Uses of the Present Tense

Level 1Sounds Like segašno vreme

Bulgarian has one present tense. Чета means both I read and I am reading; words like сега (now) or всеки ден (every day) show which one you mean.

How It Works

The present tense endings depend on the verb group: чета, говоря and чакам. Whatever the group, one form does every present job.

  • Right now: Сега чета. (I am reading now.) Какво правиш? — Готвя. (What are you doing? — I am cooking.)
  • Habits: Всеки ден работя. (I work every day.) Words like често and винаги help here. See винаги/често/понякога/никога.
  • General facts: Слънцето изгрява на изток. (The sun rises in the east.)
  • Still going on: Уча български от една година. English says I have been learning, but Bulgarian uses the present with от (since, for).
  • Plans: Утре пътувам за Варна. (Tomorrow I am travelling to Varna.) See сегашно време за бъдеще.

No -ing form. Do not build a present with съм. Аз чета already means I am reading.

Which verbs? In a main clause, the present is made from the everyday verbs such as чета, пиша and купувам. Their partners such as купя do not describe what is happening now; they follow words like да and ще. See свършен и несвършен вид.

Examples (6)

  1. Сега чета книга.

    I am reading a book now.

    Word by Word: Now I-read book.

    Сега (now) shows the action is happening at this moment.

  2. Всеки ден работя до пет.

    I work until five every day.

    Word by Word: Every day I-work until five.

    Всеки ден makes the same form describe a habit.

  3. Какво правиш? — Готвя.

    What are you doing? — I am cooking.

    Word by Word: What you-do? — I-cook.

    One present form answers a question about right now.

  4. Децата играят в парка.

    The children are playing in the park.

    Word by Word: Children-the play in park-the.

  5. Уча български от една година.

    I have been learning Bulgarian for a year.

    Word by Word: I-learn Bulgarian from one year.

    The present with от describes something that started earlier and is still going on.

  6. Слънцето изгрява на изток.

    The sun rises in the east.

    Word by Word: Sun-the rises on east.

    A fact that is always true.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding съм to make an English-style -ing form.

    Аз съм чета.
    Аз чета.

    Bulgarian has no continuous tense. The plain present чета already means I am reading.

  • Using за for how long something has been going on.

    Уча български за една година.
    Уча български от една година.

    If you mean that you started a year ago and are still learning, use от with the present. За една година describes a one-year period, so it does not say what you mean.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Uses of the Present TenseLevel 1

Learn This First

Uses of the present need the present forms of all conjugations.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.