Present Tense
The Present Tense describes actions happening now, habitual actions, and sometimes near future plans. It is fundamental for everyday communication.
Usage
Use the Present Tense to talk about current actions, routines, and general truths. It can also express scheduled events in the near future.
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Regular Verbs
Regular verbs follow predictable patterns in their endings, making them straightforward to conjugate once you know the rules. Each verb belongs to one of three groups based on its infinitive ending.
-ar Verbs
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-er Verbs
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-ir Verbs
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Stem-Changing Verbs
Some verbs change a vowel in their stem when conjugated in the Present Tense, typically in all forms except nosotros and vosotros. These changes follow patterns like e→ie, o→ue, and e→i.
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Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs do not follow standard conjugation patterns and must be memorized because they occur frequently in speech and writing.
ir / ser (to go / to be)
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hacer (to do, to make)
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tener (to have)
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Signal Words
Signal words that commonly appear with the Present Tense include adverbs of frequency and expressions of time that emphasize habitual or current actions. These help confirm that the Present Tense is appropriate.
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Summary
The Present Tense describes actions happening now, habits, and general truths. Learn the regular endings for -ar, -er, and -ir verbs, memorize common stem-changing and irregular verbs, and pay attention to signal words to time your actions correctly.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025