







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 | |
|---|---|
| I guess you need to change your cooking plan now! | Ich schätze du musst jetzt deinen Kochplan ändern! |
| Isn't it too early for dinner? | Ist das nicht etwas zu früh fürs Abendessen? |
| The rice section is over there. | Die Reisabteilung ist dort drüben. |
| Yes, I like them, too. | Ja, die mag ich auch. |
| There is a robot in a kid's body, but he doesn't know he's a robot. | Es gibt einen Roboter im Körper eines Kindes, aber er weißt nicht, dass er ein Roboter ist. |
| Which website do you use? | Welche Webseite verwendest du? |
| How much are they supposed to pay? | Wie viel müssen sie dir zahlen? |
| I have one sister and she is nineteen. | Ich habe eine Schwester und sie ist neunzehn Jahre alt. |
| No worries, everybody uses my stuff all the time. | Keine Sorge, alle nehmen sich immer meine Sachen. |
| Let me check, we only need butter. | Lass mich kurz nachsehen. Wir brauchen nur noch Butter. |
| I need to wake him up now! | Ich muss ihn jetzt aufwecken! |
| As they say, time is the best medicine. | Wie man sagt, Zeit ist die beste Medizin. |
| The meeting is not the actual problem! | Das Treffen ist nicht das eigentliche Problem! |
| And these days, I go to that pub quite often. | Und zur Zeit besuche ich diesen Pub ziemlich oft. |
| It's on the Northern line, the same one we use here. | Auf der Northern Line. Die gleiche Linie die wir hier verwenden. |
| 5 bedroom detached house on Lyme Street, £2,800, is that right? | Einzelhaus mit 5 Schlafzimmern in der Lyme Street für £2800, richtig? |
| Thanks, yeah, as I said, Camden is in zone-2... | Danke. Ja, wie ich gesagte habe, Camden ist in Zone 2... |
| Maybe I know your friend. | Vielleicht kennen ich deinen Freund. |
| Also, he has got a very lovely, cute dog. | Außerdem hat er einen sehr lieben, süßen Hund. |
| Yeah, I wonder if we share the same taste in movies! | Ja, ich frage mich ob wir bei Filmen auch denselben Geschmack haben! |