







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 | |
|---|---|
| Did I? I don't know... What is it? | 그래? 몰라... 뭘 깜빡했지? |
| What do you think, dear, do you like it, too? | 자기 생각은 어때, 마음에 들어? |
| And Pogo gets very scared of the crowd and the noise. | 그러면 포고가 사람들이랑 소리 때문에 엄청 겁을 먹는다구. |
| No, but it's not good for him to take the stairs up and down everyday. | 그렇진 않아, 하지만 매일 계단을 오르락내리락하는 건 좋지 않아서. |
| There is no direct flight from London to Perth. | 런던에서 퍼스까지 직항이 없거든. |
| How is there four of us? | 어떻게 사람이 네 명이 돼? |
| There is nothing much left to do, there are only bits and pieces. | 크게 할 건 없어, 그냥 자잘한 거 몇 개 하면 돼. |
| It's the second one from the top. | 위에서 두 번째 거야. |
| I feel a bit tired and very hungry. | 약간 피곤하고 되게 배고파서. |
| Why is that? | 그건 왜 그런데? |
| Erm... You look about 30? | 흠... 한 서른 정도? |
| How many people live in this house? | 이 집에 몇이나 살아? |
| Can you show me which clothes I need to put away, then? | 내가 어느 옷들 치우면 될지 먼저 알려줄 수 있어? |
| How long does it usually take? | 보통 얼마쯤 걸리는데? |
| Mike! You can't use people's stuff without asking! | 마이크! 남의 걸 허락도 없이 쓰면 어떡해! |
| Normally, it's much more expensive than the other ones. | 보통은 다른 것보다 훨씬 더 비싼데. |
| Okay, so what's our plan now? | 그래, 그럼 이제 뭐 할까? |
| Don't worry Mike, I think this one is better. | 걱정마, 마이크. 난 이쪽이 더 좋아. |
| Yes it is, how are you? | 맞아. 요즘 좀 어때? |
| I was just joking, how are you? | 농담해 본 거야. 좀 어떻게 지냈어? |