







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 guess I can meet you there at 20:30, or is it too late? | 레스토랑 앞에서 8시 반쯤에 만날 수 있을 거 같은데, 너무 늦어? |
| I hope you are aware it's your last 3 days to find a house... | 집 구할 수 있는 날이 사흘 밖에 안 남았다는 건 너도 알겠지만... |
| What's up? Is everything okay? | 무슨 일이죠? 문제라도 있어요? |
| I know, I thought you might like to have it with her alone. | 아는데, 그 여자랑 단둘이 먹는 게 낫겠다 싶었지. |
| There is a little market near the school. | 학교 근처에 작은 슈퍼마켓이 있는데. |
| I have an appointment with the home office for my visa extension. | 비자 연장하러 내무부에 가기로 약속 잡아놨어. |
| I have two more lessons, I finish at three thirty. | 수업 두 개 남았으니까, 3시 30분에 마쳐. |
| I don't mind sitting outside as long as I'm not cold. | 춥지만 않으면 바깥에 앉는 것도 좋아. |
| Hey Mike, you look so worried! | 어이 마이크, 얼굴에 걱정이 가득한데! |
| I don't think you really want me to stay here anymore! | 정말 더는 내가 여기 있길 바라지 않는 모양이구나! |
| Yeah, I like having lasagne the day after it's cooked, it tastes better. | 하긴, 나도 요리한지 하루 된 라자냐를 좋아해. 그게 더 맛있더라. |
| He is a plumber, dear, apparently it's clogged. | 배관수리공이셔, 변기가 막혔대나봐. |
| Why do you want to live there? | 너는 왜 거기 살고 싶어? |
| It's very difficult for me to go there more than once a year. | 1년에 한 번 이상 가는 건 너무 어려운 일이라서. |
| Do you have another one? | 다른 거 있어? |
| Really? How do I wake you up? | 정말? 내가 널 어떻게 깨우는데? |
| Yes, it is, but yours isn't so obvious. | 그건 맞지만, 네 억양은 그렇게 세진 않아. |
| No, but I definitely don't want to live in that house anymore! | 아니, 하지만 그 집에서는 절대로 더 살고 싶지 않아! |
| A one year course? What kind of course is it? | 1년짜리 수업이라고? 무슨 수업이길래 그래? |
| Yes, he definitely doesn't like changing places. | 맞아, 얘는 확실히 이리저리 장소를 옮기는 건 안 좋아한단 말이지. |