







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 | |
|---|---|
| Why? What's wrong? | ¿Por qué, qué pasa? |
| I live just opposite the pub. | Yo vivo justo enfrente del pub. |
| But for how many people? | ¿Pero para cuántas personas? |
| You need to press the button down and turn it right. | Tienes que pulsar el botón y girarlo a la derecha. |
| It's all about my lovely little cat, Pogo. | Es sobre mi pobre y adorable gato, Pogo. |
| I usually take the train. | Normalmente tomo el tren. |
| Sure, our kitchen is newly refurbished... | Claro, nuestra cocina está recién remodelada... |
| Are you the only smoker in the house? | ¿Eres el único fumador en la casa? |
| Yes, I have got two sisters. | Sí, tengo dos hermanas. |
| Do you have their number? | ¿Tienes su número? |
| Sorry, look, here is the station. | Perdona, mira, aquí está la estación. |
| My meeting starts at one o'clock. | Mi reunión comienza a la una en punto. |
| Is there anything else I can do for you, love? | ¿Hay algo más que pueda hacer por ti, amor? |
| That's right, I think pressure cookers are quite dangerous, too! | Pues sí, ¡creo que las ollas a presión son bastante peligrosas también! |
| Of course, here you go, this is the bathroom. | Claro, aquí lo tienen, este es el baño. |
| She could even have been her mum... Who knows? | Hasta podía haber sido su mamá... ¿Quién sabe? |
| Do you have another one? | ¿Tienes otro? |
| She is half Japanese, half Australian. | Es mitad japonesa, mitad australiana. |
| What's the reason for the cancellation this time? | ¿Cuál es la razón para la cancelación esta vez? |
| First of all, it's so sad to see them in pain. | En primer lugar, es tan triste ver a tu mascota adolorida. |