Expressing Habits with "Soler"
In English, we often use adverbs like "usually" or phrases like "tend to" to describe habits and routines. In Spanish, there is a specific verb dedicated to this: soler.
To talk about a customary action, use a conjugated form of soler followed by an infinitive:
| We usually have a barbecue on Sundays. | Solemos hacer un asado los domingos. |
| I don't usually stay up late because I need to wake up early tomorrow. | No suelo trasnochar porque necesito madrugar mañana. |
Conjugating "Soler"
Soler is an o to ue stem-changing verb in the present tense. The o changes to ue in all forms except nosotros.
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | suelo |
| Tú | sueles |
| Él / Ella / Usted | suele |
| Nosotros | solemos |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | suelen |
| My grandfather usually takes a nap to relax. | Mi abuelo suele dormir la siesta para relajarse. |
| After church, they usually eat barbecue. | Después de la iglesia, ellos suelen comer asado. |
| It is a typical custom; we usually have dinner on the patio. | Es una costumbre típica; solemos cenar en el patio. |
Talking About Local Customs
You will frequently hear soler used to describe local traditions and what people generally do in a specific culture or region.
| In the country, people usually wake up very early. | En el campo, la gente suele madrugar mucho. |
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