







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 | |
|---|---|
| It's very difficult to talk to you on the phone right now. | 너하고 지금 통화하는 거 되게 어려운 상황이야. |
| For the risotto, I need some arborio rice. | 리조또를 하려면 아보리오 쌀이 필요한데. |
| He is a plumber, dear, apparently it's clogged. | 배관수리공이셔, 변기가 막혔대나봐. |
| Hmm.. yes, I need mushrooms, stock, celery... | 으음... 맞아, 버섯하고, 육수, 셀러리... |
| No worries Mike, as I said, he only does it when he is stressed. | 걱정 말래두 마이크, 스트레스 받았을 때만 그런다니까. |
| I see them around a lot where I work, actually. | 내가 일하는 곳에도 되게 많아. |
| Erm, we don't have any, but there is someone else's bread. | 음, 내 건 없는데, 남의 빵은 있지. |
| Okay, who sings it? | 좋아, 누가 부르는데? |
| How do you want me to chop the onions, big or small? | 양파는 어떻게 썰면 되겠어, 크게 아니면 작게? |
| No worries, I have got a peeler for you! | 걱정마, 여기 감자깎이가 있어! |
| I don't think so, trains leave about every 20 minutes. | 괜찮을걸. 기차가 20분마다 오니까. |
| I don't think she wants to talk or solve anything! | 얘기하거나 뭘 해결하려는 마음인 거 같지도 않아! |
| As I said, it's much easier to open with two people. | 말했죠, 두 사람이 하면 훨씬 열기 쉽다고. |
| I think Diego and I are the only smokers in the house. | 내 생각에 디에고랑 나 밖에 없는 거 같아. |
| Congratulations... But is Pogo a pet's name? | 축하드립니다... 그런데, 포고는 애완동물 이름인가요? |
| It won't change anything, but reminding me is stressing me out! | 달라지는 건 없어도 자꾸 말하면 스트레스 받는다고! |
| Do you have another one? | 다른 거 있어? |
| I don't think we need to pay for it. | 안 물어줘도 될 거 같아. |
| Okay, here we are, this is Honeybrook Street. | 그래, 그럼 자, 여기가 허니브룩 스트릿이야. |
| What's your plan, Cate? | 케이트, 이제 뭐할 거야? |