Present tense

Usage

The present tense in Spanish is used in several contexts, similar to its use in English. Here are the primary situations when the present tense is applied, along with examples for each case:

1. Actions Happening Now:
   The present tense is used to describe actions that are currently happening or general truths.

   Estudio español. (I am studying Spanish.)
   Cantas muy bien. (You sing very well)

2. Habitual Actions:
   It's also used for actions that happen regularly or habits.

   Vamos al gimnasio todos los días. (We go to the gym every day)
   Ella siempre desayuna a las 7 de la mañana. (She always has breakfast at 7 in the morning.)

3. General Truths or Facts:
   The present tense is used to state facts or general truths.

   El agua hierve a 100 grados Celsius. (Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.)
   La Tierra gira alrededor del Sol. (The Earth revolves around the Sun.)

4. Future Plans or Events (Scheduled or Certain Future):
   Spanish sometimes uses the present tense to indicate future plans or events that are seen as certain.

   Salgo mañana para Paris. (I am leaving for Paris tomorrow.)
   El tren sale a las ocho. (The train leaves at eight.)

5. Instructions or Directions:
   When giving instructions or directions, the present tense is commonly used.

   Tomas la primera calle a la derecha. (Take the first street on the right.)
   Añades sal al gusto. (Add salt to taste.)

Conjugation

Verb Formation - Building the Present Tense

Regular Verb Patterns

In Spanish, we have three types of regular verbs based on their infinitive endings (-ar, -er, -ir). Let's see how to conjugate each type.

1. -AR Verbs (like HABLAR)

Remove -ar and add:

• yo → hablo
• tú → hablas
• él/ella/usted → habla
• nosotros → hablamos
• vosotros → habláis
• ellos/ellas/ustedes → hablan

Common -ar verbs:

• caminar (to walk) → camino, caminas, camina...
• trabajar (to work) → trabajo, trabajas, trabaja...
• estudiar (to study) → estudio, estudias, estudia...

2. -ER Verbs (like COMER)

Remove -er and add:

• yo → como
• tú → comes
• él/ella/usted → come
• nosotros → comemos
• vosotros → coméis
• ellos/ellas/ustedes → comen

Common -er verbs:

• beber (to drink) → bebo, bebes, bebe...
• aprender (to learn) → aprendo, aprendes, aprende...
• correr (to run) → corro, corres, corre...

3. -IR Verbs (like VIVIR)

Remove -ir and add:

• yo → vivo
• tú → vives
• él/ella/usted → vive
• nosotros → vivimos
• vosotros → vivís
• ellos/ellas/ustedes → viven

Common -ir verbs:

• escribir (to write) → escribo, escribes, escribe...
• recibir (to receive) → recibo, recibes, recibe...
• abrir (to open) → abro, abres, abre...

Irregular Verbs in Present Tense

Spanish has several categories of irregular verbs in the present tense. Here are the main types:

1. Stem-Changing Verbs

These verbs change their stem vowel in all forms except nosotros and vosotros:

PENSAR (e → ie)

• pienso, piensas, piensa, pensamos, pensáis, piensan

PODER (o → ue)

• puedo, puedes, puede, podemos, podéis, pueden

PEDIR (e → i)

• pido, pides, pide, pedimos, pedís, piden

2. Completely Irregular Verbs

Some common verbs have unique conjugations:

SER (to be)

• soy, eres, es, somos, sois, son

IR (to go)

• voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van

ESTAR (to be)

• estoy, estás, está, estamos, estáis, están

Common Time Expressions Used with Present Tense

The present tense often appears with these time expressions:

• siempre (always)
• nunca (never)
• a veces (sometimes)
• todos los días (every day)
• ahora (now)
• en este momento (at this moment)
• normalmente (normally)
• generalmente (generally)
• cada día/semana/mes (each day/week/month)

Examples

Yo hablo inglés y español. (I speak English and Spanish.)
Tú comes en ese restaurante frecuentemente. (You eat in that restaurant frequently.)
Él corre en el parque cada mañana. (He runs in the park every morning.)
Nosotros vivimos en México. (We live in Mexico.)
Ellos estudian para ser médicos. (They are studying to be doctors.)