







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 | |
|---|---|
| Yes I did, why, isn't it normal? | Si, n'est-ce pas normal? |
| Do you have another one? | Tu en as une autre? |
| That's bad, do you have a cold? | Ça craint, tu as un rhume? |
| Are you going to say sorry for saying I am stupid then? | Vas-tu t'excuser pour avoir dit que j'étais stupide, donc ? |
| Sorry Mrs. Jones, there is a misunderstanding... | Désolé Mme.Jones, il y a un malentendu... |
| I think I deserve a kiss... | Je pense que je mérite un bisou... |
| They also have three big windows in their room! | Ils ont aussi trois grandes fenêtres dans leur chambre! |
| But I don't know him well. | Mais je ne le connais pas très bien. |
| I'm a bit paranoid about it. | Je suis un peu paranoïaque à propos de ça. |
| I see, I love cooking! | Je vois, j'adore cuisiner! |
| It's not for me, it's for the rice, dear! | Ce n'est pas pour moi, c'est pour le riz chéri! |
| Oh, sorry, I also need a grater for the cheese. | Oh, désolée, j'ai aussi besoin d'un râpe pour le fromage. |
| But he hisses occasionally, is it normal? | Mais il feule, c'est normal? |
| He only does it when he is extremely stressed! | Il ne le fait que lorsqu'il est extrêmement stressé! |
| You need to change planes at some point on the way. | On a besoin de changer d'avion à un moment donné. |
| My beard makes me look older, I think. | Ma barbe me rend plus vieux, je pense. |
| Who the f*ck is that, what's the time? | Pu**in, c'est qui à cette heure? |
| That's okay, I don't mind. | C'est okay, ça ne me dérange pas. |
| He is a Chow Chow. | C'est un Chow Chow. |
| Yes, I still don't do it. | Oui, je ne le fais toujours pas. |