Language/Czech/Grammar/Present-Tense
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.
Introduction to Present Tense
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.
Here is an example of the present tense for the verb "to speak":
Czech | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
mluvím | [ˈmluviːm] | I am speaking |
mluvíš | [ˈmluviːʃ] | You are speaking (singular) |
mluví | [ˈmluviː] | He/she/it is speaking |
mluvíme | [ˈmluviːmɛ] | We are speaking |
mluvíte | [ˈmluviːtɛ] | You are speaking (plural) |
mluví | [ˈmluviː] | They are speaking |
As you can see, the endings of the verb change depending on the subject.
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:
- "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:
- "Já běhám každé ráno" (I run every morning)
- "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:
Pronoun | Verb ending |
---|---|
já (I) | -u |
ty (you) singular | t or íš |
on/ona/ono (he/she/it) | -í |
my (we) | -íme |
vy (you) plural | -íte |
oni/ony/ona (they) | -í |
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).
Here are some examples:
Czech | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
jdu | [jtʊ] | I go |
jdeš | [jdɛʃ] | You go (singular) |
jde | [jdɛ] | He/she/it goes |
jdeme | [jdemɛ] | We go |
jdete | [jdɛtɛ] | You go (plural) |
jdou | [jdoʊ] | They go |
Czech | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
jsem | [jɛsm] | I am |
jsi | [jɪ] | You are (singular) |
je | [jɛ] | He/she/it is |
jsme | [jismɛ] | We are |
jste | [jstɛ] | You are (plural) |
jsou | [jsou] | They are |
Czech | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
dělám | [dɛlaːm] | I do |
děláš | [dɛlaːʃ] | You do (singular) |
dělá | [dɛlaː] | He/she/it does |
děláme | [dɛlaːmɛ] | We do |
děláte | [dɛlaːtɛ] | You do (plural) |
dělají | [dɛlaːjiː] | They do |
Exercises
Here are some practical exercises for you to practice the present tense.
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.
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.
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