Grammar reference

Spanish Tense Guides

Understand when each major Spanish tense is used, how regular forms are built, and what the conjugations look like across all six persons.

Presente de indicativo

Spanish Present Tense

Use the Spanish present tense for what happens now, repeated routines, general truths, and near-future plans.

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Pretérito indefinido

Spanish Preterite Tense

Use the Spanish preterite for completed past actions and events viewed as having a clear beginning or end.

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Pretérito imperfecto

Spanish Imperfect Tense

Use the Spanish imperfect for ongoing past situations, descriptions, background information, and habitual actions.

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Futuro simple

Spanish Future Tense

Use the Spanish future tense for future events, promises, predictions, and probability about the present.

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See these tenses with real verbs

Open a complete verb guide to compare forms across present, past, future, perfect, subjunctive, and imperative tables.

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