







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 | |
|---|---|
| The recipe is not from the internet, it's from a Jamie Oliver book. | 인터넷에서 긁은 게 아니라, 제이미 올리버 책에서 찾은 거라구. |
| Is that you, Mike? | 마이크야? |
| It's on the Northern line, the same one we use here. | 노던 라인이야, 우리가 여기서 쓰는 거랑 똑같이. |
| Is one bunch enough for you? | 한 뭉치면 되겠어? |
| Oh god, it's the second thing I hate doing in the kitchen! | 아 저런, 그건 내가 두번째로 싫어하는 부엌일인데! |
| Yes, I like them, too. | 응, 그것도 좋아하지. |
| I don't need to wake up very early. | 엄청 일찍 일어날 필요는 없는데. |
| He must be sleeping, he usually works at night, too. | 자고 있는 모양이다, 걔도 주로 밤에 일하거든. |
| Erm... Yeah... Sure! It's our first anniversary! | 어... 네... 그럼요! 저희 첫번째 결혼기념일이에요! |
| It's very difficult for me to go there more than once a year. | 1년에 한 번 이상 가는 건 너무 어려운 일이라서. |
| Yeah, that's a good idea! | 응, 그거 좋은 생각인데! |
| I'm an English teacher. | 영어 선생님이에요. |
| Isn't it faster taking the tube? | 지하철이 더 빠르지 않아? |
| Do you want me to put it in the bin? | 쓰레기통에 버릴까? |
| You need to change planes at some point on the way. | 그래서 도중에 경유를 해야 돼. |
| Watch out for the 3rd step, it's not very stable. | 계단에 세번째 발판 조심해요, 고정이 잘 안돼있으니까. |
| Isn't Morrison's closer? | 모리슨즈가 더 가깝지 않아? |
| You're right, but he is not only here to fix things... | 네 말은 맞는데, 고쳐주려고 온 것뿐만 아니라... |
| Yes, it seems more logical in this case. | 그렇네, 그게 더 합리적인 판단 같아. |
| Oh god, I feel too tired now. | 아이고, 이제 너무 피곤해. |