







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 | |
|---|---|
| Yeah, I've got it! | 응, 찾았어! |
| No, it doesn't look clean, do you want me to clean it? | 아니, 안 깨끗해 보여. 내가 닦을까? |
| No, but it's not good for him to take the stairs up and down everyday. | 그렇진 않아, 하지만 매일 계단을 오르락내리락하는 건 좋지 않아서. |
| Yes, it is, but yours isn't so obvious. | 그건 맞지만, 네 억양은 그렇게 세진 않아. |
| Yeah, I think killing mosquitoes is fair. | 맞아, 모기 잡는 건 합당하다고 봐. |
| You look much younger than that. | 그것보다 한참 어려보이는데. |
| Come on dear, I know you want me to! | 에이, 왜 이러셔, 내가 오길 바라면서! |
| How many people live in this house? | 이 집에 몇이나 살아? |
| There is no table for you, then! | 그럼 자리 못 구하는 거지, 뭐! |
| How old do I look? | 몇 살처럼 보여요? |
| That's right, I think pressure cookers are quite dangerous, too! | 맞아, 그리고 압력솥도 꽤 위험하다고 생각해! |
| I don't think you really want me to stay here anymore! | 정말 더는 내가 여기 있길 바라지 않는 모양이구나! |
| That's a good choice, they do great calamari here, too. | 좋은 선택이야. 여기 오징어도 굉장히 맛있거든. |
| Oh really? That's not good. | 아 정말? 그건 별론데. |
| I'm just teasing you, dear, 200 degrees is okay! | 좀 놀려봤어요, 자기. 200도면 돼! |
| I guess time doesn't pass for you while I'm away. | 내가 곁에 없으면 자기 시간은 안 흘러가나 보다. |
| Yes, I have got two sisters. | 우리집은 딸만 셋이야. |
| I like some Jamiroquai songs, but not all of them. | 자미로콰이 노래는 몇 개는 좋아하는데, 다는 아니고. |
| Oh, sorry, I didn't know I wasn't allowed to order what I want! | 아, 미안해라, 내가 먹고싶은 걸 주문해서는 안되는 줄 모르고 있었네! |
| Sure! Why is it so important to you? | 그러죠! 그게 왜 당신한테 그렇게 중요한데요? |