Present Tense in Spanish

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Present Tense (Indicative mood) in Spanish

1. Present indicative is used to describe actions currently happening. Present indicative is formed by dropping the -ar, -er, or -ir from the root of the regular verbs.

Examples:
• Verb Escuchar (to listen)
Juana escucha la radio.
Juana listens to the radio.

• Verb Beber (to drink)
Marcos bebe mucha agua.
Marcos drinks a lot of water.

• Verb Vivir (to live)
Yo vivo en Colombia.
I live in Colombia.

2. Used for Habitual Actions.

Examples:
Yo bebo café todas las mañanas.
I drink coffee every morning.

Yo leo un libro por la noche.
I read a book at night.

3. The present tense can also be used to describe events that will happen in the near future. (will future in English)

Examples:
Este invierno viajo a London.
I will travel to London this winter.

Tengo una cita en el dentista en dos semanas.
I have a dentist appointment in two weeks.

4. To express hypothetical actions.

Examples:
Si llega Maria, nos vamos
If Maria comes, we go.

Si no llueve, vamos al cine.
If it doesn’t rain, we go to the movies.

Regular Verbs in Present Tense

In Spanish, verbs can be classified in two different groups, regular verbs, and irregular verbs. Regular verbs, are verbs that can be conjugated according to a set of rules per the infinitive ending of the verb. (-ar, -er, and -ir)

See regular verbs in present tense table for details.

Irregular Verbs in The Present Tense

Irregular verbs, are verbs that usually do not follow the regular conjugation rules of the infinitive ending on the verb (-ar, -er, and -ir).

See irregular verbs in present tense table for details.

Review

• In Spanish, the verbs can be classified in two different forms, regular verbs and irregular verbs.
• Present indicative with regular verbs are formed by dropping the -ar, -er, or -ir from the root of the regular verbs.
• In Spanish, the subject pronouns are usually omitted, the verb endings give information about the subject.
• The present tense in Spanish is used to describe an action happening now. This action is equivalent with the -ing form in English.
• The present tense can also be used to describe events that will happen in the future. (will future in English)
• The present tense can also be used to express habitual or hypothetical actions.