







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 | |
|---|---|
| I think that *hand caught on fire* thing is a joke! | 손에 불이 붙었다는 거 농담 같단 말야! |
| So I want to cook as much as I can now. | 그래서 지금 요리할 수 있는만큼 최대한 해두려고. |
| How old are you? | 몇 살이에요? |
| Because the other people complain about me smoking there. | 다른 사람들이 내가 담배 핀다고 불평한단 말야. |
| It's not much less... There is a slight difference! | 훨씬 적은 게 아니라... 미묘한 차이일 뿐이에요! |
| Bear is okay with cats, but definitely not with dogs. | 베어는 고양이하고는 잘 지내는데 개하고는 전혀 아냐. |
| I hope she is not a problematic one, then... | 골치덩어리 친구는 아니면 좋겠는데... |
| Yes, they are all around 2 pounds. | 응, 전부 2파운드 언저리야. |
| You can ask whatever you want to know. | 궁금한 거 있으면 아무거나 물어봐. |
| Pogo still hates coming to the vet, though! | 포고야 여전히 동물병원 가는 걸 질색하지만! |
| Thanks, yeah, as I said, Camden is in zone-2... | 고마워, 그래, 내 말대로 캠든은 구역 2에 있네... |
| He hasn't realised that we are at a vet yet. | 아직 동물병원인 걸 눈치 못채고 있네. |
| Erm.. Isn't it there? | 어... 거기에 있지 않아? |
| I don't like smoking in the kitchen. | 난 부엌에서 담배 피는 거 싫어. |
| That's where Diego works, too! | 디에고도 거기서 일하는데! |
| In these cases, Pogo stays home alone with no food and no attention. | 그럴 때면 포고는 집에서 혼자 밥도 관심도 없이 지내는 거야. |
| Is there any other cat around? | 주위에 다른 고양이가 있기라도 해요? |
| Yes, he is totally fine after resting for a while. | 응, 좀 쉬고 나더니 완전 괜찮아졌어. |
| Do you mean Rebecca and Cecilia? | 레베카랑 세실리아 말야? |
| Set times always stress me out. | 나는 시간이 정해져있으면 스트레스 받거든. |