







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 you want me to tell her that you are here? | Soll ich ihr sagen, dass du hier bist? |
| It's hard to believe, but we have a pressure cooker in the house. | Es ist schwer zu glauben, aber wir haben einen Dampfdrucktopf im Haus. |
| Okay, I don't like cooking, but I like tasting food. | Okay, ich koche nicht gerne, aber ich probiere gerne Essen aus. |
| Yes it is, how are you? | Ja, wie geht es dir? |
| Anyway, what else do we have left to do now? | Egal, gibt es irgendetwas was wir noch machen müssen? |
| Let me check... Yes, there are some plates. | Lass mich mal schauen... Ja, es gibt ein paar Teller. |
| Isn't Morrison's closer? | Ist Morrison's nicht näher? |
| Congratulations, I wish you luck. | Glückwunsch, ich wünsche dir Glück! |
| Sorry, I don't have much time, can I tell you the story when I'm back? | Sorry, ich habe nicht viel Zeit. Kann ich euch die Geschichte erzählen, wenn ich zurück bin? |
| Why don't we pay 100 more each, and get a house in Mayfair? | Warum zahlt nicht jeder von uns 100 mehr und wir holen uns ein Haus in Mayfair? |
| Is there a garlic crusher, then? | Gibt es dann eine Knoblauchpresse? |
| Is there anything else I can do for you, love? | Gibt es sonst noch etwas was ich für dich tun kann, meine Liebe? |
| Unfortunately, she is a teenager, she is 19! | Leider ist sie ein Teenager. Sie ist 19! |
| I didn't know that, I hope it's not a big problem for him. | Das wusste ich nicht. Ich hoffe es ist kein schlimmes Problem für ihn. |
| Do you want me to put it in the bin? | Soll ich sie in den Müll werfen? |
| The room is spacious and sunny and the bed looks comfortable! | Das Zimmer ist groß und sonnig und das Bett sieht gemütlich aus! |
| Sorry, is it possible to see it this Saturday after 2 o'clock? | Entschuldigung. Ist es möglich das Haus am Samstag nach 14 Uhr anzusehen? |
| Do you want me to call Diego, then? | Willst du, dass ich Diego anrufe? |
| Do you have a cigarette? | Hast du eine Zigarette? |
| Yeah, do you mean tricycles? | Ja, meinst du Dreiräder? |