DELE A2 Present Tense: Regular Verbs Practice Test & Review
The present tense is the first conjugation every Spanish learner masters, and it appears in every section of the DELE A2 exam. Regular -ar, -er, and -ir verbs follow predictable patterns, and once you know them, you can talk about daily routines, habits, and current situations.
This page gives you a five-part practice quiz: an evaluation set to see where you stand, three practice sets to drill the three conjugations, and a challenge set to confirm mastery. If you get stuck, scroll down for the full explanation.
Ready? Start with the evaluation set below.
Grammar Guide
The Rule
The present tense describes actions that happen now, habits, routines, and general truths. Spanish verbs end in -ar, -er, or -ir. Each type has its own set of endings, but the pattern is regular once you learn the three groups.
The present tense is also used for near-future plans: Mañana voy al cine (Tomorrow I’m going to the cinema).
-ar Verbs
| Subject | Hablar | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | hablo | I speak |
| Tú | hablas | You speak |
| Él / Ella / Usted | habla | He / She / You speak |
| Nosotros | hablamos | We speak |
| Vosotros | habláis | You speak |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | hablan | They / You speak |
The -ar endings: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an.
-er Verbs
| Subject | Comer | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | como | I eat |
| Tú | comes | You eat |
| Él / Ella / Usted | come | He / She / You eat |
| Nosotros | comemos | We eat |
| Vosotros | coméis | You eat |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | comen | They / You eat |
The -er endings: -o, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en.
-ir Verbs
| Subject | Vivir | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | vivo | I live |
| Tú | vives | You live |
| Él / Ella / Usted | vive | He / She / You live |
| Nosotros | vivimos | We live |
| Vosotros | vivís | You live |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | viven | They / You live |
The -ir endings: -o, -es, -e, -imos, -ís, -en.
-er and -ir verbs share the same endings except in the nosotros and vosotros forms.
Comparing the Three Groups
| Subject | -ar (hablar) | -er (comer) | -ir (vivir) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | hablo | como | vivo |
| Tú | hablas | comes | vives |
| Él / Ella / Usted | habla | come | vive |
| Nosotros | hablamos | comemos | vivimos |
| Vosotros | habláis | coméis | vivís |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | hablan | comen | viven |
The yo, tú, él, and ellos forms are nearly identical across -er and -ir. The difference is only in nosotros and vosotros.
Irregular Verbs
Some common verbs do not follow the regular pattern. The most frequent irregular present-tense verbs at A2 are:
| Verb | Yo | Tú | Él | Nosotros | Ellos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ser | soy | eres | es | somos | son |
| estar | estoy | estás | está | estamos | están |
| ir | voy | vas | va | vamos | van |
| tener | tengo | tienes | tiene | tenemos | tienen |
| hacer | hago | haces | hace | hacemos | hacen |
| decir | digo | dices | dice | decimos | dicen |
| ver | veo | ves | ve | vemos | ven |
These are covered in the next topic. For now, focus on the regular pattern.
Common Mistakes
- Using the wrong ending for the verb type.
✗ Yo come paella.
✓ Yo como paella.
Comer is -er. The yo form ends in -o, not -e. - Confusing tú and él forms.
✗ Tú come paella.
✓ Tú comes paella.
The tú form of -er verbs ends in -es, not -e. - Forgetting the accent on vosotros forms.
✗ Vosotros hablais.
✓ Vosotros habláis.
The vosotros form of -ar verbs carries an accent on the -áis. - Using the present for a completed past action.
✗ Ayer como paella.
✓ Ayer comí paella.
The present is for current actions. For completed past actions, use the preterite.
Quick Decision Chart
| Ask yourself | Answer | Ending |
|---|---|---|
| Is the verb -ar? | Yes | -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an |
| Is the verb -er? | Yes | -o, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en |
| Is the verb -ir? | Yes | -o, -es, -e, -imos, -ís, -en |
| Is the verb irregular (ser, ir, tener, hacer)? | Yes | Memorize the form |
| Is it a current action or habit? | Yes | Present tense |
| Is it a near-future plan? | Yes | Present tense (colloquial) |
Two Sentences That Show the Difference
(Yo) hablo español.
I speak Spanish.
- Hablar is -ar. Yo form: hablo.
(Tú) hablas español.
You speak Spanish.
- The tú form ends in -as, not -o.
(Yo) como paella los domingos.
I eat paella on Sundays.
- Comer is -er. Yo form: como. Habit with a time marker.
(Yo) vivo en Madrid.
I live in Madrid.
- Vivir is -ir. Yo form: vivo. The -ir pattern differs only in nosotros and vosotros.
