







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 | |
|---|---|
| Anyway, I need to go to the loo as well... | Peu importe, je dois aller au petit coin également... |
| She is half Japanese, half Australian. | Elle est moitié japonaise, moitié australienne. |
| It looks like you've got some experience with coffee. | On dirait que tu as de l'expérience avec le café. |
| Okay, so what's our plan now? | D'accord, qu'est-ce qu'on fait? |
| And on the ground floor we have easy access to the garden. | Et, au rez de chaussé, on a un accès facile au jardin. |
| Hello Beatrix, it's me, Cate. | Bonjour Beatrix, c'est moi, Cate. |
| Do we have any paper towels? | Est-ce qu'on a des serviettes en papier? |
| Isn't that funny? | C'est drôle, n'est-ce pas ? |
| Do we have a sieve? | Est-ce qu'on a une passoire? |
| Thanks, but I don't have time to stay. | Merci, mais je n'ai pas le temps de rester. |
| Good boy, Beary! See, he is just a little friend. | Bon garçon Beary! C'est juste ta petite amie. |
| So it's definitely not a divorce situation. | Donc c'est pas une histoire de divorce. |
| My dad is British and my mum is Australian. | Mon père est Britannique et ma mère est Australienne. |
| I don't like their chardonnay. | Je n'aime pas leur Chardonnay. |
| I think I deserve a kiss... | Je pense que je mérite un bisou... |
| Whose cat?... Do you mean my cat? | Le chat de qui?... Tu veux dire mon chat? |
| Do you like them with or without the skin on? | Tu les veux avec ou sans la peau? |
| Isn't it faster taking the tube? | Ce n'est pas plus rapide en bus ? |
| My laptop is in it. | Mon ordinateur est dedans. |
| Hello dear, how is it going, do you need any help? | Salut chérie, comment ça va, t'as besoin d'aide ? |