How to Conjugate Verbs in Present Tense in Czech for English Speakers

Understanding Present Tense in Czech Verbs

In Czech, the present tense is used to describe actions that are currently happening or habitual actions. Unlike English, Czech verbs change their endings based on the subject pronoun, which means each person has a unique verb form.

Personal Pronouns in Czech

Before conjugating verbs, it's important to know the Czech personal pronouns, as verb endings depend on them.

• Já (I)
• Ty (You - singular informal)
• On (He)
• Ona (She)
• Ono (It)
• My (We)
• Vy (You - plural or formal)
• Oni (They - masculine animate)
• Ony (They - feminine)
• Ona (They - neuter)

Regular Verb Conjugation Patterns in Present Tense

Most Czech verbs fall into three conjugation groups based on their infinitive endings: -at, -it/-et, and -ovat. Each group has its own pattern for present tense endings.

First Conjugation Group (-at verbs)

Example verb: dělat (to do)

• Já dělám (I do)
• Ty děláš (You do)
• On/Ona/Ono dělá (He/She/It does)
• My děláme (We do)
• Vy děláte (You do)
• Oni dělají (They do)

Second Conjugation Group (-it/-et verbs)

Example verb: vidět (to see)

• Já vidím (I see)
• Ty vidíš (You see)
• On/Ona/Ono vidí (He/She/It sees)
• My vidíme (We see)
• Vy vidíte (You see)
• Oni vidí (They see)

Third Conjugation Group (-ovat verbs)

Example verb: pracovat (to work)

• Já pracuju (I work)
• Ty pracuješ (You work)
• On/Ona/Ono pracuje (He/She/It works)
• My pracujeme (We work)
• Vy pracujete (You work)
• Oni pracují (They work)

Important Notes on Pronunciation and Spelling

Some verb forms may change spelling slightly to maintain pronunciation. For example, the ending -jí in the third person plural often corresponds to a soft pronunciation.

Common Irregular Verbs in Present Tense

Some verbs do not follow regular patterns and must be memorized. Here are a few common irregular verbs:

• být (to be): Já jsem, Ty jsi, On/Ona/Ono je, My jsme, Vy jste, Oni jsou
• mít (to have): Já mám, Ty máš, On/Ona/Ono má, My máme, Vy máte, Oni mají
• jít (to go): Já jdu, Ty jdeš, On/Ona/Ono jde, My jdeme, Vy jdete, Oni jdou

Practice Examples

Try conjugating the verb psát (to write) in present tense:

• Já píšu
• Ty píšeš
• On/Ona/Ono píše
• My píšeme
• Vy píšete
• Oni píšou

Summary

Conjugating Czech verbs in the present tense involves changing the verb ending according to the subject pronoun and the verb's conjugation group. Regular practice and memorization of irregular verbs will help you master this essential part of Czech grammar.