Topic Summaries

This is used to express actions that are happening now in the simple present tense (e.g.‘I speak,’ ‘he eats,’ ‘they live’).

It is important to note that the subject pronouns (yo, tu, el, ella, nosotros, vosotros, ellos) can be omitted when writing the present indicative. For example: yo hablo español can be written as hablo español, omitting yo.

• Estar (to be): used for emotions, location, and temporary conditions.
  • Estoy cansado. I am tired. (temporary condition)
  • ¿Estás en casa? Are you at home? (location)
  • Ella está feliz. She is happy. (emotion)
  • Estamos en clase. We are in class. (location)
  • ¿Estáis listos? Are you all ready? (temporary condition)
  • Ellos están en el parque. They are in the park. (location)
• Hacer (to do / to make): used for general actions, tasks, and weather.
  • Hago mi tarea. I do my homework. (tasks)
  • ¿Haces ejercicio? Do you exercise? (general actions)
  • Él hace una pregunta. He asks a question. (general actions)
  • Hacemos pan. We make bread. (general actions)
  • ¿Hacéis un pastel? Are you making a cake? (tasks)
  • Hacen mucho trabajo. They do a lot of work. (tasks)
• Ir (to go): used for locations and directions.
  • Voy al cine. I go to the cinema.
  • ¿Vas al supermercado? Do you go to the supermarket?
  • Usted va al médico. You [formal] go to the doctor.
  • Vamos a la playa. We go to the beach.
  • ¿Vais al museo? Do you all go to the museum?
  • Ellos van a casa. They go home.
• Ser (to be): used for identity, origin, time, and permanent traits.
  • Soy profesor. I am a teacher.
  • Eres muy amable. You are very kind.
  • Es ingeniera. She is an engineer.
  • Somos hermanos. We are siblings.
  • Sois estudiantes. You all are students.
  • Son inteligentes. They are intelligent.
• Tener (to have): used in expressions for age and conditions.
  • Tengo sed. I am thirsty.
  • ¿Tienes un lápiz? Do you have a pencil?
  • Tiene miedo. He/She is afraid.
  • Tenemos un perro. We have a dog.
  • ¿Tenéis frío? Are you all cold?
  • Tienen veinte años. They are twenty years old.