







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 put it in the bin? | Soll ich sie in den Müll werfen? |
| What kind of trick is that? | Welcher Trick denn? |
| I don't think we need to pay for it. | Ich denke nicht, dass wir dafür zahlen müssen. |
| I feel a bit tired and very hungry. | Ich bin ein bisschen müde und sehr hungrig. |
| Are you serious? | Ist das dein Ernst? |
| Is that right? | Stimmt das? |
| What's wrong with him? | Was stimmt nicht mit ihm? |
| They're there, under the duvet. | Sie ist dort unter der Bettdecke. |
| Come on in, here on the ground floor, we have two bedrooms... | Kommen Sie herein. Hier im Erdgeschoss gibt es zwei Schlafzimmer... |
| Hello there, are you Cate? | Hallo, sind Sie Cate? |
| It's got some water marks on it! | Es hat Wasserflecken! |
| Can you show me which clothes I need to put away, then? | Kannst du mir dann zeigen, welche Klamotten ich wegräumen kann? |
| Are you with your friends? | Bist du mit deinen Freunden hier? |
| I haven't seen her, either, and I don't really want to... | Ich habe sie auch nicht gesehen und ich möchte das auch nicht wirklich... |
| Sorry, I hope it doesn't ruin your childhood memories... | Sorry, ich hoffe das hat deine Kindheitserinnerungen nicht ruiniert... |
| I don't like going to hospitals, either. | Ich mag es auch nicht ins Krankenhaus zu gehen. |
| Thanks for offering me that, dear. | Vielen Dank für das Angebot. |
| Yes, they are all around 2 pounds. | Ja, jeder kostet um die 2 Pfund. |
| I don't understand why they call it a bank holiday. | Ich verstehe nicht, wieso sie es einen Bankfeiertag nennen. |
| I guess time doesn't pass for you while I'm away. | Ich schätze die Zeit vergeht nicht für dich, während ich weg bin. |