The foundation of mastering the present tense in Lithuanian grammar is understanding verb conjugation. In Lithuanian, verbs change their forms according to the person, number, tense, mood, and voice. The conjugation process starts with identifying the verb’s root and adding the appropriate endings.

Infinitive Forms and Present Tense Formation

Verbs in their infinitive form typically end in -ti. To form the present tense, remove the -ti ending to create the verb stem and add the corresponding endings based on the subject pronouns:

• Aš (I) -u
• Tu (You singular) -i
• Jis / Ji (He / She) -a
• Mes (We) -ame
• Jūs (You plural) -ate
• Jie / Jos (They) -a

For example, the verb “mokytis” (to learn) would transform into “mokausi” for the first person singular present tense (“I learn”).

Types of Verbs in Lithuanian Grammar

Two verb conjugation systems exist in Lithuanian:

1. First conjugation (-uo verbs)
2. Second conjugation (-ia verbs)

Understanding these conjugation systems is crucial to employing the proper forms in the present tense.

First Conjugation: -uo Verbs

First conjugation verbs end in -uoti or -uotis. Examples include “kalbėti” (to speak) and “dirbti” (to work).

Present Tense Conjugation Pattern for -uo Verbs

• Aš kalbu
• Tu kalbi
• Jis / Ji kalba
• Mes kalbame
• Jūs kalbate
• Jie / Jos kalba

Second Conjugation: -ia Verbs

Second conjugation verbs end in -yti or -ytis. Examples include “mokytis” (to learn) and “gyventi” (to live).

Present Tense Conjugation Pattern for -ia Verbs

• Aš mokausi
• Tu mokaisi
• Jis / Ji mokasi
• Mes mokomės
• Jūs mokotės
• Jie / Jos mokosi

Using Present Tense Correctly in Lithuanian Sentences

Once familiar with verb conjugation, constructing sentences in the present tense becomes easier. Beyond conjugation, additional elements to consider include word order, negation, and question formation.

Word Order

In Lithuanian, the subject-verb-object (SVO) pattern is customary but remains fairly flexible. For emphasis, the word order can be altered.

Negation

To express a negative sentence in the present tense, use “ne” before the verb. For example, “Aš nekalbu” means “I do not speak.”

Question Formation

Questions in the present tense require intonation or using question words, like “ar,” “kas,” “kodėl,” or “kiek.”

Conclusion

Understanding the present tense in Lithuanian grammar involves mastering verb conjugation and distinguishing between the two verb types (-uo verbs and -ia verbs). Practicing conjugation, recognizing word order, and utilizing negation and question-formation techniques will enable developing fluency and accuracy in written and spoken Lithuanian.