Is this translation correct in simple present tense?

Question

I want to say "I usually eat bread" in Korea, so I translate that sentence like this: "저는 자주 빵을 막는다". I wonder if the tense of my translated sentence is "present simple" and if that translated sentence has the same meaning with the English sentence

Answer 1

The tense is correct. 먹는다 (not 막는다) is in the present simple tense.

You can make these improvements to make it more accurate and natural.

• 자주 is more like "frequently" or "often". 보통 is the common word for "usually".
• -는다 is a sentence ending form used more in writing. In adult conversation, 먹어요 is better.
• 나는 is what's called a plain form without a polite feel. Saying 저는 is more polite.

So you can say: 저는 보통 빵을 먹어요, where -어요 is a polite sounding sentence ending in the present simple tense.

Answer 2

In addition to Tony's answer, you normally can't say "저는... 먹는다": "저" is a polite way to say "I," so it must pair with a polite verb ending such as "먹어요" or "먹습니다." Similarly, "나" normally pairs with 먹어/먹는다/etc.

If you're talking to a friend, you could say "나는 보통 빵을 먹어." If you're writing a diary or a novel, you may use a more formal expression: "나는 보통 빵을 먹는다."

• Sometimes people do say "나는 보통 빵을 먹어요" (which would be semi-polite) although some people consider that bad style (because of mismatched politeness level).