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 | |
---|---|
Do we have a mortar and pestle? | Tem almofariz e pilão? |
I am half-British and half-Australian. | Sou metade britânica e metade australiana. |
Is there anything else you want me to do? | Quer que eu faça mais alguma coisa? |
How is your mum, does she have any health problems? | Como está a sua mãe, ela tem algum problema de saúde? |
I don't want to live in the suburbs! | Eu não quero viver nos subúrbios! |
Is there a knife? | Não há nenhuma faca? |
Um.. it could be blue, I don't really remember. | Hum... talvez azul, não me recordo. |
Well, it's about a kid, I mean a robot. | Bem, é sobre um garoto, quero dizer, um robô. |
Yeah, I guess spring is the worst time for allergies! | Sim, penso que a primavera é a pior altura para as alergias! |
I see, I love cooking! | Estou a ver, eu adoro cozinhar! |
Good point, I'm sure they don't pay that much! | Bem visto, estou certo de que eles não pagam tanto! |
The rest of the house is okay, but the kitchen is a bit dirty. | O resto da casa está bem, a cozinha é que está um pouco suja. |
It's a double room plus we get a cleaner once a week. | É um quarto duplo e temos empregada de limpeza uma vez por semana. |
You need to change planes at some point on the way. | Você precisa trocar de avião a algum momento da viagem. |
Is that what you want to do? | É isso que você quer fazer? |
If you are going to ask for money, I don't have any, either. | Se você me vai pedir dinheiro, eu também não tenho nenhum. |
But which button? It doesn't show which controls which! | Mas qual botão? Não indica quais são! |
My landlords are a gay couple. | Meus senhorios são um casal homossexual. |
Normally, girls check the wine list for half an hour before they order. | Normalmente as mulheres consultam a lista de vinhos durante meia hora antes de pedirem. |
Those kind of irresponsible people make me angry! | Esse tipo de pessoas irresponsáveis me deixam bravo! |