







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 | |
|---|---|
| Did I? I don't know... What is it? | 我忘记了吗?我不知道... 忘说什么了? |
| Aren't there four of us dear? | 难道不是我们四个吗,亲爱的? |
| Oh my god! It’s almost 12 o’clock. | 天哪!都快12点了。 |
| Shall we meet at the train station, or do you want me to pick you up from your house? | 我们是在火车站碰面还是你想要我来你家接你? |
| That's true! How much is your rent? | 确实是!你的房租是多少钱? |
| And now we've got plenty of mushrooms left to use. | 现在我们剩下好多蘑菇没有用。 |
| Hello my friend, how are you? | 嗨,我的朋友,你好吗? |
| I am 24. | 我24岁。 |
| Do you know how to use them? | 你知道如何使用它们吗? |
| No, I'm not lying! I never lie. | 不,我没有撒谎!我从不撒谎。 |
| Yeah, it's normal, he even hisses at my new socks sometimes! | 是的,是正常的,它有时候甚至会对我的新袜子发出嘶嘶声! |
| I go out sometimes with the girls from school. | 我有时会和女生们从学校过来。 |
| I'm sorry to say there is nothing very exciting. | 我很抱歉的说没有什么特别令人兴奋的。 |
| Is there anything else you want me to do? | 还有什么其他事儿你想要我做吗? |
| There are some vending machines in the station. | 车站里面有一些自动售卖机。 |
| How do you want me to chop the onions, big or small? | 你想要我怎么剁洋葱,大块还是小块? |
| Erm, I can't work it out, I guess it's more than 150 years old. | 呃,我算不出来,我猜它有150年以上的历史了。 |
| I'm sorry guys, there is no negotiation on the rent! | 很抱歉,关于租金没有商量的余地! |
| I guess I can meet you there at 20:30, or is it too late? | 我猜,我们可以在8点半在那里碰面,或者这是不是太晚了? |
| It's very difficult to talk to you on the phone right now. | 现在跟你通话十分困难。 |