Language/Lithuanian/Grammar/Present-Tense-Verbs
Welcome to an exciting chapter of your Lithuanian language journey! Today, we're diving into the world of present tense verbs. Understanding how to use and conjugate these verbs is crucial for building a solid foundation in Lithuanian. Present tense verbs allow you to express actions that are happening right now, making your conversations lively and engaging.
In this lesson, we will cover the following:
The Importance of Present Tense Verbs
Present tense verbs are the cornerstone of everyday communication. They help you describe what you're doing at the moment or what you do regularly. By mastering present tense verbs, you will be able to express your thoughts and feelings, share your daily routines, and engage in simple conversations with native speakers.
Structure of the Lesson
1. Introduction to Present Tense in Lithuanian
2. Conjugation of Regular Verbs
3. Conjugation of Irregular Verbs
4. Usage of Present Tense in Sentences
5. Examples of Common Present Tense Verbs
6. Practice Exercises
7. Solutions and Explanations for Exercises
Introduction to Present Tense in Lithuanian
Lithuanian, like many languages, has a distinct way of conjugating verbs to reflect the present tense. The structure can be a bit different from English, but once you grasp the patterns, it becomes much easier. In Lithuanian, verbs change form based on the subject pronoun (I, you, he/she, we, they).
Let's look at the basic present tense endings for regular verbs:
Regular Verbs
Regular verbs in Lithuanian typically follow a predictable pattern. Here are the present tense endings based on the verb's conjugation group:
- 1st Conjugation: -ti (e.g., "kalbėti" - to speak)
- 2nd Conjugation: -uoti (e.g., "mėgauti" - to enjoy)
- 3rd Conjugation: -yti (e.g., "pradėti" - to begin)
The endings will change depending on the subject pronoun. Here's how it works:
Conjugation Endings
| Subject Pronoun | 1st Conjugation (-ti) | 2nd Conjugation (-uoti) | 3rd Conjugation (-yti) |
|------------------|-----------------------|-------------------------|------------------------|
| I | -iu | -iu | -iu |
| You (singular) | -i | -i | -i |
| He/She | -a | -a | -a |
| We | -ame | -ame | -ame |
| You (plural) | -ate | -ate | -ate |
| They | -a | -a | -a |
Conjugation of Regular Verbs
Let's take a closer look at how to conjugate regular verbs in the present tense. We will focus on three common verbs: "kalbėti" (to speak), "mėgauti" (to enjoy), and "pradėti" (to begin).
Example Conjugations
| Lithuanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| aš kalbu | aʃ kalbu | I speak |
| tu kalbi | tu kalbi | you speak |
| jis/ji kalba | jis/ji kalba | he/she speaks |
| mes kalbame | mes kalbame | we speak |
| jūs kalbate | jūs kalbate | you (plural) speak |
| jie/jos kalba | jie/jos kalba | they speak |
For the verb "mėgauti" (to enjoy), the conjugation looks like this:
| Lithuanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| aš mėgaujuosi | aʃ mėgaujuosi | I enjoy |
| tu mėgaujiesi | tu mėgaujiesi | you enjoy |
| jis/ji mėgaujasi | jis/ji mėgaujasi | he/she enjoys |
| mes mėgaujamės | mes mėgaujamės | we enjoy |
| jūs mėgaujatės | jūs mėgaujatės | you (plural) enjoy |
| jie/jos mėgaujasi | jie/jos mėgaujasi | they enjoy |
Finally, for "pradėti" (to begin):
| Lithuanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| aš pradedu | aʃ pradedu | I begin |
| tu pradedai | tu pradedai | you begin |
| jis/ji pradeda | jis/ji pradeda | he/she begins |
| mes pradedame | mes pradedame | we begin |
| jūs pradedate | jūs pradedate | you (plural) begin |
| jie/jos pradeda | jie/jos pradeda | they begin |
Conjugation of Irregular Verbs
In addition to regular verbs, Lithuanian has a number of irregular verbs that do not follow the standard patterns. Let's look at a couple of common irregular verbs: "būti" (to be) and "turėti" (to have).
Example Conjugations
| Lithuanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| aš esu | aʃ esu | I am |
| tu esi | tu esi | you are |
| jis/ji yra | jis/ji yra | he/she is |
| mes esame | mes esame | we are |
| jūs esate | jūs esate | you (plural) are |
| jie/jos yra | jie/jos yra | they are |
For the verb "turėti" (to have):
| Lithuanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| aš turiu | aʃ turiu | I have |
| tu turi | tu turi | you have |
| jis/ji turi | jis/ji turi | he/she has |
| mes turime | mes turime | we have |
| jūs turite | jūs turite | you (plural) have |
| jie/jos turi | jie/jos turi | they have |
Usage of Present Tense in Sentences
Now that we understand how to conjugate both regular and irregular verbs, let's look at how to use these verbs in sentences. The present tense is used to express:
- Ongoing Actions: What you are doing right now.
- Habitual Actions: What you do regularly.
- General Truths: Facts that are always true.
Sentence Examples
Here are some examples demonstrating each of these uses:
1. Ongoing Action:
- Aš skaitau knygą. (I am reading a book.)
2. Habitual Action:
- Tu valgai pusryčius kiekvieną rytą. (You eat breakfast every morning.)
3. General Truth:
- Vanduo užšąla 0 laipsnių. (Water freezes at 0 degrees.)
Examples of Common Present Tense Verbs
To help you build your vocabulary, here are some common verbs used in everyday conversation, along with their conjugations.
Common Verbs
1. Daryti (to do)
| Lithuanian | Pronunciation | English |
|-------------|---------------|---------|
| aš darau | aʃ darau | I do |
| tu darai | tu darai | you do |
| jis/ji daro | jis/ji daro | he/she does |
| mes darome | mes darome | we do |
| jūs darote | jūs darote | you (plural) do |
| jie/jos daro| jie/jos daro | they do |
2. Eiti (to go)
| Lithuanian | Pronunciation | English |
|-------------|---------------|---------|
| aš einu | aʃ einu | I go |
| tu eini | tu eini | you go |
| jis/ji eina | jis/ji eina | he/she goes |
| mes einame | mes einame | we go |
| jūs einate | jūs einate | you (plural) go |
| jie/jos eina| jie/jos eina | they go |
3. Mokyti (to teach)
| Lithuanian | Pronunciation | English |
|-------------|---------------|---------|
| aš moko | aʃ moko | I teach |
| tu moko | tu moko | you teach|
| jis/ji moko | jis/ji moko | he/she teaches |
| mes mokome | mes mokome | we teach |
| jūs mokote | jūs mokote | you (plural) teach |
| jie/jos moko| jie/jos moko | they teach |
4. Žaisti (to play)
| Lithuanian | Pronunciation | English |
|-------------|---------------|---------|
| aš žaidžiu | aʃ žaidžiu | I play |
| tu žaidi | tu žaidi | you play |
| jis/ji žaidžia | jis/ji žaidžia | he/she plays |
| mes žaidžiame | mes žaidžiame | we play |
| jūs žaidžiate | jūs žaidžiate | you (plural) play |
| jie/jos žaidžia | jie/jos žaidžia | they play |
Practice Exercises
Now it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Below are some exercises designed to help you practice conjugating present tense verbs.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.
1. Aš (būti) ______ studentas.
2. Tu (turėti) ______ katę.
3. Mes (žaisti) ______ futbolą.
4. Jie (kalbėti) ______ angliškai.
5. Ji (mėgauti) ______ muziką.
Exercise 2: Conjugate the verbs
Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense for all subject pronouns.
1. Eiti (to go)
2. Mokyti (to teach)
Exercise 3: Translate the sentences
Translate the following sentences into Lithuanian.
1. I have a dog.
2. You are happy.
3. They play soccer every Saturday.
4. We enjoy traveling.
Exercise 4: Create sentences
Write sentences using the following verbs in the present tense.
1. Daryti (to do)
2. Kalbėti (to speak)
Exercise 5: Yes/No questions
Formulate yes/no questions using the present tense of the verb "būti" (to be).
1. You are a teacher.
2. They are friends.
Exercise 6: Multiple choice
Choose the correct form of the verb to complete the sentence.
1. Tu (turi/turiu) ______ knygą.
2. Mes (esate/esame) ______ laimingi.
Exercise 7: Match the pairs
Match the Lithuanian verbs with their English translations.
1. Mėgauti
2. Žaisti
3. Daryti
4. Kalbėti
a. to play
b. to do
c. to enjoy
d. to speak
Exercise 8: Write your routine
Write a short paragraph about your daily routine using present tense verbs.
Exercise 9: Role-play
Pair up with a classmate and role-play a conversation using present tense verbs. One person should ask about the other’s hobbies, and the other should respond.
Exercise 10: Verb chart
Create a verb chart for the following verbs, including all subject pronouns:
1. Būti (to be)
2. Turėti (to have)
Solutions and Explanations for Exercises
Now, let's go over the solutions for the exercises to reinforce your understanding.
Solutions to Exercise 1
1. Aš esiu studentas.
2. Tu turi katę.
3. Mes žaidi futbolą.
4. Jie kalba angliškai.
5. Ji mėgaujasi muziką.
Solutions to Exercise 2
Eiti
| Subject Pronoun | Present Tense |
|------------------|---------------|
| aš | einu |
| tu | eini |
| jis/ji | eina |
| mes | einame |
| jūs | einate |
| jie/jos | eina |
Mokyti
| Subject Pronoun | Present Tense |
|------------------|---------------|
| aš | moko |
| tu | moko |
| jis/ji | moko |
| mes | mokome |
| jūs | mokote |
| jie/jos | moko |
Solutions to Exercise 3
1. Aš turiu šunį.
2. Tu esi laimingas.
3. Jie žaidžia futbolą kiekvieną šeštadienį.
4. Mes mėgaujamės kelionėmis.
Solutions to Exercise 4
Example Sentences
1. Aš darau namų darbus. (I do homework.)
2. Tu kalbi lietuviškai. (You speak Lithuanian.)
Solutions to Exercise 5
1. Ar tu esi mokytojas? (Are you a teacher?)
2. Ar jie yra draugai? (Are they friends?)
Solutions to Exercise 6
1. Tu turi knygą.
2. Mes esame laimingi.
Solutions to Exercise 7
1-c, 2-a, 3-b, 4-d
Solutions to Exercise 8
Example Routine
Aš keliuosi anksti ryte. Aš valgau pusryčius ir einu į mokyklą. (I wake up early in the morning. I eat breakfast and go to school.)
Solutions to Exercise 9
Example Role-play
Person A: Kokius hobius tu turi? (What hobbies do you have?)
Person B: Aš mėgstu piešti ir žaisti futbolą. (I like to draw and play soccer.)
Solutions to Exercise 10
Būti
| Subject Pronoun | Present Tense |
|------------------|---------------|
| aš | esu |
| tu | esi |
| jis/ji | yra |
| mes | esame |
| jūs | esate |
| jie/jos | yra |
Turėti
| Subject Pronoun | Present Tense |
|------------------|---------------|
| aš | turiu |
| tu | turi |
| jis/ji | turi |
| mes | turime |
| jūs | turite |
| jie/jos | turi |
Congratulations on completing this lesson on present tense verbs! Remember, practice makes perfect, and the more you use these verbs in your daily conversations, the more natural they will feel. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to seeing you in the next lesson!
Videos
Lithuanian grammar (1) - Present tense - YouTube
Sources
Other Lessons
- Genitive Case
- Adjectives
- Nouns
- Plural Forms of Nouns and Adjectives
- Singular and Plural Nouns
- Conditional Mood
- Negation
- Multipurpose Words and Suffixes
- Future Tense