







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 any bread to toast? | Gibt es Brot zum toasten? |
| Oh, okay, is there a problem with your house? | Oh okay. Gibt es ein Problem mit deinem Haus? |
| Anyway, what else do we have left to do now? | Egal, gibt es irgendetwas was wir noch machen müssen? |
| Unfortunately, I don't have one! Where is yours? | Leider habe ich keinen! Wo ist deiner? |
| Hello my friend, how are you? | Hallo mein Freund, wie geht es dir? |
| Do you want the tray in the middle? | Möchtest du das Blech in der Mitte? |
| Is it hay fever? I've got some pills for it! | Ist es Heuschnupfen? Ich habe ein paar Tabletten dafür! |
| Unfortunately, she is a teenager, she is 19! | Leider ist sie ein Teenager. Sie ist 19! |
| No, I'm not lying! I never lie. | Nein, ich lüge nicht! Ich lüge nie. |
| Yes, I can hear you, but I don't understand! | Ja, ich höre dich, aber ich verstehe es nicht! |
| No worries Mike, as I said, he only does it when he is stressed. | Keine Sorge Mike, wie gesagt, das macht er nur, wenn er gestresst ist. |
| I think you wake me up more often than mosquitoes do! | Ich denke du weckst mich öfter auf als die Stechmücken! |
| There is nothing much left to do, there are only bits and pieces. | Gibt es außer Kleinigkeiten nicht mehr viel zu tun. |
| People take cutlery to their rooms and don't bring it back! | Die Leute nehmen das Besteck mit in ihr Zimmer und bringen es nicht zurück! |
| Well, instead of chicken you can try the duck, it's yummy! | Nun, statt des Hühnchens kannst du die Ente ausprobieren. Die schmeckt lecker! |
| Hmm... actually, we have to boil it. | Hmm... wir müssen es eigentlich kochen. |
| Hang on, I remember you telling me you never kill animals! | Warte mal, ich erinnere mich, dass du gesagt hast, dass du nie Tiere tötest! |
| That's so sad, how old are your parents? | Das ist so traurig. Wie alt sind deine Eltern? |
| Until you just light your cigarette. | Bis du dir eine Zigarette anzündest. |
| You are right, it's probably worth more than one cigarette. | Du hast recht, er ist wahrscheinlich mehr als eine Zigarette wert. |