Present Tense
Things happening right now or general facts.
Examples:
- ¿Hablas español? Sí, hablo español.
- ¿Dónde vives? Vivo en Toronto.
- ¿Puedes ayudarme? Sí, puedo ayudarte.
Past Tenses
Actions completed or ongoing in the past.
Examples:
- Hoy no he comido nada. Present Perfect
- Ayer comí pasta. Preterite
- Antes no comía brócoli. Imperfect
Future Tenses
Plans, intentions, and upcoming events.
Examples:
- ¿Vas a ayudarme? Voy a ayudarte.
- ¿Me ayudarás? Te ayudaré.
Continuous Tenses
Actions currently in progress at a specific time.
Examples:
- Estoy esperando I am waiting
- Estaba esperando I was waiting
- Estaré esperando I will be waiting
Common mistakes
Small Grammar Details That Change Meaning
English speakers often understand the big grammar rules but miss the small details: accent marks, homophones, false friends and tiny words that completely change meaning.
tu / tú
your / you
el / él
the / he
a ver / haber
let’s see / to have
hablo / habló
I speak / he or she spoke
Study tip
Do not try to master every small detail on day one. Learn the most common contrasts first, then improve accuracy gradually through reading and writing.