







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 | |
|---|---|
| Why don't you get it then? Do you want to see upstairs or not? | Warum holen Sie sich dann nicht das Haus? Möchten Sie das obere Stockwerk ansehen oder nicht? |
| Yes, he definitely doesn't like changing places. | Ja, definitiv. Er wechselt nicht gerne den Ort. |
| How long does the flight usually take? | Wie lange dauert der Flug normalerweise? |
| I think we need to put some of your clothes away. | Ich denke wir müssen ein paar deiner Klamotten ausräumen. |
| Oh Jesus Christ... I get it now! That's disgusting... | Oh Gott... Jetzt habe ich es verstanden! Das ist ekelhaft... |
| What else could I do? Do you expect me not to sleep till I die? | Was hätte ich sonst tun sollen? Erwartest du, dass ich nicht mehr schlafe bis ich sterbe? |
| They weigh everything at the checkout. | Sie wiegen alles an der Kasse. |
| I will ask him to take Bear out, so we can have breakfast. | Ich werde ihn bitten mit Bear Gassi zu gehen, damit wir frühstücken können. |
| So it's definitely not a divorce situation. | Also geht es definitiv nicht um eine Scheidung. |
| And we have to weigh everything by ourselves, etcetera. | Und wir müssen alles selbst wiegen, usw. |
| No, we drain pasta with a grater. | Nein, wir gießen Pasta mit einer Reibe ab. |
| Don't worry Mike, I think this one is better. | Keine Sorge Mike, ich denke dieser hier ist besser. |
| Do you want me to call them? | Soll ich sie anrufen? |
| Are there any fries or any kind of snacks? | Gibt es Pommes oder irgendeine Art von Snack? |
| Good point, I'm sure they don't pay that much! | Stimmt, ich bin mir sicher die zahlen nicht so viel! |
| How dare he... He is so stupid!!! | Wie kann er es wagen... Er ist so dumm!!! |
| Do you want the tray in the middle? | Möchtest du das Blech in der Mitte? |
| The meeting is not the actual problem! | Das Treffen ist nicht das eigentliche Problem! |
| Yeah, I think this wardrobe is too small for two people. | Ja, ich denke der Kleiderschrank ist zu klein für zwei Menschen. |
| There is nothing under 3,000 in Angel! | Es gibt in Angel nichts unter 3000! |