







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 | |
|---|---|
| Good point, I'm sure they don't pay that much! | Giusto, sono sicuro che non pagano così tanto! |
| Yeah, it's better not to fully fill the bath, it leaks downstairs. | Sì, è meglio non riempire completamente la vasca, perde verso il piano di sotto. |
| Yeah, I'll have a beer, I guess you want wine, Cate? | Sì, io prendo una birra, presumo tu voglia del vino, Cate? |
| Are you really asking me that question? | Mi stai davvero facendo questa domanda? |
| Very nice! I hope he doesn't do it all the time! | Bello! Spero non lo faccia sempre! |
| Sorry, look, here is the station. | Scusa, guarda, ecco qui la stazione. |
| Thanks for warning me now, that's very helpful! | Grazie per avermi avvertito adesso, molto utile! |
| Then people come and complain to me! | Poi la gente arriva e si lamenta con me! |
| So does that mean you don't want to stay with me? | Quindi ciò significa che non vuoi stare con me? |
| I'm really sorry, what kind of sickness is it? | Mi spiace molto, che tipo di malattia è? |
| Whose cat?... Do you mean my cat? | Il gatto di chi?… Vuol dire il mio gatto? |
| Ah, I'm very sorry, but we're fully booked tonight! | Ah, mi spiace molto, ma stasera siamo al completo! |
| I want to try the sauvignon blanc. | Voglio provare il Sauvignon Blanc. |
| Yeah, our room has only got one window! | Già, la nostra stanza ha solo una finestra! |
| Do you need to wake up early tomorrow or something? | Devi svegliarti presto domani o cose del genere? |
| Anyway, do you live around here, too? | Ad ogni modo, anche tu vivi qui vicino? |
| It's £135 per week! | £ 135 a settimana! |
| Why don't you answer your phone? | Perché non hai risposto al telefono? |
| Do you want me to tell her that you are here? | Vuoi che le dica che sei qui? |
| Yes, I'm here waiting for good news. | Sì, sono qui che aspetto la buona notizia. |