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 | |
---|---|
Bear hates being at a vet, too. | |
I would like to... But I have other things to do... | |
I don't know, maximum 33? | |
He is fine. | |
I am half-British and half-Australian. | |
Okay, who sings it? | |
My laptop is in it. | |
Hmm... Tomorrow is a bank holiday. | |
No, but it's not good for him to take the stairs up and down everyday. | |
He only does it when he is extremely stressed! | |
Hey Mike, you look so worried! | |
It sounds like a good deal. | |
I'm just teasing you, dear, 200 degrees is okay! | |
And the buses always arrive on time. | |
I think I did, too, but I've got a really bad headache! | |
Exactly, one of them is asking for 3,500, the other one is 3,000... | |
Whose cat?... Do you mean my cat? | |
It's like there's evil hidden inside them! | |
Oh really? That's not good. | |
Thanks father, where is Bear's lead? |