







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 | |
|---|---|
| Don't you think two forks are enough for us? | 포크 두 개면 충분하지 않아? |
| Good boy, Beary! See, he is just a little friend. | 착하다 베어! 보렴, 그냥 작은 친구야. |
| How is there four of us? | 어떻게 사람이 네 명이 돼? |
| Is that what you want me to do? | 나보고 그러라는 거야? |
| The recipe is not from the internet, it's from a Jamie Oliver book. | 인터넷에서 긁은 게 아니라, 제이미 올리버 책에서 찾은 거라구. |
| How old are you? | 그쪽은 몇살? |
| Hmm, I like pop, rock, funk. | 음, 난 팝이나 락, 펑크가 좋아. |
| Exactly, I hate getting woken up in the middle of the night! | 내 말이, 자던 중에 누가 깨우는 건 정말 싫다고! |
| Where is Flora, isn't she here? | 플로라는 어딨어. 여기 없어? |
| Yeah, I'll have a beer, I guess you want wine, Cate? | 네, 저는 맥주로 하죠. 케이트 너는 와인으로 하려나? |
| Thank you, I'm 26. | 고마워요, 나는 26살이니까. |
| Come on, don't cry, she is just a stupid girl! | 그러지 말고, 울지 마, 그냥 저 여자가 이상한 거야! |
| It's not much less... There is a slight difference! | 훨씬 적은 게 아니라... 미묘한 차이일 뿐이에요! |
| He's a... Sorry Mike, what do you do? | 뭘 하냐면... 미안한데 마이크, 너 직업이 뭐지? |
| Is it really on the menu? | 그게 메뉴에 있어? |
| I hate taking long flights! | 나 비행기 오래 타는 게 질색이거든! |
| Really? Sade is one of my favourites, too. | 정말? 나도 샤데이 엄청 좋아해. |
| Yes, it was quite easy, actually, I live very close by. | 네, 사실 꽤 쉬웠어요. 저는 바로 근처에 살거든요. |
| That's bad, do you have a cold? | 저런, 안됐어요, 감기에 걸린 거예요? |
| Is it possible to move in tomorrow? | 내일 바로 이사와도 되나요? |