Present tense is used in multiple situations. Learn here how to use it properly. To describe an action happening now (-ing form in english): Luis llega a la puerta – Luis is arriving at the gate Ahora veo a Ana – Now I see Ana. To express actions that take place regularly: Normalmente compro […]
Present tense is used in multiple situations. Learn here how to use it properly.
- To describe an action happening now (-ing form in english):
Luis llega a la puerta – Luis is arriving at the g ate
Ahora veo a Ana – Now I see Ana.
- To express actions that take place regularly:
Normalmente compro frutas en el supermercado – Usually, I buy fruit at the supermarket.
- To describe events that will take place in the near future:
Mañana viajo a Alemania – I will travel to Germany tomorrow
- To ask questions, requesting permission or someone´s opinion:
¿Abro la puerta? – Shall I open the door?
¿Compramos la casa? – Do we buy the house?
Sometimes the context or the words indicating time can help. The following are expressions commonly used in the present:
| Vocabulario | |||
| Al mediodía | At noon | Nunca | never |
| De vez en cuando | From time to time | Por la mañana | In the morning |
| El lunes, el martes, … | On Monday, on Tuesday, … | Por la noche | In the evening or at night |
| Esta semana | This week | Por la tarde | In the afternoon |
| Este mes | This month | Siempre | always |
| Hoy | today | Todos los días | Everyday |
OTHER USES OF THE PRESENT TENSE
- To tell facts considered universal truths.
Cinco más quince son veinte – Five plus fifteen is twenty
- To describe a past event called historical present.
En 1969 el primer hombre llega a la Luna – The first man gets to the moon in 1969
- To express hypothetical actions introduced by si .
Si llega el tren, salimos – If the train arrives, we leave.
- To express actions that began in the past and continue inthe present with the construction: hace +expression of time+ que +present verb
Hace tres años que esperamos una respuesta – We have been waiting for an answer for three years.
