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Spanish (Spain)

### The present for instructions

When you explain how something works or how to get somewhere, Spanish often uses the plain present instead of a command, the way English says *you turn the key and push*. It sounds friendly and step by step.

| command | present |
|---|---|
| **Gira** la llave y **empuja**. | **Giras** la llave y **empujas**. |
| **Coge** la segunda calle. | **Coges** la segunda calle. |

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Directions in Spain often sound just like this.

Said firmly to one person, the same present works as a clear order, with **tú** often said out loud:

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### The present for the past: history

In history, biographies and family stories, Spanish often tells past events in the present. It brings the story closer; English does the same in timelines and documentaries.

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### The present for the past: telling a story

In conversation, people in Spain often switch to the present to make a past anecdote vivid, especially at the key moment. A time word such as **ayer**, **anoche** or **el otro día** shows that it is past.

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This is informal, and speakers move freely between the past and the present within one story. In careful writing about your own past, the preterite and the imperfect are the normal choice.

Other uses of the present (giras la llave, ayer le digo)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

contraction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Singular subjects and 'ser' (yo soy, esto es)

Plural nouns and definite articles (los, las)

Plural pronouns and 'ser' (somos, sois, son)

Adjective agreement (-o, -a, -os, -as)

Indefinite articles (un, una, unos, unas)

Simple negation (no)

Yes/no questions

Regular '-ar' verbs (-o, -as, -a...)

Regular '-er' verbs (-o, -es, -e...)

Regular '-ir' verbs (-o, -es, -e...)

Locative adverbs (aquí, allí)

Question words (quién, cómo)

The verb estar (estoy, estás)

The preposition en (en)

Ser vs. estar

The verb tener (tengo, tienes)

Possessive determiners (mi, tu, su)

Origin and possession (de, del)

The verb ir (voy, vas)

Destination (a, al)

The personal 'a' (a)

Stem-changing verbs: e to ie

Stem-changing verbs: o to ue

Irregular first-person verbs

Reflexive verbs (me, te, se)

Numbers 1 to 10 (uno, dos, tres)

Numbers 11 to 20 (once, doce, trece)

Counting by tens to 100 (treinta, cuarenta, cien)

Compound numbers up to 99 (veintiuno, treinta y uno)

Days of the week (el lunes, el martes)

The family and the personal 'a' (a mi tío, a mi prima)

Months of the year

Telling time (es la, son las)

Verbs of liking (me gusta)

Plural agreement with verbs of liking (gustan)

Degree modifiers (muy, mucho)

Formal address (usted, ustedes)

Direct object pronouns (lo, la, los, las)

The near future (ir a)

Obligation (tener que)

Present continuous (-ando, -iendo)

Affirmative commands (tú, vosotros)

Basic Food and Drink

The Human Body: Head and Arms

The Human Body: Legs and Health

Wardrobe Essentials

Fresh Produce

Meals and Proteins

Public Transport

Hello and goodbye (hola, ¿qué tal?)

Thank you, sorry, OK (gracias, vale)

There is, there are (hay)

My building (la escalera, el ascensor)

Describing people (moreno, rubio, tímido)

Land and sea (el mar, el río, el norte)

Sightseeing (la plaza, la catedral)

Asking the way (cerca, a la derecha, todo recto)

In class (¿puedes repetir?)

Verb + infinitive (quiero comer, sé leer)

What's your name? (me llamo, encantado)

Phone, computer and email

Hundreds and thousands (doscientos, mil)

What do you do? (¿a qué te dedicas?)

Personal details (la edad, la fecha de nacimiento)

Me neither (también, tampoco, ni)

How much is it? (el precio, la vuelta)

What's the weather like? (hace sol, nieva)

Free time (el concierto, el tenis)

At the bar (¿qué vas a tomar?)

The Natural World

Demonstratives (este, ese, aquel)

Prepositions of place (encima de, debajo de)

Prepositional pronouns (para mí, contigo)

Ordinal numbers 1st to 10th (primero to décimo)

Adverbs of frequency (a veces, nunca)

Exclamations (¡qué...!)

Indefinite pronouns (algo, alguien)

Indefinite determiners (algún, ningún)

Indirect object pronouns (le, les)

Double object pronouns (me lo, te la)

Double object pronouns (se lo, se la)

Verbs of preference (encantar, interesar)

Impersonal obligation (hay que)

Starting and finishing actions (empezar a, terminar de)

Adjective comparatives (más que, menos que)

Comparatives of equality (tan como)

Noun comparatives (tanto como)

Question	Answer
You turn the key and push the door.	Giras la llave y empujas la puerta.
You go straight ahead and take the second street on the right.	Vas todo recto y coges la segunda calle a la derecha.
First you peel the onions and then you cut them into pieces.	Primero pelas las cebollas y luego las cortas en trozos.
You press this button and the machine turns on.	Pulsas este botón y la máquina se enciende.
You cross the bridge and turn left.	Cruzas el puente y giras a la izquierda.
You stay here and don't open the door to anyone.	Tú te quedas aquí y no abres a nadie.
Tomorrow you come early and help me with the move.	Mañana vienes temprano y me ayudas con la mudanza.
My grandfather is born in a village and goes off to Madrid very young.	Mi abuelo nace en un pueblo y se va a Madrid muy joven.
My grandparents meet at a dance and get married that same year.	Mis abuelos se conocen en un baile y se casan ese mismo año.
The war ends and many people go off to France.	La guerra termina y mucha gente se va a Francia.
The family loses everything and begins a new life in Madrid.	La familia lo pierde todo y empieza una nueva vida en Madrid.
Yesterday I tell him to come and he tells me he can't.	Ayer le digo que venga y me dice que no puede.
The other day I walk into a bar and who do I see? My boss.	El otro día entro en un bar y ¿a quién veo? A mi jefe.
Last night I'm watching TV and suddenly the power goes out.	Anoche estoy viendo la tele y de repente se va la luz.
I call her to say sorry and she hangs up on me.	La llamo para pedirle perdón y me cuelga.

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