







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, but the room is square and there are only four main objects in it. | Ja, aber der Raum ist quadratisch und es gibt nur vier große Objekte darin. |
| Girls, this is Diego. | Mädels, das ist Diego. |
| Because I don't want to waste more time finding a new house... | Weil ich nicht mehr Zeit damit verschwenden möchten ein neues Haus zu finden... |
| But on the ad it says the house is fully furnished! | Aber in der Anzeige steht, dass das Haus voll möbliert ist! |
| I don't think we need to pay for it. | Ich denke nicht, dass wir dafür zahlen müssen. |
| My rent is monthly, I pay £600 per month. | Ich zahle £600 pro Monat. |
| Why did you ask, do you want me to boil it? | Warum fragst du? Willst du, dass ich es koche? |
| Ah, I can't eat the breast, it's too dry for me! | Ah, ich kann die Brust nicht essen. Sie ist mir zu trocken! |
| Do you expect me to make the room bigger by pushing the walls out? | Soll ich den Raum vergrößern, indem ich die Wände verschiebe? |
| Do we have any bread to toast? | Gibt es Brot zum toasten? |
| Bacon and eggs with some olives is enough for me. | Speck mit Eiern und ein paar Oliven reichen mir aus. |
| How do you want me to chop the onions, big or small? | Wie soll ich die Zwiebeln schneiden? In kleine oder große Stücke? |
| How much do you pay for your room? | Wie viel zahlst du für dein Zimmer? |
| Erm, we don't have any, but there is someone else's bread. | Öhm, wir haben keins, aber es gibt Brot, das nicht mir gehört. |
| When I have free time. | Wenn ich Zeit habe. |
| There is a little market near the school. | Es gibt einen kleinen Markt in der Nähe der Schule. |
| I think Diego and I are the only smokers in the house. | Ich denke ich und Diego sind die einzigen Raucher im Haus. |
| I was just joking, how are you? | Das war nur ein Witz, wie geht es dir? |
| Can your mum handle the situation by herself? | Kommt deine Mutter alleine mit der Situation klar? |
| I don't like smoking in the kitchen. | Ich mag es nicht in der Küche zu rauchen. |