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Spanish (Spain) • Level 1 • GRAMMAR

present tense

💡 Grammar Rule

The Present Tense in Spanish (Spain)

In Spanish, the present tense is a versatile tool used to describe current actions, routines, and even future plans. Unlike English, which often requires auxiliary verbs like "do" or "am/is/are," Spanish uses specific endings to convey who is doing the action and when.

1. Verb Groups and the Stem

All Spanish verbs in their base form (the infinitive) end in one of three ways: -ar, -er, or -ir. To conjugate a regular verb, you simply remove these two letters to find the stem, and then add the corresponding ending.

2. Conjugation Patterns

Here are the endings for the three groups. Note that in Spain, we use the vosotros form for "you all" (informal).

-AR Verbs (Example: Comprar - to buy)

  • Yo compr-o (I buy / I am buying)
  • Tú compr-as (You buy - informal)
  • Él / Ella / Usted compr-a (He / She / You - formal buys)
  • Nosotros/as compr-amos (We buy)
  • Vosotros/as compr-áis (You all buy - informal Spain)
  • Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes compr-an (They / You all buy)

-ER Verbs (Example: Aprender - to learn)

  • Yo aprend-o, Tú aprend-es, Él aprend-e, Nosotros aprend-emos, Vosotros aprend-éis, Ellos aprend-en.

-IR Verbs (Example: Recibir - to receive)

  • Yo recib-o, Tú recib-es, Él recib-e, Nosotros recib-imos, Vosotros recib-ís, Ellos recib-en.

3. Key Usages

  • Current Actions: Escribo una carta (I am writing a letter).
  • Habits and Routines: Tomo café cada mañana (I drink coffee every morning).
  • Near Future: Te veo mañana (I will see you tomorrow).
  • Universal Truths: El sol sale por el este (The sun rises in the east).
  • Historical Present: Cervantes publica el Quijote en 1605 (Cervantes publishes Quixote in 1605).
  • Near-Events: Casi me caigo (I almost fell).

4. Dropping Pronouns

Because the endings (like -o or -áis) are so specific, you usually don't need to say yo or vosotros. The verb ending already tells you the subject!

5. Formal "You": Usted and Ustedes

It is important to remember that usted (singular) and ustedes (plural) are 2nd person forms used for formal "you." However, they grammatically use the 3rd person verb endings.

  • Usted compra (You buy - formal) - uses the same ending as él/ella.
  • Ustedes compran (You all buy - formal) - uses the same ending as ellos/ellas.
Where do you live?
¿Dónde vives tú?
I live in Madrid near the center.
Vivo en Madrid, cerca del centro.
Does Ana speak English?
¿Ana habla inglés?
Yes, she speaks very well.
Sí, habla muy bien.
We eat at two o'clock.
Nosotros comemos a las dos.
I eat later, at three.
Yo como más tarde, a las tres.
What do you guys buy at the market?
¿Qué compráis vosotros en el mercado?
We buy fresh fruit.
Compramos fruta fresca.
Do you write many emails?
¿Escribe usted muchos correos?
Yes, I write everyday.
Sí, escribo todos los días.
My parents work in a hospital.
Mis padres trabajan en un hospital.
Really? They work a lot.
¿De verdad? Trabajan mucho.
Do you read books at night?
¿Lees libros por la noche?
No, I don't read much.
No, no leo mucho.
The store opens at nine.
La tienda abre a las nueve.
Okay, we open at ten.
Vale, nosotros abrimos a las diez.
Do the children learn fast?
¿Los niños aprenden rápido?
Yes, they learn everything.
Sí, aprenden todo.
I cook dinner today.
Yo cocino la cena hoy.
Great, you cook very well.
Genial, tú cocinas muy bien.
Who decides the menu?
¿Quién decide el menú?
We decide together.
Nosotros decidimos juntos.
You guys run in the park, right?
Vosotras corréis en el parque, ¿verdad?
Yes, we run every morning.
Sí, corremos todas las mañanas.
Do you listen to music at work?
¿Escuchas música en el trabajo?
Yes, I listen to jazz.
Sí, escucho jazz.
That man sells flowers.
Ese hombre vende flores.
He sells beautiful roses.
Vende rosas preciosas.
Do we go up the stairs?
¿Subimos por las escaleras?
No, I take the elevator.
No, yo subo en el ascensor.
You never clean your room.
Nunca limpias tu habitación.
That's not true, I clean on Saturdays.
No es verdad, limpio los sábados.
Do you believe the news?
¿Vosotros creéis las noticias?
Yes, we believe what they say.
Sí, creemos lo que dicen.
I receive many letters from my family.
Recibo muchas cartas de mi familia.
I never receive anything.
Yo nunca recibo nada.
Do your friends travel in August?
¿Tus amigos viajan en agosto?
No, they travel in September.
No, viajan en septiembre.
We study Spanish at the university.
Estudiamos español en la universidad.
You guys study a lot!
¡Vosotros estudiáis mucho!
The baby breaks the toys.
El bebé rompe los juguetes.
It's normal, he breaks everything.
Es normal, rompe todo.
Do you share the dessert?
¿Comparten ustedes el postre?
Yes, we share the cake.
Sí, compartimos la tarta.
What are you looking at?
¿Qué miras?
I'm looking at that blue car.
Miro ese coche azul.
I don't understand this exercise.
No comprendo este ejercicio.
We don't understand it either.
Nosotros tampoco lo comprendemos.

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