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|[[Language/Czech/Grammar/Introduction-to-Verbs|◀️ Introduction to Verbs — Previous Lesson]]
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<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Czech|Czech]]  → [[Language/Czech/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Czech/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Present Tense</div>
Welcome to the exciting world of Czech grammar! Today, we will focus on one of the fundamental aspects of the language: the '''present tense'''. Understanding how to use the present tense is essential for expressing actions that are happening now or in the near future. This lesson will help you communicate basic ideas about your daily life, preferences, and activities—key elements for any beginner aiming to achieve conversational proficiency in Czech.
In this lesson, we will explore:
* The structure of the present tense in Czech.
* Regular and irregular verb conjugation.
* Common verbs used in everyday conversation.
* Examples to illustrate usage.
* Exercises to practice what you’ve learned.
Let’s dive into the fascinating details of the present tense!


<div class="pg_page_title">Czech Grammar → Verbs → Present Tense</div>
__TOC__
__TOC__


Hello, and welcome to the Czech Grammar lesson about present tense verbs. In this lesson, you will learn how to use the present tense to talk about things happening now or in the near future.
=== Understanding the Present Tense ===
 
The present tense in Czech is used to describe actions that are currently taking place or are habitual. Unlike English, which uses auxiliary verbs to form continuous tenses, Czech relies on verb conjugations to convey similar meanings.
 
The verb endings in Czech change based on the subject pronouns, which makes mastering this tense essential for clear communication.
 
==== Regular Verbs ====
 
Regular verbs in Czech follow a predictable pattern when conjugated. Here’s a general overview of how to conjugate regular verbs in the present tense based on their endings.
 
1. '''-at verbs''' (e.g., ''dělat'' - to do)


== Introduction to Present Tense ==
2. '''-et verbs''' (e.g., ''psát'' - to write)


The present tense is used to describe actions that are happening right now or that will happen in the near future. In Czech, the present tense has different conjugation forms depending on the gender and number of the subject.
3. '''-it verbs''' (e.g., ''číst'' - to read)


Here is an example of the present tense for the verb "to speak":
Let's break this down further.
 
=== Regular Verbs Conjugation ===
 
Below is a table summarizing the conjugation of the verb ''dělat'' (to do) as an example of a regular -at verb:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Czech !! Pronunciation !! English
! Czech !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| mluvím || [ˈmluviːm] || I am speaking
 
| já dělám || jaː ˈɟɛlaːm || I do
 
|-
|-
| mluvíš || [ˈmluviːʃ] || You are speaking (singular)
 
| ty děláš || tɪ ˈɟɛlaːʃ || You do (singular, informal)
 
|-
|-
| mluví || [ˈmluviː] || He/she/it is speaking
 
| on/ona/ono dělá || ɔn/ˈɔna/ˈɔnɔ ˈɟɛlaː || He/She/It does
 
|-
|-
| mluvíme || [ˈmluviːmɛ] || We are speaking
 
| my děláme || mɪ ˈɟɛlaːmɛ || We do
 
|-
|-
| mluvíte || [ˈmluviːtɛ] || You are speaking (plural)
 
| vy děláte || vɪ ˈɟɛlaːtɛ || You do (plural/formal)
 
|-
|-
| mluví || [ˈmluviː] || They are speaking
 
| oni dělají || ˈɔnɪ ˈɟɛlaːjɪ || They do
 
|}
|}


As you can see, the endings of the verb change depending on the subject.
Now, let’s take a look at the verb ''psát'' (to write), which is a regular -et verb:
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Czech !! Pronunciation !! English
 
|-
 
| já píšu || jaː ˈpiːʃu || I write
 
|-
 
| ty píšeš || tɪ ˈpiːʃɛʃ || You write (singular, informal)
 
|-
 
| on/ona/ono píše || ɔn/ˈɔna/ˈɔnɔ ˈpiːʃɛ || He/She/It writes


== Using Present Tense ==
|-


Present tense is used to describe actions and situations that are happening at the present moment, ongoing actions or actions that will occur in the near future. Here are some examples:
| my píšeme || mɪ ˈpiːʃɛmɛ || We write


* "Já jím" (I am eating)
|-
* "Ty čteš knihu" (You are reading a book)
* "Ona hraje tenis" (She is playing tennis)
* "My píšeme dopis" (We are writing a letter)
* "Vy vaříte večeři" (You are cooking dinner)
* "Oni poslouchají hudbu" (They are listening to music)


Remember that the present tense can be used to describe ongoing and habitual actions, as well. For example:
| vy píšete || vɪ ˈpiːʃɛtɛ || You write (plural/formal)
 
|-


* "Já běhám každé ráno" (I run every morning)
| oni píší || ˈɔnɪ ˈpiːʃiː || They write
* "Ty často pracuješ v kanceláři" (You often work in the office)
* "My rádi hraje na kytaru" (We like to play guitar)


== Regular Verbs ==
|}


The majority of Czech verbs follow the regular pattern of conjugation. To conjugate them, you simply remove the ending "t" or "ti" from the infinitive form of the verb and add the appropriate ending for the subject. Here are the endings for regular verbs in present tense:
Lastly, let’s examine the verb ''číst'' (to read), which is a regular -it verb:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Pronoun !! Verb ending
 
! Czech !! Pronunciation !! English
 
|-
|-
| já (I) || -u
 
| já čtu || jaː ˈtʃtu || I read
 
|-
|-
| ty (you) singular || t or íš
 
| ty čteš || tɪ ˈtʃtɛʃ || You read (singular, informal)
 
|-
|-
| on/ona/ono (he/she/it) || -í
 
| on/ona/ono čte || ɔn/ˈɔna/ˈɔnɔ ˈtʃtɛ || He/She/It reads
 
|-
|-
| my (we) || -íme
 
| my čteme || mɪ ˈtʃtɛmɛ || We read
 
|-
|-
| vy (you) plural || -íte
 
| vy čtete || vɪ ˈtʃtɛtɛ || You read (plural/formal)
 
|-
|-
| oni/ony/ona (they) || -í
 
| oni čtou || ˈɔnɪ ˈtʃtoʊ || They read
 
|}
|}


== Irregular Verbs ==
==== Irregular Verbs ====


There are some verbs in Czech that don't follow the regular pattern. They have specific conjugation forms that you should memorize, like "jít" (to go), "být" (to be) or "dělat" (to do).
Now, let’s discuss a few common irregular verbs. Irregular verbs don’t follow the standard conjugation patterns, so they require a bit more memorization. Here are some frequently used irregular verbs:


Here are some examples:
1. '''být''' (to be)
 
2. '''mít''' (to have)
 
3. '''jít''' (to go)
 
Here’s how to conjugate these irregular verbs in the present tense:
 
'''Conjugation of ''být'' (to be)'''


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Czech !! Pronunciation !! English
! Czech !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| jdu || [jtʊ] || I go
 
| já jsem || jaː ˈjɛsɛm || I am
 
|-
|-
| jdeš || [jdɛʃ] || You go (singular)
 
| ty jsi || tɪ ˈjɪsɪ || You are (singular, informal)
 
|-
|-
| jde || [jdɛ] || He/she/it goes
 
| on/ona/ono je || ɔn/ˈɔna/ˈɔnɔ jɛ || He/She/It is
 
|-
|-
| jdeme || [jdemɛ] || We go
 
| my jsme || mɪ ˈjʊsɛm || We are
 
|-
|-
| jdete || [jdɛtɛ] || You go (plural)
 
| vy jste || vɪ ˈjɛstɛ || You are (plural/formal)
 
|-
|-
| jdou || [jdoʊ] || They go
 
| oni jsou || ˈɔnɪ ˈjɔʊ || They are
 
|}
|}
'''Conjugation of ''mít'' (to have)'''


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Czech !! Pronunciation !! English
! Czech !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| jsem || [jɛsm] || I am
 
| já mám || jaː ˈmaːm || I have
 
|-
|-
| jsi || [jɪ] || You are (singular)
 
| ty máš || tɪ ˈmaːʃ || You have (singular, informal)
 
|-
|-
| je || [jɛ] || He/she/it is
 
| on/ona/ono má || ɔn/ˈɔna/ˈɔnɔ maː || He/She/It has
 
|-
|-
| jsme || [jismɛ] || We are
 
| my máme || mɪ ˈmaːmɛ || We have
 
|-
|-
| jste || [jstɛ] || You are (plural)
 
| vy máte || vɪ ˈmaːtɛ || You have (plural/formal)
 
|-
|-
| jsou || [jsou] || They are
 
| oni mají || ˈɔnɪ ˈmaːjʊ || They have
 
|}
|}
'''Conjugation of ''jít'' (to go)'''


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Czech !! Pronunciation !! English
! Czech !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| dělám || [dɛlaːm] || I do
 
| já jdu || jaː ˈjdu || I go
 
|-
|-
| děláš || [dɛlaːʃ] || You do (singular)
 
| ty jdeš || tɪ ˈjɛʃ || You go (singular, informal)
 
|-
|-
| dělá || [dɛlaː] || He/she/it does
 
| on/ona/ono jde || ɔn/ˈɔna/ˈɔnɔ jɛ || He/She/It goes
 
|-
|-
| děláme || [dɛlaːmɛ] || We do
 
| my jdeme || mɪ ˈjɛdɛmɛ || We go
 
|-
|-
| děláte || [dɛlaːtɛ] || You do (plural)
 
| vy jdete || vɪ ˈjɛdɛtɛ || You go (plural/formal)
 
|-
|-
| dělají || [dɛlaːjiː] || They do
 
| oni jdou || ˈɔnɪ ˈjdoʊ || They go
 
|}
|}


== Exercises ==
=== Everyday Usage of the Present Tense ===
 
Now that we understand the basic structure and conjugation of the present tense in Czech, let’s look at some practical examples of how to use these verbs in everyday conversations.
 
Here are 20 example sentences that show how to use present tense verbs in context:
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Czech !! Pronunciation !! English
 
|-
 
| Já jím jablko. || jaː ˈjiːm ˈjabɫko || I am eating an apple.
 
|-
 
| Ty mluvíš anglicky? || tɪ ˈmluːviːʃ ˈaŋɡlɪtski || Do you speak English?
 
|-
 
| On hraje fotbal. || ɔn ˈɦraːjɛ ˈfɔtbaɫ || He is playing football.
 
|-
 
| Ona čte knihu. || ɔna ˈtʃtɛ ˈkniɦu || She is reading a book.
 
|-


Here are some practical exercises for you to practice the present tense.
| My bydlíme v Praze. || mɪ ˈbɪdliːmɛ v ˈpraːzɛ || We live in Prague.


1. Translate the following sentences into Czech:
|-
* I am watching TV.
* She is studying at the library.
* We are walking in the park.
* They are playing football.


2. Conjugate the verb "líst" (to read) in present tense for all persons.
| Vy pracujete v kanceláři. || vɪ ˈpraːt͡suːjɛtɛ v ˈkantsɛlaːrɪ || You work in an office.


== Conclusion ==
|-


Congratulations! You have learned how to use the present tense to describe actions and situations happening now or in the near future in Czech. Keep practicing and using the present tense until it becomes second-nature to you.
| Oni hrají na kytaru. || ˈɔnɪ ˈɦrajiː na kɪˈtaːru || They are playing the guitar.


== Sources ==
|-
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_verbs Czech verbs]
 
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_language Czech language]
| Já dělám domácí úkol. || jaː ˈdɛlaːm doˈmaːtsiː ˈuːkoɫ || I am doing homework.
 
|-
 
| Ty jíš těstoviny? || tɪ ˈjiːʃ ˈtɕɛstovɪnɪ || Do you eat pasta?
 
|-
 
| On miluje zvířata. || ɔn ˈmɪluːjɛ ˈzvɪːrata || He loves animals.
 
|-
 
| Ona nakupuje v obchodě. || ɔna ˈnakuːpʊjɛ v ˈobxɔdʲɛ || She is shopping at the store.
 
|-
 
| My se učíme česky. || mɪ sɛ ˈuːt͡ʃɪːmɛ ˈtʃɛski || We are learning Czech.
 
|-
 
| Vy pijete kávu? || vɪ ˈpɪjɛtɛ ˈkaːvu || Do you drink coffee?
 
|-
 
| Oni cestují do zahraničí. || ˈɔnɪ ˈt͡sɛstujɪ ˈdoː ˈzaxraɪ̯niːʧɪ || They are traveling abroad.
 
|-
 
| Já poslouchám hudbu. || jaː ˈposlʊxaːm ˈɦudbu || I am listening to music.
 
|-
 
| Ty cvičíš každý den. || tɪ ˈtsvɪt͡ʃiːʃ ˈkaʒdɪ ˈdɛn || You exercise every day.
 
|-
 
| On vaří večeři. || ɔn ˈvaːrɪ ˈvɛt͡ʃɛrɪ || He cooks dinner.
 
|-
 
| Ona fotí přírodu. || ɔna ˈfoɾiː ˈpʃɪːroʊdu || She takes pictures of nature.
 
|-
 
| My máme rádi zmrzlinu. || mɪ ˈmaːmɛ ˈraːdɪ ˈzmrzlinu || We like ice cream.
 
|-
 
| Vy hrajete šachy? || vɪ ˈɦraɪ̯tɛ ˈʃaxɪ || Do you play chess?
 
|-
 
| Oni uklízejí v bytě. || ˈɔnɪ ˈuːklɪzeːjɪ v ˈbɪtʲɛ || They are cleaning the apartment.
 
|}
 
=== Exercises for Practice ===
 
Now it’s time to put your knowledge to the test! Here are 10 exercises for you to practice your understanding of the present tense.
 
==== Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks ====
 
Complete the following sentences with the correct form of the verbs in parentheses.
 
1. Já _____ (jít) do školy. 
 
2. Ty _____ (být) můj přítel. 
 
3. Ona _____ (mít) novou knihu. 
 
4. My _____ (dělat) domácí úkoly. 
 
5. Oni _____ (hrát) fotbal každý víkend. 
 
'''Answers:'''
 
1. Já '''jdu''' do školy. 
 
2. Ty '''jsi''' můj přítel. 
 
3. Ona '''má''' novou knihu. 
 
4. My '''děláme''' domácí úkoly. 
 
5. Oni '''hrají''' fotbal každý víkend. 
 
==== Exercise 2: Translate into Czech ====
 
Translate the following sentences into Czech.
 
1. I love music. 
 
2. You (plural) are eating pasta. 
 
3. He reads a book. 
 
4. She speaks Czech. 
 
5. We are studying. 
 
'''Answers:'''
 
1. Já '''miluji''' hudbu. 
 
2. Vy '''jíte''' těstoviny. 
 
3. On '''čte''' knihu. 
 
4. Ona '''mluví''' česky. 
 
5. My '''se učíme'''.
 
==== Exercise 3: Conjugate the verb ====
 
Conjugate the verb ''hrát'' (to play) in the present tense.
 
'''Answers:'''
 
* já '''hraji''' 
 
* ty '''hraješ''' 
 
* on/ona/ono '''hraje''' 
 
* my '''hrajeme''' 
 
* vy '''hrajete''' 
 
* oni '''hrají''' 
 
==== Exercise 4: Circle the correct verb form ====
 
Choose the correct verb form for each sentence:
 
1. (On/Ony) _____ (jít) do parku. 
 
2. (Já/Ty) _____ (mít) rád zmrzlinu. 
 
3. (Oni/My) _____ (být) šťastní.
 
4. (Ty/My) _____ (dělat) cvičení každý den. 
 
5. (Ona/Vy) _____ (číst) noviny. 
 
'''Answers:'''
 
1. On '''jde''' do parku. 
 
2. Já '''mám''' rád zmrzlinu. 
 
3. Oni '''jsou''' šťastní. 
 
4. Ty '''děláš''' cvičení každý den. 
 
5. Ona '''čte''' noviny. 
 
==== Exercise 5: Create your own sentences ====
 
Write five sentences in Czech using the present tense about your daily activities.
 
'''Example Answers:'''
 
1. Já '''jím''' snídani. 
 
2. Ty '''píšeš''' e-mail. 
 
3. On '''pracuje''' v kanceláři. 
 
4. Ona '''studuje''' na univerzitě. 
 
5. My '''chodíme''' na procházky. 
 
==== Exercise 6: Matching ====
 
Match the sentence parts:
 
1. Já (a) _____ fotbal. 
 
2. Ty (b) _____ rádi zmrzlinu. 
 
3. On (c) _____ do školy. 
 
4. My (d) _____ čtu knihu. 
 
5. Oni (e) _____ hrají. 
 
'''Answers:'''
 
1. Já (c) '''jdu''' do školy. 
 
2. Ty (b) '''máš''' rádi zmrzlinu. 
 
3. On (e) '''hrají''' fotbal. 
 
4. My (d) '''čtu''' knihu. 
 
5. Oni (a) '''hrají'''. 
 
==== Exercise 7: Change the subject ====
 
Change the subject of the following sentences from singular to plural:
 
1. Ona čte knihu. 
 
2. Ty píšeš dopis. 
 
3. On hraje na kytaru. 
 
4. Já jím jablko. 
 
5. My pracujeme v kanceláři.
 
'''Answers:'''
 
1. Ony čtou knihy. 
 
2. Vy píšete dopisy. 
 
3. Oni hrají na kytary. 
 
4. My jíme jablka. 
 
5. My pracujeme v kancelářích. 
 
==== Exercise 8: Identify the tense ====
 
Identify whether the following sentences are in the present, past, or future tense:
 
1. Já jdu do práce. 
 
2. Ty jsi šťastný. 
 
3. Oni budou cestovat. 
 
4. Ona vařila večeři. 
 
5. My hrajeme šachy. 
 
'''Answers:'''
 
1. Present 
 
2. Past 
 
3. Future 
 
4. Past 
 
5. Present 
 
==== Exercise 9: Fill in the blanks with the correct form ====
 
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb ''být'' (to be):
 
1. My _____ studenti. 
 
2. On _____ doktor. 
 
3. Ty _____ velmi šťastný. 
 
4. Já _____ doma. 
 
5. Oni _____ v parku. 
 
'''Answers:'''
 
1. My '''jsme''' studenti. 
 
2. On '''je''' doktor. 
 
3. Ty '''jsi''' velmi šťastný. 
 
4. Já '''jsem''' doma. 
 
5. Oni '''jsou''' v parku. 
 
==== Exercise 10: Describe your daily routine ====
 
Write a short paragraph describing your daily routine using the present tense verbs you learned.
 
'''Example Answer:'''
 
Každé ráno vstávám, snídám a jdu do školy. Po škole se učím a dělám úkoly. Večer se setkávám s přáteli a hrajeme fotbal.
 
Congratulations on completing this lesson on the present tense! With practice, you’ll become more comfortable using these structures in conversation. Keep practicing, and don't hesitate to revisit any sections that need more attention.


{{#seo:
{{#seo:
|title=Czech Grammar Lesson: Present Tense Verbs
 
|keywords=Czech grammar, present tense, Czech verbs
|title=Czech Grammar Present Tense Lesson
|description=In this lesson, you will learn how to use the present tense in Czech to describe actions and situations happening now or in the near future.
 
|keywords=Czech language, present tense, grammar, verb conjugation, Czech for beginners
 
|description=In this lesson, you will learn how to use the present tense in Czech, including conjugation of regular and irregular verbs with practical examples and exercises.
 
}}
}}


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==Videos==
==Videos==
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===Learn Czech Conjugation of Czech verbs. Přítomný čas - Present ...===
===Learn Czech Conjugation of Czech verbs. Přítomný čas - Present ...===
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6ZL78pUUqw</youtube>
<youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6ZL78pUUqw</youtube>
==Sources==
* [https://www.czechclass101.com/blog/2021/07/08/czech-tenses/ Czech Tenses: Expressing the Past, Present, and Future]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_conjugation Czech conjugation - Wikipedia]
* [https://www.lingq.com/en/learn-english-online/courses/49368/czech-language-verb-tenses-85474/ Czech Republic, Czechoslovakia, Czech language - Verb tenses]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_language Czech language - Wikipedia]
==Other Lessons==
* [[Language/Czech/Grammar/Past-Tense|Past Tense]]
* [[Language/Czech/Grammar/Adjectives|Adjectives]]
* [[Language/Czech/Grammar/Vowels|Vowels]]
* [[Language/Czech/Grammar/Possessive-Pronouns|Possessive Pronouns]]
* [[Language/Czech/Grammar/Conditional-Mood|Conditional Mood]]
* [[Language/Czech/Grammar/Verbs|Verbs]]
* [[Language/Czech/Grammar/Verb-to-speak-in-Czech|Verb to speak in Czech]]
* [[Language/Czech/Grammar/Personal-Pronouns|Personal Pronouns]]
* [[Language/Czech/Grammar/Negation|Negation]]
* [[Language/Czech/Grammar/Possessive-Case-in-Czech|Possessive Case in Czech]]


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{| class="wikitable pg_template_nav"
|[[Language/Czech/Grammar/Introduction-to-Verbs|◀️ Introduction to Verbs — Previous Lesson]]
|[[Language/Czech/Grammar/Past-Tense|Next Lesson — Past Tense ▶️]]
|}
</span>

Latest revision as of 04:06, 1 August 2024

◀️ Introduction to Verbs — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Past Tense ▶️

Czech-Language-PolyglotClub.png
Czech → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Present Tense

Welcome to the exciting world of Czech grammar! Today, we will focus on one of the fundamental aspects of the language: the present tense. Understanding how to use the present tense is essential for expressing actions that are happening now or in the near future. This lesson will help you communicate basic ideas about your daily life, preferences, and activities—key elements for any beginner aiming to achieve conversational proficiency in Czech.

In this lesson, we will explore:

  • The structure of the present tense in Czech.
  • Regular and irregular verb conjugation.
  • Common verbs used in everyday conversation.
  • Examples to illustrate usage.
  • Exercises to practice what you’ve learned.

Let’s dive into the fascinating details of the present tense!

Understanding the Present Tense[edit | edit source]

The present tense in Czech is used to describe actions that are currently taking place or are habitual. Unlike English, which uses auxiliary verbs to form continuous tenses, Czech relies on verb conjugations to convey similar meanings.

The verb endings in Czech change based on the subject pronouns, which makes mastering this tense essential for clear communication.

Regular Verbs[edit | edit source]

Regular verbs in Czech follow a predictable pattern when conjugated. Here’s a general overview of how to conjugate regular verbs in the present tense based on their endings.

1. -at verbs (e.g., dělat - to do)

2. -et verbs (e.g., psát - to write)

3. -it verbs (e.g., číst - to read)

Let's break this down further.

Regular Verbs Conjugation[edit | edit source]

Below is a table summarizing the conjugation of the verb dělat (to do) as an example of a regular -at verb:

Czech Pronunciation English
já dělám jaː ˈɟɛlaːm I do
ty děláš tɪ ˈɟɛlaːʃ You do (singular, informal)
on/ona/ono dělá ɔn/ˈɔna/ˈɔnɔ ˈɟɛlaː He/She/It does
my děláme mɪ ˈɟɛlaːmɛ We do
vy děláte vɪ ˈɟɛlaːtɛ You do (plural/formal)
oni dělají ˈɔnɪ ˈɟɛlaːjɪ They do

Now, let’s take a look at the verb psát (to write), which is a regular -et verb:

Czech Pronunciation English
já píšu jaː ˈpiːʃu I write
ty píšeš tɪ ˈpiːʃɛʃ You write (singular, informal)
on/ona/ono píše ɔn/ˈɔna/ˈɔnɔ ˈpiːʃɛ He/She/It writes
my píšeme mɪ ˈpiːʃɛmɛ We write
vy píšete vɪ ˈpiːʃɛtɛ You write (plural/formal)
oni píší ˈɔnɪ ˈpiːʃiː They write

Lastly, let’s examine the verb číst (to read), which is a regular -it verb:

Czech Pronunciation English
já čtu jaː ˈtʃtu I read
ty čteš tɪ ˈtʃtɛʃ You read (singular, informal)
on/ona/ono čte ɔn/ˈɔna/ˈɔnɔ ˈtʃtɛ He/She/It reads
my čteme mɪ ˈtʃtɛmɛ We read
vy čtete vɪ ˈtʃtɛtɛ You read (plural/formal)
oni čtou ˈɔnɪ ˈtʃtoʊ They read

Irregular Verbs[edit | edit source]

Now, let’s discuss a few common irregular verbs. Irregular verbs don’t follow the standard conjugation patterns, so they require a bit more memorization. Here are some frequently used irregular verbs:

1. být (to be)

2. mít (to have)

3. jít (to go)

Here’s how to conjugate these irregular verbs in the present tense:

Conjugation of být (to be)

Czech Pronunciation English
já jsem jaː ˈjɛsɛm I am
ty jsi tɪ ˈjɪsɪ You are (singular, informal)
on/ona/ono je ɔn/ˈɔna/ˈɔnɔ jɛ He/She/It is
my jsme mɪ ˈjʊsɛm We are
vy jste vɪ ˈjɛstɛ You are (plural/formal)
oni jsou ˈɔnɪ ˈjɔʊ They are

Conjugation of mít (to have)

Czech Pronunciation English
já mám jaː ˈmaːm I have
ty máš tɪ ˈmaːʃ You have (singular, informal)
on/ona/ono má ɔn/ˈɔna/ˈɔnɔ maː He/She/It has
my máme mɪ ˈmaːmɛ We have
vy máte vɪ ˈmaːtɛ You have (plural/formal)
oni mají ˈɔnɪ ˈmaːjʊ They have

Conjugation of jít (to go)

Czech Pronunciation English
já jdu jaː ˈjdu I go
ty jdeš tɪ ˈjɛʃ You go (singular, informal)
on/ona/ono jde ɔn/ˈɔna/ˈɔnɔ jɛ He/She/It goes
my jdeme mɪ ˈjɛdɛmɛ We go
vy jdete vɪ ˈjɛdɛtɛ You go (plural/formal)
oni jdou ˈɔnɪ ˈjdoʊ They go

Everyday Usage of the Present Tense[edit | edit source]

Now that we understand the basic structure and conjugation of the present tense in Czech, let’s look at some practical examples of how to use these verbs in everyday conversations.

Here are 20 example sentences that show how to use present tense verbs in context:

Czech Pronunciation English
Já jím jablko. jaː ˈjiːm ˈjabɫko I am eating an apple.
Ty mluvíš anglicky? tɪ ˈmluːviːʃ ˈaŋɡlɪtski Do you speak English?
On hraje fotbal. ɔn ˈɦraːjɛ ˈfɔtbaɫ He is playing football.
Ona čte knihu. ɔna ˈtʃtɛ ˈkniɦu She is reading a book.
My bydlíme v Praze. mɪ ˈbɪdliːmɛ v ˈpraːzɛ We live in Prague.
Vy pracujete v kanceláři. vɪ ˈpraːt͡suːjɛtɛ v ˈkantsɛlaːrɪ You work in an office.
Oni hrají na kytaru. ˈɔnɪ ˈɦrajiː na kɪˈtaːru They are playing the guitar.
Já dělám domácí úkol. jaː ˈdɛlaːm doˈmaːtsiː ˈuːkoɫ I am doing homework.
Ty jíš těstoviny? tɪ ˈjiːʃ ˈtɕɛstovɪnɪ Do you eat pasta?
On miluje zvířata. ɔn ˈmɪluːjɛ ˈzvɪːrata He loves animals.
Ona nakupuje v obchodě. ɔna ˈnakuːpʊjɛ v ˈobxɔdʲɛ She is shopping at the store.
My se učíme česky. mɪ sɛ ˈuːt͡ʃɪːmɛ ˈtʃɛski We are learning Czech.
Vy pijete kávu? vɪ ˈpɪjɛtɛ ˈkaːvu Do you drink coffee?
Oni cestují do zahraničí. ˈɔnɪ ˈt͡sɛstujɪ ˈdoː ˈzaxraɪ̯niːʧɪ They are traveling abroad.
Já poslouchám hudbu. jaː ˈposlʊxaːm ˈɦudbu I am listening to music.
Ty cvičíš každý den. tɪ ˈtsvɪt͡ʃiːʃ ˈkaʒdɪ ˈdɛn You exercise every day.
On vaří večeři. ɔn ˈvaːrɪ ˈvɛt͡ʃɛrɪ He cooks dinner.
Ona fotí přírodu. ɔna ˈfoɾiː ˈpʃɪːroʊdu She takes pictures of nature.
My máme rádi zmrzlinu. mɪ ˈmaːmɛ ˈraːdɪ ˈzmrzlinu We like ice cream.
Vy hrajete šachy? vɪ ˈɦraɪ̯tɛ ˈʃaxɪ Do you play chess?
Oni uklízejí v bytě. ˈɔnɪ ˈuːklɪzeːjɪ v ˈbɪtʲɛ They are cleaning the apartment.

Exercises for Practice[edit | edit source]

Now it’s time to put your knowledge to the test! Here are 10 exercises for you to practice your understanding of the present tense.

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks[edit | edit source]

Complete the following sentences with the correct form of the verbs in parentheses.

1. Já _____ (jít) do školy.

2. Ty _____ (být) můj přítel.

3. Ona _____ (mít) novou knihu.

4. My _____ (dělat) domácí úkoly.

5. Oni _____ (hrát) fotbal každý víkend.

Answers:

1. Já jdu do školy.

2. Ty jsi můj přítel.

3. Ona má novou knihu.

4. My děláme domácí úkoly.

5. Oni hrají fotbal každý víkend.

Exercise 2: Translate into Czech[edit | edit source]

Translate the following sentences into Czech.

1. I love music.

2. You (plural) are eating pasta.

3. He reads a book.

4. She speaks Czech.

5. We are studying.

Answers:

1. Já miluji hudbu.

2. Vy jíte těstoviny.

3. On čte knihu.

4. Ona mluví česky.

5. My se učíme.

Exercise 3: Conjugate the verb[edit | edit source]

Conjugate the verb hrát (to play) in the present tense.

Answers:

  • já hraji
  • ty hraješ
  • on/ona/ono hraje
  • my hrajeme
  • vy hrajete
  • oni hrají

Exercise 4: Circle the correct verb form[edit | edit source]

Choose the correct verb form for each sentence:

1. (On/Ony) _____ (jít) do parku.

2. (Já/Ty) _____ (mít) rád zmrzlinu.

3. (Oni/My) _____ (být) šťastní.

4. (Ty/My) _____ (dělat) cvičení každý den.

5. (Ona/Vy) _____ (číst) noviny.

Answers:

1. On jde do parku.

2. Já mám rád zmrzlinu.

3. Oni jsou šťastní.

4. Ty děláš cvičení každý den.

5. Ona čte noviny.

Exercise 5: Create your own sentences[edit | edit source]

Write five sentences in Czech using the present tense about your daily activities.

Example Answers:

1. Já jím snídani.

2. Ty píšeš e-mail.

3. On pracuje v kanceláři.

4. Ona studuje na univerzitě.

5. My chodíme na procházky.

Exercise 6: Matching[edit | edit source]

Match the sentence parts:

1. Já (a) _____ fotbal.

2. Ty (b) _____ rádi zmrzlinu.

3. On (c) _____ do školy.

4. My (d) _____ čtu knihu.

5. Oni (e) _____ hrají.

Answers:

1. Já (c) jdu do školy.

2. Ty (b) máš rádi zmrzlinu.

3. On (e) hrají fotbal.

4. My (d) čtu knihu.

5. Oni (a) hrají.

Exercise 7: Change the subject[edit | edit source]

Change the subject of the following sentences from singular to plural:

1. Ona čte knihu.

2. Ty píšeš dopis.

3. On hraje na kytaru.

4. Já jím jablko.

5. My pracujeme v kanceláři.

Answers:

1. Ony čtou knihy.

2. Vy píšete dopisy.

3. Oni hrají na kytary.

4. My jíme jablka.

5. My pracujeme v kancelářích.

Exercise 8: Identify the tense[edit | edit source]

Identify whether the following sentences are in the present, past, or future tense:

1. Já jdu do práce.

2. Ty jsi šťastný.

3. Oni budou cestovat.

4. Ona vařila večeři.

5. My hrajeme šachy.

Answers:

1. Present

2. Past

3. Future

4. Past

5. Present

Exercise 9: Fill in the blanks with the correct form[edit | edit source]

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb být (to be):

1. My _____ studenti.

2. On _____ doktor.

3. Ty _____ velmi šťastný.

4. Já _____ doma.

5. Oni _____ v parku.

Answers:

1. My jsme studenti.

2. On je doktor.

3. Ty jsi velmi šťastný.

4. Já jsem doma.

5. Oni jsou v parku.

Exercise 10: Describe your daily routine[edit | edit source]

Write a short paragraph describing your daily routine using the present tense verbs you learned.

Example Answer:

Každé ráno vstávám, snídám a jdu do školy. Po škole se učím a dělám úkoly. Večer se setkávám s přáteli a hrajeme fotbal.

Congratulations on completing this lesson on the present tense! With practice, you’ll become more comfortable using these structures in conversation. Keep practicing, and don't hesitate to revisit any sections that need more attention.

Table of Contents - Czech Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Alphabet and Pronunciation


Nouns and Pronouns


Verbs


Adjectives and Adverbs


Greetings and Introductions


At the Restaurant


Daily Life


History and Traditions


Art and Heritage

Videos[edit | edit source]

Czech Grammar 1 - TO BE (BÝT) in Singular Present and Past ...[edit | edit source]

Quick Guide to Czech Conjugation in Present Tense - YouTube[edit | edit source]

Learn Czech Conjugation of Czech verbs. Přítomný čas - Present ...[edit | edit source]


Sources[edit | edit source]



Other Lessons[edit | edit source]



◀️ Introduction to Verbs — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Past Tense ▶️

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