The Present Tense
Lithuanian has one present tense: skaitau means both "I read" and "I am reading".
How It Works
One tense, many English meanings. Lithuanian does not require an English-style progressive for ordinary ongoing actions, so Dabar skaitau is "I am reading now" and Skaitau kasdien is "I read every day".
Uses.
- Right now: Dabar skaitau. (I am reading now.)
- Habits and routines: Kiekvieną rytą geriu kavą. (I drink coffee every morning.)
- General facts: Katės mėgsta pieną. (Cats like milk.)
- Plans for the near future, with a time word: Rytoj važiuoju į Kauną. (Tomorrow I am going to Kaunas.)
- Something that started earlier and is still going on, with jau and a length of time: Lietuvių kalbos mokausi jau metus. (I have been learning Lithuanian for a year.) English uses "have been" here, but Lithuanian keeps the present.
Three groups. Look at the third-person form (he, she, they), which ends in -a, -i or -o. That vowel decides the other endings:
- -a: dirbu, dirbi, dirba, dirbame, dirbate. See present verbs in -a.
- -i: turiu, turi, turi, turime, turite. See present verbs in -i.
- -o: skaitau, skaitai, skaito, skaitome, skaitote. See present verbs in -o.
He, she and they share one form. Jis dirba and jie dirba use the same word.
The infinitive is not enough. Kalbėti and turėti look alike, but one gives kalba and the other turi. Learn the third-person present with each new verb; see the three principal parts. In casual speech, dirbame and dirbate often shorten to dirbam and dirbat.
Examples (6)
- Dabar skaitau.
I am reading now.
- Kiekvieną rytą geriu kavą.
I drink coffee every morning.
A habit uses the same present tense.
- Rytoj važiuoju į Kauną.
Tomorrow I am going to Kaunas.
With a time word, the present can describe a plan.
- Lietuvių kalbos mokausi jau metus.
I have been learning Lithuanian for a year.
An action that is still going on stays in the present, where English says "have been".
- Katės mėgsta pieną.
Cats like milk.
A general fact.
- Jie gyvena Klaipėdoje.
They live in Klaipėda.
Gyvena serves he, she and they.
Common Mistakes
Building an English-style "am reading" with būti.
Aš esu skaitau.Aš skaitau.Do not combine esu with a second finite verb skaitau. The simple present Aš skaitau already means “I am reading”.
Giving "they" the ending of "you" (plural).
Jie dirbate banke.Jie dirba banke.-ate belongs to jūs. The they-form is the same as the he/she form: dirba.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Present forms identify the person doing the action.
Related Patterns
- Present -aPresent Verbs in -a
Endings for verbs whose third-person form ends in -a.
Level 1 - Present -iPresent Verbs in -i
Endings for verbs whose third-person form ends in -i.
Level 1 - Present -oPresent Verbs in -o
Endings for verbs whose third-person form ends in -o.
Level 1 - The Three Principal Parts
The third-person present is one of the three forms to learn for each verb.
Level 2 - Short Plural Endings in Speech
The short we and you endings heard in speech.
Level 4 - Past -oSimple Past in -o
The past tense you learn next.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- būti: esu, esi, yraThe Verb Būti in the PresentLevel 1
- ne- + verbNegation with Ne-Level 1
- norėti / galėti / mokėti + infinitiveWant, Can and Know How with an InfinitiveLevel 1
- eiti / važiuotiGoing on Foot and by VehicleLevel 2
- Reflexive -siReflexive Verbs in -siLevel 2
- mes su + instrumentalWe with Su: Me and SomeoneLevel 3
- tegul + present tenseLet Someone Do It with TegulLevel 4
Practice The Present Tense in Bubblegum
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