Present Tense in Spanish

In Spanish, the present tense is essential because it helps us talk about things that are happening right now, as well as habitual actions or general facts.

In this article, we will look at the different types of present that exist in Spanish and how each one has a specific use, so you can learn to differentiate them and communicate better in this language. Let’s go!

What is the present tense?

The present tense is used to express actions that are occurring at this moment, actions that happen habitually, or to talk about general facts and universal truths. Examples of sentences in the present tense in Spanish:

• Yo estudio español todos los días. (I study Spanish every day.) (habitual action)
• El sol sale por el este. (The sun rises in the east.) (general fact)
• Ella vive en Buenos Aires. (She lives in Buenos Aires.) (permanent state)
• Nosotros somos mexicanos. (We are Mexicans.) (universal truth)
• Ellos comen fruta cada mañana. (They eat fruit every morning.) (habitual action)

In Spanish, there are four main types of present tense, and each has its own uses and structure. Let’s explore them together later.

Table of Types of Present in Spanish

The 4 Types of Present in Spanish

Before diving into each type of present, let’s talk about the ones we will cover in this article:

• Present of the Indicative: To talk about habitual actions, real facts, or situations in the current moment.
• Present of the Subjunctive: To express wishes, doubts, recommendations, and emotions.
• Present Progressive (or Continuous): For actions that are occurring at this moment.
• Present Perfect: To talk about actions that occurred recently or have relevance in the present.

The Present of the Indicative

The present of the indicative is the most common and is used to describe actions that occur regularly, current situations, or universal truths.

Structure

The conjugation of verbs in the present indicative varies according to the verb ending (-ar, -er, -ir):

• -ar verbs: For example, hablar (to speak) → hablo, hablas, habla, hablamos, habláis, hablan. (I speak, you speak, he/she/it speaks, we speak, you all speak, they speak.)
• -er verbs: For example, comer (to eat) → como, comes, come, comemos, coméis, comen. (I eat, you eat, he/she/it eats, we eat, you all eat, they eat.)
• -ir verbs: For example, vivir (to live) → vivo, vives, vive, vivimos, vivís, viven. (I live, you live, he/she/it lives, we live, you all live, they live.) 

How to Use the Present of the Indicative

There are different ways we can use the present indicative in our sentences:

Affirmative Sentences

To state or describe something positively. Examples of using the present indicative in affirmative sentences:

• Yo estudio español. (I study Spanish.)
• Nosotros vivimos en México. (We live in Mexico.)
• Él come manzanas todos los días. (He eats apples every day.)
• Ellos trabajan en una oficina. (They work in an office.)
• Paulina canta muy bien. (Paulina sings very well.)

Negative Sentences

To express that something is not correct or is not happening. Examples of using the present indicative in negative sentences:

• Yo no estudio francés. (I do not study French.)
• Nosotros no vivimos en España. (We do not live in Spain.)
• Él no come carne. (He does not eat meat.)
• Ellos no trabajan aquí. (They do not work here.)
• Paulina no canta en público. (Paulina does not sing in public.)

Questions

To ask questions in the present. Examples of using the present indicative to ask questions:

• ¿Estudias inglés? (Do you study English?)
• ¿Nosotros vivimos cerca? (Do we live nearby?)
• ¿Él come frutas? (Does he eat fruits?)
• ¿Ellos trabajan juntos? (Do they work together?)
• ¿Es Paulina quien canta en la fiesta? (Is Paulina the one who sings at the party?)

The Present of the Subjunctive

The present of the subjunctive is used to communicate in situations of uncertainty, wishes, recommendations, and emotions.

Structure

The conjugation in the subjunctive changes compared to the indicative:

• -ar verbs: For example, hablar (speak) → hable, hables, hable, hablemos, habléis, hablen. 
• -er/-ir verbs: For example, comer → coma, comas, coma, comamos, comáis, coman. (eat)

7

How to Use the Present of the Subjunctive

Let’s now look at the types of uses we can give to the present tense of the subjunctive:

Affirmative Sentences

To express wishes or recommendations. Examples of using the present subjunctive in affirmative sentences:

• Espero que tú estudies mucho. (I hope you study a lot.)
• Ojalá él venga mañana. (I hope he comes tomorrow.)
• Es importante que nosotros hablemos español. (It is important that we speak Spanish.)
• Quiero que ellos canten en la fiesta. (I want them to sing at the party.)
• Es mejor que Karina coma antes de salir. (It is better that Karina eats before going out.)

Negative Sentences

To deny wishes or emotions. Examples of using the present subjunctive in negative sentences:

• No creo que ella estudie hoy. (I don’t think she studies today.)
• No es necesario que tú vengas temprano. (It is not necessary for you to come early.)
• No quiero que él coma en la cama. (I don’t want him to eat in bed.)
• No pienso que lleguemos a tiempo. (I don’t think we will arrive on time.)
• Dudo que ellos terminen pronto. (I doubt that they will finish soon.)

Questions

Although it is less common, questions can be asked in the subjunctive. Examples of using the present subjunctive to ask questions:

• ¿Crees que él venga hoy? (Do you think he will come today?)
• ¿Es posible que Paulina cante en la fiesta? (Is it possible that Paulina sings at the party?)
• ¿Quieres que nosotros vayamos contigo? (Do you want us to go with you?)
• ¿Es importante que ellos estudien? (Is it important that they study?)
• ¿Dudas que yo pueda hacerlo? (Do you doubt that I can do it?)

The Present Progressive (or Continuous)

The present progressive is used to talk about actions that are occurring at this moment.

Structure

We form the present progressive with the verb “estar” conjugated in the present + the gerund of the main verb (-ando for -ar verbs and -iendo for -er and -ir verbs).

• -ar verbs: For example, hablar → estoy hablando. (I am speaking.)
• -er verbs: For example, comer → estoy comiendo. (I am eating.)
• -ir verbs: For example, vivir → estoy viviendo. (I am living.)

How to Use the Present Progressive

Let’s now look at the uses of the present progressive:

Affirmative Sentences

To talk about actions in progress. Examples of using the present progressive in affirmative sentences:

• Estoy estudiando español. (I am studying Spanish.)
• Nosotros estamos comiendo pizza. (We are eating pizza.)
• Ellos están trabajando ahora mismo. (They are working right now.)
• Tú estás leyendo un artículo. (You are reading an article.)
• Paulina está cantando en la fiesta. (Paulina is singing at the party.)

Negative Sentences

To deny that actions are in progress. Examples of using the present progressive in negative sentences:

• No estoy estudiando francés. (I am not studying French.)
• Nosotros no estamos comiendo dulces. (We are not eating sweets.)
• Ellos no están trabajando hoy. (They are not working today.)
• Tú no estás viendo la televisión. (You are not watching TV.)
• Paulina no está cantando ahora. (Paulina is not singing now.)

Questions

To ask if an action is happening now. Examples of using the present progressive to ask questions:

• ¿Estás estudiando ahora? (Are you studying now?)
• ¿Nosotros estamos comiendo juntos? (Are we eating together?)
• ¿Ellos están trabajando desde casa? (Are they working from home?)
• ¿Estás viendo esa serie? (Are you watching that series?)
• ¿Paulina es quien está cantando? (Is Paulina the one who is singing?)

The Present Perfect

The present perfect is used to express actions that occurred in the recent past but still have relevance in the present.

Structure

We form the present perfect with the verb “haber” in the present + the past participle of the main verb (-ado for -ar verbs and -ido for -er and -ir verbs).

• -ar verbs: For example, hablar → he hablado. (I have spoken.)
• -er verbs: For example, comer → he comido. (I have eaten.)
• -ir verbs: For example, vivir → he vivido. (I have lived.)

How to Use the Present Perfect

Affirmative Sentences

To talk about recent actions. Examples of using the present perfect in affirmative sentences:

• He estudiado mucho esta semana. (I have studied a lot this week.)
• Nosotros hemos comido en ese restaurante. (We have eaten at that restaurant.)
• Ellos han trabajado en muchos proyectos. (They have worked on many projects.)
• Tú has visto esa película. (You have seen that movie.)
• Paulina ha cantado en varias fiestas. (Paulina has sung at several parties.)

Negative Sentences

To deny recent actions. Examples of using the present perfect in negative sentences:

• No he estudiado suficiente. (I have not studied enough.)
• Nosotros no hemos comido nada. (We have not eaten anything.)
• Ellos no han trabajado mucho hoy. (They have not worked much today.)
• Tú no has leído el libro. (You have not read the book.)
• Paulina no ha cantado en la fiesta. (Paulina has not sung at the party.)

Questions

To ask about recent actions. Examples of using the present perfect to ask questions:

• ¿Has estudiado español hoy? (Have you studied Spanish today?)
• ¿Nosotros hemos comido juntos antes? (Have we eaten together before?)
• ¿Ellos han trabajado en este proyecto? (Have they worked on this project?)
• ¿Tú has visto esa película? (Have you seen that movie?)
• ¿Paulina ha cantado aquí antes? (Has Paulina sung here before?)

Common Mistakes with the Present Tense in Spanish

When using the different types of present tense in Spanish for the first time, it is normal to make some mistakes. Here are some of the most common ones and how to avoid them:

Confusing the Indicative and the Subjunctive

Using the indicative instead of the subjunctive in sentences of doubt or desire is a frequent mistake that we need to be careful to avoid.

• Incorrect: Quiero que él viene.
• Correct: Quiero que él venga. (I want him to come.)

Overusing the Progressive

The present progressive is only used for actions in progress. It should not be used for habitual actions.

• Incorrect: Estoy trabajando en esa empresa desde hace años. (I’m working at that company for years.)
• Correct: Trabajo en esa empresa desde hace años. (I have been working at that company for years.)

Forgetting the Verb “Haber” in the Present Perfect

If we forget to add the verb “haber” in our present perfect sentence, the sentence becomes incorrect (and sometimes, nonsensical).

• Incorrect: ¿Visto la película? (Have seen the movie?)
• Correct: ¿Has visto la película? (Have you seen the movie?)

Inverting Subjects and Verbs in Questions

When asking questions, it is common to invert the order of the words.

• Incorrect: ¿Tú comes pizza?
• Correct: ¿Comes pizza? (Do you eat pizza?)

Practicing these details will improve your use of the present tense in Spanish.

Summary

The present tense in Spanish is diverse and allows for the expression of different types of actions and contexts. By studying this guide and through the Promova app, you will soon be able to distinguish better between the present indicative and subjunctive, or the progressive and perfect tenses.

See you next time!