







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 | |
|---|---|
| Yes, she is coming back, but isn't it what I always do? | Ja, sie kommt zurück. Aber mache ich das nicht immer? |
| Nope, it gives me a headache! | Nein, davon bekomme ich Kopfschmerzen! |
| For the risotto, I need some arborio rice. | Ich brauche etwas Arborio-Reis für das Risotto. |
| I hope your friends don't mind. | Ich hoffe deinen Freunden macht das nichts aus. |
| He hasn't realised that we are at a vet yet. | Er hat es noch nicht gemerkt, dass wir bei einem Tierarzt sind. |
| Yes, I think she's great! | Ja, ich denke sie ist großartig! |
| But he hisses occasionally, is it normal? | Aber er faucht manchmal. Ist das normal? |
| No, she is a uni student in Russia. | Nein, sie studiert an einer Universität in Russland. |
| Do you like train rides, too? | Magst du auch Zugfahrten? |
| That's where Diego works, too! | Dort arbeitet Diego auch! |
| Who is Mike, darling? | Wer ist Mike, meine Liebe? |
| Where is Flora, isn't she here? | Wo ist Flora? Ist sie nicht hier? |
| Erm... They pay 170 weekly. | Ähm... Sie zahlen 170 pro Woche. |
| I can bring him with me when I come back for breakfast. | Ich kann ihn mitbringen, wenn ich wieder für's Frühstück herkomme. |
| Oh, sorry! You don't like cleaning things, I can do it. | Oh, sorry! Du machst Dinge nicht gerne sauber. Ich kann es machen. |
| Hmm.. yes, I need mushrooms, stock, celery... | Hmm.. ja, ich brauche Pilze, Brühe, Sellerie... |
| No, I have really bad allergies. | Nein, ich habe echt schlimme Allergien. |
| Yes, he is one of them. | Ja genau, er ist einer davon. |
| I want him to check the heaters in the rooms while he is here! | Ich möchte, dass er sich die Heizungen in den Zimmern ansieht, während er hier ist! |
| There are some vending machines in the station. | Es gibt ein paar Automaten im Bahnhof. |