







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, it's quite a big country, more like a continent. | 하긴, 꽤 큰 나라니까. 거의 대륙처럼. |
| I'm checking again, there are only two forks and a teaspoon! | 다시 보고 있는데, 포크 두 개에 티스푼 하나만 있어! |
| My lovely wife always tells me how good your spring rolls are. | 제 사랑스러운 아내가 언제나 이 집 춘권을 칭찬한답니다. |
| I can bring him with me when I come back for breakfast. | 아침 먹으러 돌아오는 길에 내가 데려올 수 있어. |
| How much rice do you need? | 쌀이 얼마나 필요해? |
| Let me check, we only need butter. | 보자, 버터만 더 있으면 돼. |
| Yep, she was born in Australia, but her mother is Japanese. | 그럼, 호주에서 태어났지만 어머니가 일본인이셔. |
| It says best before 25th of February. | 2월 25일 전에 먹으라는데. |
| No, I haven't, I don't know what's yours in the fridge. | 아니, 네 냉장고에서 뭐가 네 건지를 모르겠어서. |
| I'm a bit paranoid about it. | 약간 편집증이 생겨버렸지 뭐야. |
| I don't like going to hospitals, either. | 나도 병원가는 거 싫어하니까. |
| Hi, I don't think it's broken. | 안녕하세요, 부러진 것 같진 않은데. |
| Thanks father, where is Bear's lead? | 고마워요 아빠. 베어 목줄은 어디 있어? |
| I don't know really, what's yours? | 난 잘 모르겠는데, 너는? |
| Why? It looks pretty clean to me! | 왜? 이만하면 깨끗해 보이는데! |
| Yeah, that's a good idea. | 오, 좋은 생각인데. |
| Do you want me to wash the wine bottle before I pour it? | 와인 따르기 전에 병도 씻을까? |
| There is no table for you, then! | 그럼 자리 못 구하는 거지, 뭐! |
| Good thanks, I'm fine, too. | 다행이네. 나도 잘 지내. |
| Yeah, but the room is square and there are only four main objects in it. | 그래, 근데 방은 네모 모양이고 주요 가구라고는 4개밖에 없잖아. |