







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 | |
|---|---|
| You are welcome, here is the menu, madam. | 천만에요, 부인, 메뉴판 여기 드리겠습니다. |
| Is there a garlic crusher, then? | 그럼 마늘 분쇄기는 없어? |
| My favourite movie is Pulp Fiction. | 내가 제일 좋아하는 영화는 <펄프 픽션>이야. |
| Um, on this floor, it's only me and a French girl next door. | 음, 이 층에는 나하고 옆집에 프랑스 여자애가 살아. |
| No, I don't have one! | 아뇨, 없어요! |
| That's so sad, how old are your parents? | 아, 그건 너무 슬프다. 부모님 연세가 어떻게 되셔? |
| Do you mean Rebecca and Cecilia? | 레베카랑 세실리아 말야? |
| Oh, come on dear, I was just joking, you know that... | 아, 그러지 마, 그냥 농담한 거라구, 알면서... |
| Is there anything else you want me to do? | 또 내가 했으면 하는 거 있어? |
| Oh, sorry! You don't like cleaning things, I can do it. | 아, 미안! 너 뭘 씻고 하는 거 싫어하지, 내가 할게. |
| Hey, the water is boiling, do you want me to pour it into a pot? | 물이 끓고 있어. 냄비로 옮겨 부을까? |
| Is it because of the cost, or another reason? | 경비 때문에 그래, 아님 다른 이유가 있어? |
| Who knows, I consider it as nothing more than a hobby. | 글쎄, 그냥 취미로 여기고 있긴 한데. |
| Yeah, he is keen on moving house... | 응, 옮기고 싶어하는 마음이 있는데... |
| But their room is almost double the size of our room! | 하지만 그 사람들 방은 우리 방보다 거의 두 배나 크잖아요! |
| I wear some of them, can I check them when I get back? | 몇 켤레는 신을 수 있어. 일단 갔다 와서 봐도 돼? |
| Sorry to ask, but are you on your period or something? | 물어봐서 미안하지만, 현재 생리 중이거나 한 거야? |
| I hope it's not the right address! It looks awful. | 맞는 주소가 아니면 좋겠네! 여기 완전 끔찍해 보여. |
| Of course, there are 4 girls, all uni students from Germany. | 물론이죠, 여자 분이 4분 계시는데, 모두 독일에서 온 대학생이고요. |
| Is there a knife? | 나이프는 있어? |