







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 | |
|---|---|
| There are some vending machines in the station. | 역에 자판기가 좀 있을 텐데. |
| How often do you have free time, then? | 시간은 얼마나 자주 나는데요? |
| Okay, I don't like cooking, but I like tasting food. | 좋아, 난 요리는 안 좋아하지만, 음식 맛 보는 건 좋아하니까. |
| Very nice! I hope he doesn't do it all the time! | 멋있기도 해라! 항상 그러는 건 아니면 좋겠는데! |
| Nothing, 'cause I don't know what the woman looks like. | 나야 아무 것도 안하지, 그 할머니가 어떻게 생겼는지 모르니까. |
| This is the last one and, unfortunately, it has a hole in it. | 이게 마지막 건데, 애석하게도 구멍이 나 있군. |
| No worries, everybody uses my stuff all the time. | 괜찮아, 다들 맨날 내 거 쓰는데 뭐. |
| But Bear has got hip dysplasia. | 근데 베어한테 고관절 문제가 있거든. |
| Yes, I'm here waiting for good news. | 네, 좋은 소식 기다리고 있어요. |
| Hello, what kind of dog do you have, Mike? | 안녕, 어느 개 길러요, 마이크? |
| Yes, I still don't do it. | 그래, 그건 지금도 마찬가지야. |
| Hello there, are you Cate? | 안녕하세요, 그쪽이 케이트예요? |
| Do we have to do that every time we need to open the door? | 문을 열 때마다 방금처럼 해야 하는 거예요? |
| Alright, I think I know who he is... | 아하, 알긴 아는데... |
| Sure! Why is it so important to you? | 그러죠! 그게 왜 당신한테 그렇게 중요한데요? |
| I don't like violence in real life, I only like it in movies. | 현실에서 폭력은 싫지, 영화에서만 좋아하는 거야. |
| Nope, oyster cards are only for transport in London. | 아니, 오이스터 카드는 런던 내 이동에만 쓰여. |
| I go out sometimes with the girls from school. | 학교에 친구들하고 종종 나오거든. |
| Are you close friends? | 둘이 친해요? |
| I hate them buzzing around my ear all night long and waking me up. | 밤 새도록 귓가에 앵앵거리면서 날 못 자도록 하는 게 딱 질색이야. |