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Tense guide
Presente (Present)

Language: Spanish
Tense:
Person:

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Introduction

This verb tense is one of the most common in Spanish. It is mainly used to talk about actions in the present, but it can also describe routines, facts, and even future plans. It is the first tense you should master.

The most frequent use is for habits and routines. It describes actions that you do regularly or repeatedly. Think of things that happen every day, every week, or often.

Siempre desayuno a las ocho.
(I always eat breakfast at eight.)
Mi hermana va al gimnasio tres veces por semana.
(My sister goes to the gym three times a week.)
Ellos trabajan en la misma oficina.
(They work in the same office.)
Normalmente, vemos una película los viernes.
(Normally, we watch a movie on Fridays.)
¿Tú lees el periódico todos los días?
(Do you read the newspaper every day?)

You can use this tense to talk about actions happening right now, at the moment of speaking.

¿Qué haces?
(What are you doing?)
No entiendo la pregunta.
(I don't understand the question.)
Los niños juegan en el parque ahora mismo.
(The children are playing in the park right now.)

While you can use this tense for actions happening now, Spanish also has another structure for this (like "estoy hablando"). However, using this simple present form is very common and natural in conversation.

It is also used to state general truths, facts, or permanent states. These are things that are always true or are considered facts.

La Tierra gira alrededor del Sol.
(The Earth revolves around the Sun.)
Dos y dos son cuatro.
(Two plus two is four.)
Los leones comen carne.
(Lions eat meat.)
Mi familia vive en México.
(My family lives in Mexico.)

A very common use in Spanish is to talk about the near future. When the context is clear, this tense can describe a planned event that will happen soon.

Mañana tengo un examen.
(Tomorrow I have an exam.)
El tren sale en diez minutos.
(The train leaves in ten minutes.)
Vamos al cine esta noche.
(We are going to the movies tonight.)
Te llamo luego.
(I'll call you later.)

This tense is used to describe an action that started in the past and continues into the present. This pattern often uses words like "hace... que" or "desde hace".

Hace dos años que vivo aquí.
(I have lived here for two years.)
Estudio español desde hace un año.
(I have been studying Spanish for a year.)
¿Cuánto tiempo hace que esperas?
(How long have you been waiting?)

You can use this tense to give instructions or commands in an informal way, such as in recipes or when giving directions.

Primero, mezclas los ingredientes secos.
(First, you mix the dry ingredients.)
Sigues todo recto y luego giras a la derecha.
(You go straight ahead and then you turn right.)

Less commonly, this tense can be used to describe past events to make a story more vivid and exciting, as if it were happening now. This is often called the "historic present".

Colón llega a América en 1492.
(Columbus arrives in America in 1492.)
En 1989, cae el Muro de Berlín.
(In 1989, the Berlin Wall falls.)

Conjugation patterns