







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, I can hear you, but I don't understand! | 그래, 말은 들리는데, 이해가 안돼! |
| You need to change planes at some point on the way. | 그래서 도중에 경유를 해야 돼. |
| Do we have any paper towels? | 우리 종이타월 있어? |
| Yes, that's okay, we are just about to leave. | 응, 괜찮아, 이제 막 뜨려던 참이었어. |
| Erm... I know I snore occasionally, do I snore everyday? | 으음... 간간이 코 곤다는 건 알고 있었지만, 내가 매일 코를 골아? |
| I hate taking long flights! | 나 비행기 오래 타는 게 질색이거든! |
| Hm, okay... I think I got it, is it like Pinocchio? | 흐음, 좋아... 알 것 같아. 피노키오 같은 거네? |
| Do you feel a bit better now? | 기분은 좀 나아졌어? |
| Absolutely not, while you are working you smoke like a chimney. | 절대 안 되지, 너 작업하는 동안에는 줄담배를 뻑뻑 피우잖아. |
| Her name is Ayumi! | 이름은 아유미야! |
| What kind of trick is that? | 잔꾀라니 무슨 소리야? |
| Do you have their number? | 레스토랑 번호는 있어? |
| It has 1 year to pass its expiry date. | 유통기한이 지나려면 아직 1년이 남았어요. |
| Yes, it was quite easy, actually, I live very close by. | 네, 사실 꽤 쉬웠어요. 저는 바로 근처에 살거든요. |
| Hope to see you later. | 나중에 봐. |
| The packets have 2 pieces in them. | 이 패키지에는 두 조각이 들었어. |
| Yeah, it's quite a big country, more like a continent. | 하긴, 꽤 큰 나라니까. 거의 대륙처럼. |
| Do you live in this house, too? | 조셉씨도 이 건물에 사세요? |
| How many people live in this house? | 이 집에 몇이나 살아? |
| Do you like them with or without the skin on? | 닭껍질은 있는 게 좋아, 없는 게 좋아? |