Three tenses in Spanish

Using three tenses in Spanish

The present tense

We use the present tense to say what you normally do or what is happening now.

​We form the present by:

1. Taking the infinitive of the verb and removing its ending ("-ar", "-er" or "-ir")

2. Adding the ending of the person doing the action of the verb

Multiple Choice

Desayunar (to have breakfast) + yo

• desayuno

• desayunas

• desayuna

• desayunamos

Multiple Choice

Comprar (to buy) + ella

• compro

• compras

• compra

• compramos

Multiple Choice

Desayunar (to have breakfast) + ellos

• desayuno

• desayuna

• desayunan

• desayunáis

Multiple Choice

Cenar (to have dinner) + yo

• cenas

• cenamos

• cenan

• ceno

Multiple Choice

comprar (to buy) + tú

• compramos

• compras

• compran

• compro

Multiple Choice

Desayunar (to have breakfast) + nosotros

• desayuno

• desayunáis

• desayunan

• desayunamos

Multiple Choice

Cenar (to have dinner) + vosotros

• cenas

• cenáis

• cenan

• cena

Multiple Choice

Comer (to eat) + tú

• comes

• comemos

• coméis

• comen

Multiple Choice

Beber (to drink) + yo

• beben

• bebo

• bebemos

• bebéis

Multiple Choice

Comer (to eat) + ellos

• como

• comen

• comes

• coméis

Multiple Choice

Beber (to drink) + él

• bebemos

• bebéis

• beben

• bebe

Multiple Choice

Beber (to drink) + vosotros

• bebo

• bebéis

• beben

• bebes

Multiple Choice

Comer (to eat) + nosotros

• como

• comemos

• comes

• come

Present tense: stem-changing

Stem-changing verbs are formed like regular present tense verbs. However, there is a vowel change in the stem in the "I", "you" (singular), "he/she" and "they" forms.

The near future tense

We use the near future tense to say what we are going to do.

​We form the near future tense by:

1. Using the correct form of the verb "IR" depending on the person doing the action

2. Adding "a"

3. Adding the infinitive (forms in "-ar", "-er", "-ir") of the action we are going to do

Multiple Choice

I am going to eat --> _____ a comer

• Voy

• Vas

• Va

• Vamos

Multiple Choice

You are going to have breakfast --> _____ a desayunar

• Voy

• Vas

• Va

• Vamos

Multiple Choice

He is going to have dinner --> _____ a cenar

• Voy

• Vas

• Va

• Vamos

Multiple Choice

We are going to buy --> _____ a comprar

• Vas

• Va

• Vamos

• Vais

Multiple Choice

You all are going to have breakfast --> _____ a desayunar

• Vais

• Van

• Vamos

• Voy

Multiple Choice

They are going to bring --> _____ a traer

• Va

• Vamos

• Van

• Voy

The preterite tense

We use the preterite tense to say what you did in the past.

​We form the preterite tense by:

1. Taking the infinitive of the verb and removing the "-ar", "-er", "-ir"

2. Adding the ending of the person doing the action

Preterite tense: irregulars

There are some irregular verbs in Spanish that you have to memorise. The most common are "ser" and "ir". They are identical in the preterite.

Multiple Choice

Cenar (to have dinner) + yo

• cené

• cenaste

• cenó

• cenamos

Multiple Choice

Desayunar (to have breakfast) + nosotros

• desayuné

• desayunamos

• desayunaste

• desayunaron

Multiple Choice

Cenar (to have dinner) + tú

• Cené

• cenaste

• cenamos

• cenasteis

Multiple Choice

Desayunar (to have breakfast) + vosotros

• desayunasteis

• desayunaron

• desayunamos

• desayunaste

Multiple Choice

Cenar (to have dinner) + ella

• cenamos

• cenaron

• cenó

• cenamos

Multiple Choice

Desayunar (to have breakfast) + ellos

• desayuné

• desayunaste

• desayunasteis

• desayunaron

Multiple Choice

Comprar (to buy) + yo

• compraron

• comprasteis

• compramos

• compré

Multiple Choice

Beber (to drink) + nosotros

• bebiste

• bebieron

• bebimos

• bebió

Multiple Choice

Comer (to eat) + yo

• comió

• comiste

• comí

• comimos

Multiple Choice

Comer (to eat) + tú

• comiste

• comí

• comimos

• comieron

Multiple Choice

Beber (to drink) + ellos

• bebiste

• bebieron

• bebí

• bebió

Multiple Choice

Comer (to eat) + nosotros

• comí

• comimos

• comieron

• comiste

Multiple Choice

Ir (to go) + yo

• Fui

• fuiste

• fuimos

• fueron

Multiple Choice

Ir (to go) + nosotros

• fui

• fuiste

• fueron

• fuimos

Multiple Choice

Ser (to be) + él

• fui

• fuiste

• fue

• fuimos