Introduction

Pesar means “to weigh”, and this page covers exactly one thing: pesar in the present tense. The present is the tense Spanish speakers reach for when they talk about what happens regularly and what is happening now. On this page you will find the full present table for pesar, how the tense is formed for this verb, the situations where it is used, how it differs from the preterite, worked examples, the mistakes learners make most often, an eight-question quiz with explained answers, and answers to the questions students ask about pesar in the present. Pesar in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “Yo peso la fruta” — "I weigh the fruit". Everything on this page uses the forms of pesar exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Pesar in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo peso
tú pesas
él/ella/Ud. pesa
nosotros/as pesamos
vosotros/as pesáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. pesan

Gerund: pesando · Past participle: pesado

The gerund is pesando, which you use with estar to say what is happening right now: “Estoy pesando” means the action of pesar is in progress at this very moment. The past participle is pesado, which you use with haber in the perfect tenses: “he pesado” is the present perfect, used for a completed action. Keep both forms in mind as you read the examples below, because the present is only one part of how pesar is used.

How the present of pesar is formed

Pesar is a regular -ar verb in the present. Take the stem pes and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving peso, pesas, pesa, pesamos, pesáis, pesan. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, pesáis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of pesar is fully regular, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form pesáis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form peso is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of pesar

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use pesar in the present most often. Each one comes with a real example, so read the rule, then say the example out loud.

1. Routines and habits

The present is the tense of what you do regularly. When something happens todos los días, cada semana or los fines de semana, pesar goes in the present. Example: “Yo peso el equipaje” — "I weigh the luggage".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about pesar does not need a time word at all. Example: “Él pesa las verduras” — "He weighs the vegetables".

3. What is happening now

The present also covers what is happening at this very moment. Spanish often uses the simple present where English would use the -ing form, so peso can mean both "I weigh" and "I am weighing". Example: “Yo peso la fruta” — "I weigh the fruit".

4. Timetables and fixed plans

For a fixed plan or a timetable, Spanish uses the present: the plan is already decided, so the present states it as a fact. This is common with travel, lessons and appointments. Example: “Nosotros pesamos el equipaje” — "We weigh the luggage".

5. Telling a story

Stories are sometimes told in the present to make them feel immediate, even when they happened in the past. This is the historical present, and it works with pesar just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Él pesa las verduras” — "He weighs the vegetables".

Present Tense vs Preterite: how to choose

The closest tense to the present is the preterite, and choosing between them is one of the first decisions in Spanish. The rule is simple: the present reports what happens regularly or what is happening now, while the preterite reports one finished action in the past. The three pairs below use the same verb, so the only thing that changes is whether the action is a habit or a finished event. Time words help: todos los días and cada semana point to the present, while ayer and la semana pasada point to the preterite.

  • Present Tense: “Yo peso la fruta” — "I weigh the fruit".

  • Preterite: “Yo pesé la fruta” — "I weighed the fruit".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Él pesa el equipaje” — "He weighs the luggage".

  • Preterite: “Él pesó el equipaje” — "He weighed the luggage".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Nosotros pesamos las verduras” — "We weigh the vegetables".

  • Preterite: “Nosotros pesamos las verduras” — "We weighed the vegetables".

  • The two sentences look identical: pesamos is the same in the present and the preterite. Only the time words around it tell you which tense is meant.

Example sentences: pesar in the present

Read these eight sentences out loud. They cover all six persons, so by the end you will have seen every form in the table used in a real sentence. Pay attention to the words around the verb — the time expressions, the objects, the other verbs — because those are what make each sentence sound natural.

  1. “Yo peso el equipaje” — "I weigh the luggage"

  2. “Tú pesas las verduras” — "You weigh the vegetables"

  3. “Él pesa la fruta” — "He weighs the fruit"

  4. “Nosotros pesamos el equipaje” — "We weigh the luggage"

  5. “Vosotros pesáis las verduras” — "You weigh the vegetables"

  6. “Ellos pesan la fruta” — "They weigh the fruit"

  7. “Yo peso el equipaje” — "I weigh the luggage"

  8. “Él pesa las verduras” — "He weighs the vegetables"

Common mistakes with pesar in the present

These are the errors learners actually make with this verb in this tense. Each one shows the wrong version, the right version, and why the correction matters.

  • Wrong: “Ellos pesa la fruta” Right: “Ellos pesan la fruta” Why: Ellos needs the ellos form pesan. The singular pesa belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Todos los días, yo pesé” Right: “Todos los días, yo peso” Why: Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. The preterite (pesé) is for one finished action, not for routines.

  • Wrong: “Yo pesa la fruta.” Right: “Yo peso la fruta” Why: Yo needs the yo form peso. The él form pesa belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Ayer, yo peso” Right: “Ayer, yo pesé” Why: The present tense cannot describe a finished action yesterday. Ayer forces the preterite, so the form must change to pesé.

Quiz: pesar in the present

Choose the correct answer for each question, then check the answer key. Every answer is explained, so a wrong answer still teaches you something.

1. Complete the sentence: “Yo ___ las verduras.” (yo form)

A. pesamos B. peso C. pesan D. pesas

2. Complete the sentence: “Tú ___ la fruta.” (tú form)

A. pesas B. pesamos C. pesan D. pesáis

3. Complete the sentence: “Él ___ el equipaje.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. pesan B. pesas C. peso D. pesa

4. Complete the sentence: “Nosotros ___ las verduras.” (nosotros/as form)

A. pesamos B. pesas C. pesan D. peso

5. Complete the sentence: “Vosotros ___ la fruta.” (vosotros/as form)

A. pesa B. peso C. pesas D. pesáis

6. Complete the sentence: “Ellos ___ el equipaje.” (ellos/ellas/Uds. form)

A. pesa B. peso C. pesan D. pesáis

7. Which time expression points to the present tense?

A. todos los días B. ayer C. la semana pasada D. anoche

8. Which sentence is correct?

A. Todos los días, yo peso B. Todos los días, yo pesé

Answer key

  1. peso — The yo present of pesar is peso.
  2. pesas — The tú present of pesar is pesas.
  3. pesa — The él/ella/Ud. present of pesar is pesa.
  4. pesamos — The nosotros/as present of pesar is pesamos.
  5. pesáis — The vosotros/as present of pesar is pesáis.
  6. pesan — The ellos/ellas/Uds. present of pesar is pesan.
  7. todos los días — Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. Ayer, la semana pasada and anoche all point to the preterite.
  8. Todos los días, yo peso — Todos los días is a habit, so the present is correct. The preterite is for one finished action.

Frequently asked questions

When do I use the present of pesar?

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening now. For example: Yo peso la fruta. If the action is a habit or happening now, the present is the right choice.

How is the present of pesar formed?

Take the stem pes- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving peso, pesas, pesa, pesamos, pesáis, pesan.

What is the difference between the present and the preterite for pesar?

The present (peso) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (pesé) counts one finished action in the past. Compare the two sentences in the contrast section above: the verb is the same, only the tense changes.

How can I practise pesar in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — peso, pesas, pesa, pesamos, pesáis, pesan — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the pesar examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of pesar when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

Related links