Daddy Learns Spanish

Present Tense (Presente)

The most fundamental tense — used for current actions, habits, and general truths.

When to use

  • Actions happening right now: Yo hablo con mi amigo (I'm talking with my friend).
  • Habitual actions: Ella estudia todos los días (She studies every day).
  • General truths: El agua hierve a 100 grados (Water boils at 100 degrees).

Regular conjugation patterns

-are.g. hablar (habl-)
yo-o
tú-as
él/ella-a
nosotros-amos
vosotros-áis
ellos/ellas-an
-ere.g. comer (com-)
yo-o
tú-es
él/ella-e
nosotros-emos
vosotros-éis
ellos/ellas-en
-ire.g. vivir (viv-)
yo-o
tú-es
él/ella-e
nosotros-imos
vosotros-ís
ellos/ellas-en

Key irregular verbs

ser → soyestar → estoyir → voytener → tengohacer → hagodecir → digovenir → vengopoder → puedo

Verb patterns in this tense

e → ie stem change

The 'e' in the stem changes to 'ie' in all forms except nosotros/vosotros in present and subjunctive present.

pensarquererentenderperdersentirempezarcomenzar
o → ue stem change

The 'o' in the stem changes to 'ue' in all forms except nosotros/vosotros in present and subjunctive present.

podervolverencontrarcontarrecordarmostrardormirmovermorir
e → i stem change

The 'e' in the stem changes to 'i' in present tense (all forms except nosotros/vosotros) and throughout preterite 3rd person.

seguirpedirservirconseguirconvertir
yo-go verbs

These verbs add -go in the yo form of the present tense. This also affects the subjunctive present (based on yo form).

tenervenirponersalirhacerdecircaertraeroír

Tips

  • The yo form often has its own irregular pattern (e.g., yo-go verbs: tengo, vengo, pongo).
  • Stem-changing verbs (e→ie, o→ue, e→i) change in all forms EXCEPT nosotros and vosotros.
  • Spanish present tense covers both 'I speak' and 'I am speaking' — no separate progressive needed for most cases.