







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 was just joking, how are you? | 농담해 본 거야. 좀 어떻게 지냈어? |
| No worries Mike, as I said, he only does it when he is stressed. | 걱정 말래두 마이크, 스트레스 받았을 때만 그런다니까. |
| What do you think about him, Cate? | 그 사람 어떤 거 같아, 케이트? |
| Does the kid think he is a robot or the robot think it's a kid? | 아이가 자기가 로봇이라고 생각하는 거야, 아니면 로봇이 자기가 아이인 줄 안다는 거야? |
| How often do you have free time, then? | 시간은 얼마나 자주 나는데요? |
| Are you with your friends? | 친구들하고 왔어? |
| Taking Bear out usually takes me an hour. | 베어 산책 시키려면 한 시간쯤 걸리거든. |
| Do your parents live in London, too? | 부모님께서도 런던에 사셔? |
| I can cook, of course, but only when I feel like it. | 할 수야 있지, 물론. 하지만 하고 싶을 때만 해. |
| Maybe she really is allergic to cats, we don't know that. | 정말 고양이한테 알레르기가 있어서 그럴 수도 있지, 그건 모르는 거야. |
| I go out sometimes with the girls from school. | 학교에 친구들하고 종종 나오거든. |
| Yes I did, why, isn't it normal? | 응, 그랬는데. 왜, 그럼 안돼? |
| But sometimes I feel guilty not being there! | 하지만 내가 없으니까 가끔은 죄책감이 들어! |
| Hmm.. yes, we get on really well. | 흠... 네, 둘이 잘 맞아요. |
| But I think that's only for older women. | 그건 나이가 있으신 여성분들 경우라고 생각하니까. |
| So 2017 minus 1841 equals... | 그러니까 2017 빼기 1841을 하면... |
| That's a good question! | 좋은 질문이야! |
| Here you go sir, this is your receipt and your £20 cashback. | 여기 있습니다. 영수증과 20파운드 캐시백이에요. |
| Look at the shelf, the price tag says £2.20 a kilo. | 선반을 봐, 가격표에 1kg당 2.20파운드라고 적혀있어. |
| Anyway, my lesson is starting now, I have to go. | 아무튼, 곧 수업이 시작해. 가봐야겠어. |