







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 | |
|---|---|
| But I want to see Brighton Pier before the sun sets. | Aber ich will zur Seebrücke von Brighton, bevor die Sonne untergeht. |
| It only takes 15 or 20 minutes. | Es dauert nur etwa 15 oder 20 Minuten. |
| It sounds important. | Das klingt sehr wichtig. |
| Hi, I don't think it's broken. | Hi, ich denke nicht, dass es gebrochen ist. |
| Hey, there is a stranger in the toilet, who is he? | Hey, in der Toilette ist ein Fremder. Wer ist das? |
| Of course, my name is Cate and my number is 077... | Natürlich, mein Name ist Cate und meine Nummer ist 077... |
| My friend noted here it is your wedding anniversary! | Meine Kollegin hat hier vermerkt, dass es Ihr Hochzeitsjubiläum ist! |
| I guess time doesn't pass for you while I'm away. | Ich schätze die Zeit vergeht nicht für dich, während ich weg bin. |
| No, but it's not good for him to take the stairs up and down everyday. | Nein, aber es ist nicht gut, wenn er jeden Tag die Treppen rauf und runter laufen muss. |
| You need to press the button down and turn it right. | Du musst auf den Knopf drücken und ihn nach rechts drehen. |
| They also have three big windows in their room! | Sie haben auch drei große Fenster in ihrem Zimmer! |
| I've experienced how difficult and expensive it can be. | Ich habe die Erfahrung gemacht, wie schwierig und teuer es sein kann. |
| Are you sure she is from Australia? | Bist du sicher, dass sie aus Australien kommt? |
| I'd like to one day, when they invent teleportation. | Ich werde aber Australien besuchen, sobald Teleportation erfunden wird. |
| It goes faster, but we don't want to walk to the tube station. | Es ist schneller, aber wir wollen nicht zur U-Bahn-Haltestelle zu laufen. |
| Do you know how to use them? | Weißt du wie man sie benutzt? |
| I'm so sorry, but we need to cancel our meeting today. | Es tut mir leid, aber wir müssen unser Treffen heute absagen. |
| You're right, but he is not only here to fix things... | Du hast Recht, aber er ist nicht nur hier um Dinge zu reparieren... |
| Is there anything else you want me to do? | Soll ich etwas anderes machen? |
| Is that a crack in the bath? | Ist das ein Riss in der Badewanne? |