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Spanish grammar · Level A1

Presente: the Spanish present tense

The presente de indicativo is the first tense you learn: it covers what happens regularly, now, and even in the near future. Regular verbs follow three models: hablar, comer, vivir. The pronoun is usually dropped — the ending shows the person: hablo — I speak.

QuizContents
Contents
  1. Regular verbs: -ar, -er, -ir
  2. Stem changes: e → ie, o → ue, e → i
  3. Irregular yo forms
  4. When to use the present
  5. Common mistakes
  6. Quiz
  7. FAQ

Regular verbs: -ar, -er, -ir

Drop -ar, -er or -ir from the infinitive and add the ending. The yo form always ends in -o. -er and -ir verbs differ only in the nosotros and vosotros forms: comemos — vivimos, coméis — vivís.

The present of regular verbs
Personhablarcomervivir
yohablocomovivo
túhablascomesvives
él / ella / ustedhablacomevive
nosotroshablamoscomemosvivimos
vosotroshabláiscoméisvivís
ellos / ustedeshablancomenviven
  • Trabajo en una oficina.I work in an office.
  • ¿Comes carne?Do you eat meat?
  • Vivimos cerca del mar.We live near the sea.

Stem changes: e → ie, o → ue, e → i

In many common verbs the stem vowel changes when it’s stressed — in every form except nosotros and vosotros. It’s called the “boot” pattern: the changed forms in the table outline a boot.

Stem-changing verbs
Personpensar (e → ie)poder (o → ue)pedir (e → i)
yopiensopuedopido
túpiensaspuedespides
él / ella / ustedpiensapuedepide
nosotrospensamospodemospedimos
vosotrospensáispodéispedís
ellos / ustedespiensanpuedenpiden
  • ¿Quieres un café?Do you want a coffee?
  • Duermo ocho horas.I sleep eight hours.
  • Siempre pido lo mismo.I always order the same thing.

Tip: Other e → ie verbs: querer, empezar, entender, preferir, cerrar; o → ue: volver, dormir, encontrar, costar; e → i: servir, repetir, seguir. Jugar is the only u → ue verb: juego.

Irregular yo forms

Some verbs are irregular only in the first person. Most often yo ends in -go (tengo, hago, pongo, salgo, digo, vengo, traigo) or -zco (conozco, conduzco, ofrezco). A few more simply need learning: sé (saber), doy (dar), veo (ver), estoy, voy, soy.

Irregular verbs in the present
Persontenerhacerirser
yotengohagovoysoy
tútieneshacesvaseres
él / ella / ustedtienehacevaes
nosotrostenemoshacemosvamossomos
vosotrostenéishacéisvaissois
ellos / ustedestienenhacenvanson
  • Tengo veinte años.I’m twenty.
  • No conozco a nadie aquí.I don’t know anyone here.
  • Salgo de casa a las ocho.I leave home at eight.

When to use the present

The present describes habits and routines (Los sábados juego al tenis), facts (El agua hierve a cien grados), what’s happening now (¿Qué haces? — Leo) and planned future events (Mañana voy a Madrid). For something happening this very minute, estar + gerund is common: Estoy leyendo.

  • Normalmente ceno a las nueve.I usually have dinner at nine.
  • El tren sale mañana a las seis.The train leaves tomorrow at six.
  • ¿Me ayudas?Will you help me?

Common mistakes

The mistakes people make most often — and the right way.

  • Wrong: Yo tieno dos hermanos.

    Right: Yo tengo dos hermanos.

    Tener: yo tengo.

  • Wrong: Nosotros piensamos.

    Right: Nosotros pensamos.

    Nosotros and vosotros keep the original vowel.

  • Wrong: Yo conoco Madrid.

    Right: Yo conozco Madrid.

    -cer / -cir verbs: yo -zco.

  • Wrong: Vivemos en Kyiv.

    Right: Vivimos en Kyiv.

    -ir verbs: nosotros -imos.

  • Wrong: Yo hacer la cena.

    Right: Yo hago la cena.

    The verb must be conjugated: yo hago.

The present tense (presente)

Quiz

10 questions: choose the right option — the explanation appears straight away.

  1. Question 1

    Yo _____ español y francés.

  2. Question 2

    Nosotros _____ en Odesa.

  3. Question 3

    ¿Tú _____ café por la mañana?

  4. Question 4

    Ella _____ que es buena idea.

  5. Question 5

    Nosotros no _____ venir mañana.

  6. Question 6

    Yo _____ tres hermanos.

  7. Question 7

    ¿Qué _____ (vosotros) este fin de semana?

  8. Question 8

    Yo no _____ a tu hermano.

  9. Question 9

    Ellos siempre _____ pizza.

  10. Question 10

    Yo _____ al trabajo en autobús.

Correct: 0 of 10

Read next

FAQ

Didn’t find your answer? Send us a request — we’ll tell you everything.

Why don’t Spanish speakers say “yo”?

The verb ending already shows the person: hablo can only mean “I speak”. The pronoun is added for emphasis or contrast: Yo trabajo, y tú no haces nada.

How do I know a verb changes its stem?

The infinitive doesn’t tell you, so learn them together: pensar (ie), poder (ue), pedir (i). Dictionaries mark it like this: pensar (ie). Learn the most common ones straight away.

Present or estar + gerund?

Both can describe “now”, but estar + gerund stresses that the action is in progress this very moment: Estoy comiendo — I’m eating right now. For habits, only the present: Como a las dos.

Other topics

All topicsSpanish verb conjugationSpanish irregular verbs

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