by Kate McCarthy - ByITsizePro, York based website design http://www.byitsizepro.co.uk
In language there are 3 simple tenses, Past, Present and Future - unfortunately in a lot of languages (including, English, French and Spanish) it is not as simple as this. For now I am concentrating on the Spanish as this is the one I am trying to get to grips with on the tenses (note the word trying!). By writing it here it will help me to understand it a little more and maybe help others at the same time.
The present tense is the most common tense of the 3 and is the first one learned in language classes. The reason for this is that it is the most used and the most similar in the way it functions, to the English present tense.
In Spanish the simple present tense is used in much the same way as it is in English:
To describe something that is happening now: Estoy en casa - I am at home
To describe something in the near future: El tren sale a las once y media - the train leaves at 11:30
To tell a general truth or something that is repeated habitually or regularly: Él toca el piano - he plays the piano, Duermo mucho los domingos - I sleep a lot on Sundays, Mi hija es muy inteligente - my daughter is very intellegent
I a narrative, talking of the past: Va al supermercado y pega un tiro al gerente. Entonces huye a México. - he goes to the supermarket and shoots the manager. Then flees to Mexico.
Questioning - to get instructions: ¿Dónde cambio de ropa? - Where do I change clothes?
Sometimes used to state conditions or hypotheses: Often after si - meaning if. Other verb tenses can be used in these cases but generally if in English it is the present indicative then it will be in Spanish. Si salgo, estaré feliz - If I leave, I will be happy, Si tienes tiempo, ve al Perú - if you have time, go to Peru, Cuando nieva, no puedo trababjar - when it snows, I can't work
Hopefully this explains the present (simple) tense. As always, any questions then please leave a comment and I will try to answer for you. If you have enjoyed reading and found it of use then please feel free to share and all polite comments are welcomed - good to get some feedback.
Thanks for reading!
In language there are 3 simple tenses, Past, Present and Future - unfortunately in a lot of languages (including, English, French and Spanish) it is not as simple as this. For now I am concentrating on the Spanish as this is the one I am trying to get to grips with on the tenses (note the word trying!). By writing it here it will help me to understand it a little more and maybe help others at the same time.
The present tense is the most common tense of the 3 and is the first one learned in language classes. The reason for this is that it is the most used and the most similar in the way it functions, to the English present tense.
In Spanish the simple present tense is used in much the same way as it is in English:
To describe something that is happening now: Estoy en casa - I am at home
To describe something in the near future: El tren sale a las once y media - the train leaves at 11:30
To tell a general truth or something that is repeated habitually or regularly: Él toca el piano - he plays the piano, Duermo mucho los domingos - I sleep a lot on Sundays, Mi hija es muy inteligente - my daughter is very intellegent
I a narrative, talking of the past: Va al supermercado y pega un tiro al gerente. Entonces huye a México. - he goes to the supermarket and shoots the manager. Then flees to Mexico.
Questioning - to get instructions: ¿Dónde cambio de ropa? - Where do I change clothes?
Sometimes used to state conditions or hypotheses: Often after si - meaning if. Other verb tenses can be used in these cases but generally if in English it is the present indicative then it will be in Spanish. Si salgo, estaré feliz - If I leave, I will be happy, Si tienes tiempo, ve al Perú - if you have time, go to Peru, Cuando nieva, no puedo trababjar - when it snows, I can't work
Hopefully this explains the present (simple) tense. As always, any questions then please leave a comment and I will try to answer for you. If you have enjoyed reading and found it of use then please feel free to share and all polite comments are welcomed - good to get some feedback.
Thanks for reading!
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