







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 | |
|---|---|
| I've got a meeting with some people. | 人とミーティングの約束なんだ。 |
| Shall we meet at the train station, or do you want me to pick you up from your house? | 駅で会いたい、それとも家まで迎えに行こうか? |
| Anyway, this is Cate and her friends from work. | ところで、こちらはケイトとケイトの職場の友達たち。 |
| Isn't Morrison's closer? | モリソン店の方が近くない? |
| I think that *hand caught on fire* thing is a joke! | 「手に火がついた」ていうのはジョークじゃないかと思ってね! |
| I only have 3 hours today. | 今日はたったの3時間よ。 |
| Okay, that's fine. | うん、いいわよ。 |
| Do you have another one? | 別のもの持ってる? |
| Let's calculate, I pay 135 per week for one person... | 計算してみようか。僕は一人で週に 135 払ってる… |
| Yeah, it's normal, he even hisses at my new socks sometimes! | えぇ普通よ、彼ね時々自分の靴下にでさえシャーってするのよ! |
| As I'm a smoker, I prefer sitting outside. | 僕は喫煙者だから、外の席が好ましいな。 |
| Do we have a sieve? | 私たちって、ざる持ってる? |
| Did you say Russia? That's unusual! | ロシアって言ったの?珍しいわね! |
| That's why you have a headache now! | だから今頭痛がするのよ! |
| Why did you ask, do you want me to boil it? | 何で聞いたの、君は茹でたい? |
| Watch out for the 3rd step, it's not very stable. | 3 段目に気をつけて。かなりグラつくの。 |
| Is it Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus? | レイススター・スクウェアかな? それともピッカディリー・サーカス? |
| But Tesco is bigger, it has more variety of products. | でもテスコの方が大きいし、もっと色んな商品があるよ。 |
| Are you sure she is from Australia? | 本当にオーストラリアの出身なの? |
| So, I guess you are from Australia. | それで、君はオーストラリア出身らしいね。 |