







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 | |
|---|---|
| How often do you have free time, then? | 시간은 얼마나 자주 나는데요? |
| There is a little market near the school. | 학교 근처에 작은 슈퍼마켓이 있는데. |
| I hope it's not the right address! It looks awful. | 맞는 주소가 아니면 좋겠네! 여기 완전 끔찍해 보여. |
| Depends on where you look. | 어디를 알아보느냐에 달려있지. |
| Isn't it too early for dinner? | 저녁 먹기에는 너무 이르지 않아? |
| He is 70 and my mum is 64. | 아빠는 70이고, 엄마는 64이야. |
| Upstairs, there is Diego and a British couple next to him. | 윗층에는 디에고랑 그 옆에 영국인 커플이 살아. |
| What is it about? | 무슨 내용인데? |
| Cate, are you okay? You seem a little bit aggressive. | 케이트, 괜찮아? 좀 날카로워 보인다. |
| I searched: does Pinocchio know he is not a real boy. | 피노키오는 자기가 진짜 아이가 아니라는 걸 아나요, 라고 검색했어. |
| My dad is British and my mum is Australian. | 우리 아빠는 영국인이고 엄마가 호주인이야. |
| No worries, I have got a peeler for you! | 걱정마, 여기 감자깎이가 있어! |
| I don't want to talk about this issue in this house. | 이 얘기는 이 집에서는 하고 싶지 않아. |
| Because I don't want to waste more time finding a new house... | 새 집 찾느라 더 시간 낭비하기 싫으니까 그렇지... |
| That's bad, do you have a cold? | 저런, 안됐어요, 감기에 걸린 거예요? |
| Isn't it just a simple meeting cancellation? | 그냥 회의가 취소된 것 뿐이잖아? |
| I didn't know that, I hope it's not a big problem for him. | 그건 몰랐어, 큰 문제가 아니면 좋을 텐데. |
| I haven't been there before, where is it? | 거긴 안 가봤는데, 어디야? |
| Do you think electric stoves are better? | 전기 스토브가 가스레인지보다 낫다고 생각해? |
| Hang on, there is another web site that says... | 잠깐만, 다른 사이트에서는 뭐라고 하냐면... |