PRESENT TENSE IN SPANISH

Spanish Grammar Rules: El Presente Indicativo (The Present Tense)

Spanish, verbs are classified into three types.

 Verbs ending in -AR,

 Verbs ending in -ER
 Verbs ending in -IR.

Spanish Regular Verbs in Present Tense

With regular verbs in Spanish, only the ending part of that verb (the -ar, -er or -ir part) changes
depending on who does the action. However, unlike English, there is a different ending for each
subject (pronoun).
To begin, we will show you how to conjugate the verb in the present tense:
(Notice how the part of the verb in red is the part that changes)

In these regular verbs, the verb endings -ar, -er and -ir are removed and the respective endings
are added.
The subject pronoun (yo, tú, nosotros etc.) is often omitted before the verb since we normally
know who the subject (the person doing the action) is because of the verb's ending.
For example: If you say "Hablamos español" (we speak Spanish). You don't need to put the
pronoun nosotros before the verb because we know that when we say hablamos, it refers
to nosotros (we). So often you will hear or just read "Hablamos español" without the
pronoun nosotros.
When do we use the Spanish Present Tense?

The Spanish present tense can be used to talk about habitual actions, routines, things
happening now or in the near future, universal truths, facts, hypotheticals, lapses of time, and
for ordering in restaurants and stores. Read on for more on each of these uses.

1. Habitual Actions
Habitual actions are activities that a person does every day (or very often) . Daily routines,
responsibilities, hobbies, and jobs can be talked about using the present tense.
Me levanto a las seis y media cada
mañana.
I get up at six thirty every morning.

Doy de comer al perro tres veces cada día.

I feed the dog three times each day.

Trabajo para el zoológico.

I work for the zoo.

Estudio biología en la universidad.

I study biology at the university.
2. Things Happening Now
In English, something happening at the moment of speaking is usually expressed using
the present progressive. In Spanish, both the simple present and the present progressive can be
used to talk about things happening now.
¿Cómo estás?
How are you doing?

Estoy bien, gracias.

I'm doing well, thank
you.

¿Qué haces?
What are you doing?

Limpio la cocina.
I'm cleaning the kitchen.
3. Things Happening in the Near Future
The Spanish present tense can also be used to talk about things that will happen in the near
future.
Voy al parque. ¿Vienes?
 I'm going to the park. Want to come?

Salgo para el aeropuerto en media hora.

I'm leaving for the airport in half an hour.
4. Timeless Events/Universal Truths
Things that are universally known or generally accepted are often expressed using the simple
present. These can be facts, opinions, or proverbs.
Uno más uno son dos.
One plus one is two.

El hombre es mortal.
Mankind is mortal.
5. Hypothetical Situations
When used with the conjunction si (if), the present tense can express hypothetical situations
and outcomes.
Si llega Marcos, salgo.
If Marcos comes, I'm out.

Si llueve, la fiesta termina.

If it rains, the party's over.
6. Lapses of Time
The present tense is commonly used to talk about the amount of time something has been
going on. The following formula is used with the present tense for this purpose.
hace + time period + que + present tense verb
Hace tres años que esperamos tu llamada.
We've been waiting three years for your
call.

Hace una semana que pinta este cuadro.

He's been painting this painting for a week.
7. Ordering
It's also quite common to use the present tense in Spanish when ordering something in a
restaurant or store.
Me trae un café, por favor.
Would you bring me a coffee,
please?

Quiero el arroz con pollo.

 I would like the chicken and rice.

Write the correct forms of the following regular verbs in brackets in the present tense.

1. Tú (conversar)_________ poco.

2. Ella (sufrir)_________ de los nervios.

3. David y María (preparar)_________ una buena cena.

4. Ustedes (vivir)_________ en California.

5. María (buscar)_________ a Rosita todo el día.

6. Yo (desear)_________ que la guerra termine.

7. Amanda y yo (trabajar)_________ en el hospital.

8. Tú (andar)_________ cada día.

9. Nosotras (mandar)_________ el libro por correo.

10. Las chicas (mandar)_________ muchos recuerdos.

11. La señora Peña (preparar)_________ una buena cena.

12. María y Juan (firmar)_________ la petición.

13. El hombre (preparar)_________ muchísima comida.

14. Las profesoras (romper)_________ el juguete.

15. Ustedes (llevar)_________ los perros al parque.

16. Yo (discutir)_________ de política.

17. Él (entrar)_________ el edificio.

18. Ustedes (bailar)_________ muy bien.

 19. La profesora y yo (sufrir)_________ de muchos dolores.

20. Usted (caminar) _________ un carro rojo.

Write the correct forms of the following regular verbs in brackets in the present tense.

1. Mi padre y yo_______________ (vivir) en un piso.

2. Mi abuelo _______________ (comer) a horas fijas.

3. _______________ (cantar, ellos) todo el día.

4. _______________ (trabajar, Ud.) muy duro.

5. Yo _______________ (escribir) un libro.

6. Este hombre _______________ (tocar) muy bien la guitarra.

7. Mis amigos _______________ (beber) demasiado.

8. ¿A qué hora _______________ (cenar, vosotros)?

9. La mujer _______________ (hablar) muy fuerte.

10. Los niños _______________ (gritar) mucho.

11. _______________ (abrir, nosotros) las ventanas para crear una corriente de aire.

12. El perro _______________ (ladrar) todo el tiempo.

13. La madre _______________ (abandonar) a su hija.

14. Mis amigos y yo _______________ (escuchar) la radio.

15. Las fieras _______________ (devorar) sin piedad a sus presas.

16. La gente _______________ (andar) por la calle.

17. _______________ (dibujar, él) bellos retratos y paisajes.

18. _______________ (leer, Uds.) la novela.

19. _______________ (entrar, nosotros) en el museo del Prado.

20. _______________ (nadar, yo) con ellos.