# Esperanto lesson 4: present tense verbs and hobbies

Source: https://esperantopedia.org/learn/course/lesson-04/
Language: en
Updated: 2026-10-08

> Esperanto verbs end in -as in the present for every person: mi laboras, ili laboras. Talk about work and hobbies with ŝati, voli, povi and devi.

In this lesson you learn how Esperanto verbs work. The present tense ends in *-as* for every person, and the dictionary form – the infinitive – ends in *-i*. With five useful verbs – *ŝati* "to like", *voli* "to want", *povi* "can", *devi* "must" and *preferi* "to prefer" – you can talk about your work, your studies and what you like doing.

## Dialogue

Ana and Tomo chat by text message on a weekday afternoon.

| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| **Tomo:** Ana, kion vi faras nun? | Ana, what are you doing now? |
| **Ana:** Mi studas. Mi estas en la biblioteko. | I'm studying. I'm in the library. |
| **Tomo:** Kaj kio estas via fako? | And what's your subject? |
| **Ana:** Biologio. Mi volas esti biologo. Kaj vi? Ĉu vi laboras hodiaŭ? | Biology. I want to be a biologist. And you? Are you working today? |
| **Tomo:** Jes, mi laboras hejme. Mi estas programisto. | Yes, I'm working from home. I'm a programmer. |
| **Ana:** Ĉu la laboro estas interesa? | Is the work interesting? |
| **Tomo:** Jes, ĝi estas interesa. Sed vespere mi preferas kuiri. | Yes, it's interesting. But in the evening I prefer to cook. |
| **Ana:** Vi kuiras? Bonege! Mi ne povas kuiri. | You cook? Great! I can't cook. |
| **Tomo:** Kaj kion vi ŝatas fari libertempe? | And what do you like doing in your free time? |
| **Ana:** Mi ŝatas kanti. Mi kantas en koruso. | I like singing. I sing in a choir. |
| **Tomo:** Mi ne kantas bone, sed mi ŝatas aŭskulti. | I don't sing well, but I like listening. |
| **Ana:** Do vi kuiras, kaj mi kantas. Perfekte! | So you cook and I sing. Perfect! |
| **Tomo:** Ha ha! Nun mi devas labori. Ĝis vespere! | Ha ha! Now I have to work. See you this evening! |
| **Ana:** Ĝis! Kaj mi devas studi. | Bye! And I have to study. |

Two small words appear here before their own lessons. *Ĉu* turns a sentence into a yes/no question (Lesson 7). *Kion* is *kio* "what" with the object ending *-n* (Lesson 5).

## New words

| Esperanto | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| *fari* | to do, to make | *kion vi faras?* "what are you doing?" |
| *studi* | to study | *studento* "student" |
| *labori* | to work | *laboro* "work" |
| *kuiri* | to cook | |
| *kanti* | to sing | *kanto* "song" |
| *aŭskulti* | to listen | |
| *ŝati* | to like | *Mi ŝatas kanti.* |
| *voli* | to want | *Mi volas esti biologo.* |
| *povi* | can, to be able to | |
| *devi* | must, to have to | |
| *preferi* | to prefer | |
| *biblioteko* | library | |
| *fako* | subject, field, department | |
| *biologio* | biology | *biologo* "biologist" |
| *programisto* | programmer | *-ist-* = profession (Lesson 10) |
| *koruso* | choir | also *ĥoro* (Lesson 1) |
| *interesa* | interesting | |
| *perfekte* | perfectly; perfect! | |
| *bonege* | great!, excellent | *bone* + *-eg-* "very" (Lesson 10) |
| *hejme* | at home | from *hejmo* "home" |
| *vespere* | in the evening | from *vespero* "evening" |
| *libertempe* | in your free time | from *libera tempo* "free time" |
| *hodiaŭ* | today | |
| *do* | so, then | |
| *ĉu* | (makes a yes/no question) | Lesson 7 |

:::match Verbs
kuiri = to cook
kanti = to sing
labori = to work
aŭskulti = to listen
studi = to study
voli = to want
:::

## Grammar

### The present tense: *-as* for everyone

Every verb in the present tense ends in *-as*, whatever the person. There are no irregular verbs – not even *esti* "to be". The full system is on the [verbs](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/verbs/) page.

| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| *mi laboras* | I work, I am working |
| *vi laboras* | you work, you are working |
| *li / ŝi laboras* | he / she works |
| *ni laboras* | we work |
| *ili laboras* | they work |

*Mi laboras* covers both "I work" and "I am working". Esperanto doesn't need a separate continuous form.

### The infinitive: *-i*

The infinitive ends in *-i*: *labori* "to work", *kuiri* "to cook", *esti* "to be". Dictionaries list verbs in this form. To get the present tense, swap *-i* for *-as*: *kanti* → *kantas*.

### Verb + infinitive

After *ŝati, voli, povi, devi* and *preferi*, the second verb stays in the infinitive, just as in English "I want *to learn*".

| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| *Mi ŝatas kanti.* | I like singing. |
| *Mi volas esti biologo.* | I want to be a biologist. |
| *Mi ne povas kuiri.* | I can't cook. |
| *Mi devas labori.* | I have to work. |
| *Vespere mi preferas kuiri.* | In the evening I prefer to cook. |

To say "not", put *ne* before the verb you negate: *Mi ne povas kuiri*.

:::ending -i or -as?
- i as
? I like singing.
= Mi ŝat[as] kant[i].
? Ana wants to be a biologist.
= Ana vol[as] est[i] biologo.
? I can't cook.
= Mi ne pov[as] kuir[i].
? We have to work.
= Ni dev[as] labor[i].
? In the evening Tomo prefers to cook.
= Vespere Tomo prefer[as] kuir[i].
:::

### Adverbs of time and place with *-e*

The ending *-e* turns a word into an adverb – a word that says how, when or where. From *vespero* "evening" you get *vespere* "in the evening"; from *hejmo* "home", *hejme* "at home". The [adverbs](https://esperantopedia.org/grammar/adverbs/) page has many more.

| Noun | Adverb |
|---|---|
| *mateno* – morning | *matene* – in the morning |
| *vespero* – evening | *vespere* – in the evening |
| *hejmo* – home | *hejme* – at home |
| *libera tempo* – free time | *libertempe* – in free time |

:::write From noun to adverb
? *vespero* "evening" → "in the evening"
= vespere
? *mateno* "morning" → "in the morning"
= matene
? *hejmo* "home" → "at home"
= hejme
? *tago* "day" → "in the daytime"
= tage
:::

## Practice

:::quiz Lesson 4 practice
? Which ending marks the present tense?
- -is
- -as *
- -i
? Translate: "I work."
= Mi laboras
? Fill in the verb *kanti*: *Ŝi ___ en koruso.*
= kantas
? Translate: "I want to sing."
= Mi volas kanti
? What does *Mi devas studi* mean?
- "I have to study." *
- "I studied."
- "I want to study."
? Which word is the infinitive (the dictionary form)?
- *kuiras*
- *kuiri* *
- *kuiro*
? Translate: "We like to cook."
= Ni ŝatas kuiri
? Fill in: *Ili ne ___ kanti.* ("They can't sing.")
= povas
? Translate: "Tomo works at home."
= {Tomo} {laboras} {hejme}
:::

## Culture corner

Esperanto has its own music scene. The record label **Vinilkosmo**, founded in 1990 by Floréal Martorell near Toulouse in France, publishes rock, folk, pop, metal and hip-hop in Esperanto. Well-known names include the Swedish rock band Persone (formed in 1986), the Frisian folk group Kajto and the French singer JoMo. Find more bands, films and radio on the [music and film](https://esperantopedia.org/about/music-film/) page.

## Common questions

### How do you say "I am working" in Esperanto?

Just *Mi laboras*. The *-as* form covers both "I work" and "I am working". Context shows which one you mean.

### Are there irregular verbs in Esperanto?

No. Every verb follows the same endings, including *esti* "to be": *estas, estis, estos*. You will learn the past and future in [Lesson 6](https://esperantopedia.org/learn/course/lesson-06/).

### What is the difference between *ŝati* and *ami*?

*Ŝati* means "to like": *Mi ŝatas kafon* – "I like coffee". *Ami* means "to love": *Mi amas vin* – "I love you".

## Sources

- [Fundamento de Esperanto – grammar in English (rule 6, verbs)](https://www.akademio-de-esperanto.org/fundamento/gramatiko_angla.html)
- [PMEG: Verboj (verbs)](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/verboj/index.html)
- [PMEG: I-verboj (the infinitive)](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/verboj/neutrala.html)
- [PMEG: AS (the present tense)](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/verboj/reala/nun-tempo.html)
- [PMEG: Bazaj reguloj por E-vortoj (adverbs like hejme, matene, tage)](https://bertilow.com/pmeg/gramatiko/e-vortoj/bazaj_reguloj.html)
- [Wikipedia: Vinilkosmo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinilkosmo)
- [Vikipedio: Persone](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persone) and [JoMo](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/JoMo); [Wikipedia: Kajto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kajto)