One Present Tense

Level 1

Es lasu can mean I read or I am reading. The situation shows which one is meant.

How It Works

One form, several English meanings.

  • Right now: Ko tu dari? — Es lasu. (What are you doing? — I am reading.)
  • Habits and facts: Anna strādā bankā. (Anna works at a bank.) Katru rītu es dzeru kafiju. (I drink coffee every morning.)
  • A plan for the near future: Rīt es braucu uz Rīgu. (I am going to Riga tomorrow.)
  • Still going on: with jau and a length of time, the present covers something that started in the past and is still true: Es dzīvoju Rīgā jau divus gadus. (I have been living in Riga for two years.)

No helper verbs. English builds I am reading and do you read? with extra words. Latvian uses just the verb: Es lasu. Vai tu lasi? Do not add esmu in front of another verb in the present.

Showing the difference when it matters. Add a word: tagad (now) for right now, katru dienu (every day) for a habit, rīt (tomorrow) for a plan. Latvian also has a one-word future tense (strādāšu, I will work), which is common for predictions and promises.

The forms. The endings depend on the verb group: see first-conjugation verbs, second-conjugation verbs and verbs like lasīt.

Examples (6)

  1. Es lasu.

    I read. / I am reading.

    Word by Word: I read.

    One form for both English meanings.

  2. Ko tu dari? — Es gatavoju vakariņas.

    What are you doing? — I'm making dinner.

    Word by Word: What you do? — I prepare dinner.

    Both verbs are in the present; the situation shows that it is happening now.

  3. Anna strādā bankā.

    Anna works at a bank.

    Word by Word: Anna works in-bank.

    A fact about her life uses the same present form.

  4. Katru rītu es dzeru kafiju.

    I drink coffee every morning.

    Word by Word: Every morning I drink coffee.

    Katru rītu (every morning) marks a habit.

  5. Rīt es strādāju.

    I'm working tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Tomorrow I work.

    Rīt turns the present into a plan.

  6. Es dzīvoju Rīgā jau divus gadus.

    I have been living in Riga for two years.

    Word by Word: I live in-Riga already two years.

    The present covers something that started earlier and is still going on.

Common Mistakes

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

    Es esmu lasu grāmatu.
    Es lasu grāmatu.

    Lasu already means I am reading. Do not put esmu in front of another present verb.

  • Using the infinitive instead of a present form.

    Es lasīt grāmatu.
    Es lasu grāmatu.

    Lasīt is the dictionary form, to read. After es, use the present form lasu.

How It Connects

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

One Present TenseLevel 1

Learn This First

One present tense covers two English tenses.