







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 | |
|---|---|
| Is that you, Mike? | 마이크야? |
| My housemates don't clean anything in the kitchen. | 우리 하우스메이트들은 부엌에 있는 건 아무것도 안 치운다구. |
| I didn't say it's your fault, but it's your turn now... | 네 잘못이라고는 안 했지, 하지만 차례를 돌릴 때는 되었어... |
| I wear some of them, can I check them when I get back? | 몇 켤레는 신을 수 있어. 일단 갔다 와서 봐도 돼? |
| Hey, there is a stranger in the toilet, who is he? | 어라, 화장실에 모르는 사람이 있는데, 누구지? |
| My landlords are a gay couple. | 우리 집주인 게이 커플이야. |
| Erm, by the way, since we are on the subject... | 어, 근데 말이지, 말 나온 김에 말인데... |
| Hey, what happened? Is everything okay? | 무슨 일이야? 괜찮은 거 맞아? |
| Why? It looks pretty clean to me! | 왜? 이만하면 깨끗해 보이는데! |
| You need to change planes at some point on the way. | 그래서 도중에 경유를 해야 돼. |
| Maybe I get a bit moody on the first day of my period. | 생리 첫 날에는 좀 기분이 왔다갔다 하기는 해. |
| Where are you? | 지금 어디야? |
| Erm... While your hands are already dirty... | 음... 이미 손을 버린 김에... |
| Yes, that's the one. | 응, 그거 맞아요. |
| They are both okay for me. | 둘다 나는 상관없어. |
| Yes, I think she's great! | 네, 되게 잘 하신다고 봐요! |
| But I want to see Brighton Pier before the sun sets. | 하지만 해가 지기 전에 브라이튼 부두를 보면 좋겠어. |
| Do you like them with or without the skin on? | 닭껍질은 있는 게 좋아, 없는 게 좋아? |
| It's not a nice thing to say to a woman... | 여자한테 그런 말은 상처가 된다구... |
| Is there any other cat around? | 주위에 다른 고양이가 있기라도 해요? |