







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 | |
|---|---|
| Hello my friend, how are you? | 안녕 친구, 어떻게 지내셨나? |
| I live very close by. | 요 바로 근처에 살아요. |
| Yes, Bear eats one and a half cats everyday for breakfast. | 맞아. 베어는 아침마다 1.5마리의 고양이를 먹어치운다구. |
| Shall we meet at the train station, or do you want me to pick you up from your house? | 기차역에서 만날까, 아님 집 앞까지 내가 데리러 갈까? |
| Actually, it's quite urgent for me. | 사실 저한테 꽤 급한 일이지만. |
| To me, wasting it is weirder! | 내 생각에는 기껏 생긴 걸 버리는 게 더 이상해! |
| 50% of 135 is 67.50... And it comes to totally 202.50. | 135에 50%를 하면 67.5니까... 총 202.5인 거지. |
| Yeah, the packet is ripped, but it's not overdue. | 네, 포장은 찢어졌지만 유통기한은 지나지 않았네요. |
| Hey, there is a stranger in the toilet, who is he? | 어라, 화장실에 모르는 사람이 있는데, 누구지? |
| Are you going to say sorry for saying I am stupid then? | 그럼 나더러 멍청하다고 한 거에 대해 사과해주겠어? |
| Sorry, look, here is the station. | 미안한데, 봐봐, 역 도착했다. |
| It's difficult to find all the items manually on the self-checkout. | 셀프 계산대에서는 일일이 항목 찾는 게 어려워. |
| That's where Diego works, too! | 디에고도 거기서 일하는데! |
| Does anyone else want something to drink? | 술 더 드실 분? |
| Excuse me ma'am, here is an undamaged packet of rice for you. | 실례하겠습니다, 여기 손상되지 않은 봉투의 쌀을 드릴게요. |
| What else could I do? Do you expect me not to sleep till I die? | 달리 뭘 해야 했는데? 나는 죽을 때 까지 잠도 못 자고 버텨야 했다는 거야? |
| Yeah, it's better not to fully fill the bath, it leaks downstairs. | 그래요, 물은 꽉 채워서 받으면 안돼요, 안 그러면 아래층으로 물이 새니까. |
| I'm so sorry about the inconvenience. | 불편을 끼쳐드려서 정말 미안합니다. |
| Thanks, but I don't have time to stay. | 고맙지만, 곧 가야해서요. |
| Yes, the guy with the beard is Mike. | 응, 수염 기른 남자가 마이크야. |