







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 | |
|---|---|
| Um, I don't feel like eating anything but fish today. | Et bien, je sens que je ne mangerai rien à part du poisson aujourd'hui. |
| Erm... While your hands are already dirty... | Hum... Alors que tes mains sont encore sales... |
| The ones at the bottom look fresher. | Ceux du bas semblent plus frais. |
| Do you have any brothers or sisters? | Tu as des frères et des soeurs? |
| So I want to cook as much as I can now. | Alors je veux préparer autant à manger que possible. |
| You can ask whatever you want to know. | Tu peux demander ce que tu veux savoir. |
| Really? How do I wake you up? | Vraiment ? Comment fais-je pour te réveiller ? |
| What's your plan, Cate? | Que voulez-vous faire Cate ? |
| It's all about my lovely little cat, Pogo. | Tout est à propos de mon chaton, Pogo. |
| Yes I did, why, isn't it normal? | Si, n'est-ce pas normal? |
| What's the time, are we early? | Quelle heure est-il, on est en avance? |
| Look, you can watch the sunset best from this point. | Regarde, tu peux mieux admirer le coucher de soleil d'ici. |
| I want him to check the heaters in the rooms while he is here! | Je voulais qu'il jette un oeil aux radiateurs de la pièce pendant qu'on y est! |
| I hope it's not related to me! | J'espère que ça ne me concerne pas! |
| Well, I hope he doesn't keep on pooping all around the house! | Bien, j'espère qu'il ne fera pas caca partout dans la maison! |
| It's half past 4, so we are here right on time. | Il est 4 heure et demi, on est donc pile à l'heure. |
| Isn't it faster taking the tube? | Ce n'est pas plus rapide en bus ? |
| I only have 3 hours today. | Je n'ai que 3 heures de cours aujourd'hui. |
| Yes it is, how are you? | Oui c'est moi, comment vas-tu? |
| And he looks about 3 years old now. | Et il semble avoir 3 ans maintenant. |