







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 | |
|---|---|
| How do you get to Brighton? | Wie kommst du nach Brighton? |
| You know, I usually have some early morning lessons. | Weißt du, ich habe normalerweise Unterricht am frühen Morgen. |
| Sorry to ask, but are you on your period or something? | Sorry für die Frage, aber hast du deine Tage? |
| Is that what you want to do? | Möchtest du das? |
| That's nice, what do you usually cook? | Nicht schlecht. Was kochst du normalerweise? |
| Good boy, Beary! See, he is just a little friend. | Guter Junge, Beary! Siehst du? Er ist nur ein kleiner Freund. |
| No worries, I have got a peeler for you! | Keine Sorge, ich habe einen Schäler für dich! |
| Anyway, do you live around here, too? | Also, lebst du auch hier in der Gegend? |
| I don't think it's normal, do you think it's normal? | Ich denke nicht, dass das normal ist. Denkst du, dass das normal ist? |
| Yeah, it's normal, he even hisses at my new socks sometimes! | Ja, das ist normal. Er faucht manchmal sogar meine neuen Socken an! |
| 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. |
| What's your plan, Cate? | Was ist dein Plan, Cate? |
| Isn't Morrison's closer? | Ist Morrison's nicht näher? |
| I wake up and make my bed, then tidy my room. | Ich wache auf und mache mein Bett und mache anschließend mein Zimmer sauber. |
| Okay, who sings it? | Okay, wer singt es? |
| What do you expect English teachers to look like? | Wie sieht für dich denn eine Englischlehrerin aus? |
| Alright, I think I know who he is... | Okay, ich denke ich weiß wer er ist. |
| Hello dear, how is it going, do you need any help? | Hallo Schatz. Wie läufts? Brauchst du Hilfe? |
| Don't you think two forks are enough for us? | Meinst du zwei Gabeln reichen uns? |
| Yeah, I've got it! | Ja, ich habe ihn! |