. | 그래요, 물은 꽉 채워서 받으면 안돼요, 안 그러면 아래층으로 물이 새니까. |
| Hello, I'm sorry I'm a bit late. | 안녕, 좀 늦었지, 미안해. |
| He is one of my best friends, unfortunately. | 슬프게도, 제 절친 중 한 명이랍니다. |
| And now we've got plenty of mushrooms left to use. | 그리고 이제 버섯이 엄청 남았네. |
| Sorry, the line is very bad! | 미안, 통화연결이 안 좋아! |
| I mostly work till late at night, I never wake up at 7 in the morning. | 나는 보통 밤 늦게까지 일해서, 아침 7시에는 절대 못 일어나는데. |
| Why do you think it's weird? | 그게 뭐가 이상하다는 거야? |
| Hmm, I guess it's a bit old, but it's still my favourite. | 흠, 좀 고전이긴 하지만, 그래도 내가 제일 좋아하는 작품은. |
| Is that okay for you? | 그럼 되겠어? |