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Conjugation Chart

“Sentarse” (to sit down) in the Present Tense

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Understanding the Present Tense of “Sentarse”

The Present Tense of sentarse is used to describe actions that are happening right now or that occur habitually. For example, Me siento en el sofá para ver la televisión. (I sit on the couch to watch TV.)

Sentarse is a stem-changing verb, meaning the vowel in the stem changes in certain conjugations. The e changes to ie in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.

How to Use Sentarse in the Present Tense

Sentarse generally means to sit down or take a seat, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.

Literal meaning: To sit down or take a seat, for example, Me siento en la silla. (I sit down on the chair.)

Figurative meaning: To settle or establish oneself somewhere, for example, La empresa se sienta en esta ciudad. (The company settles in this city.)

Reflexive meaning: To sit oneself down, for example, ¡Siéntate! (Sit yourself down!)

Slang meaning: To sit down and relax, often implying laziness or lack of motivation, for example, No haces nada, sólo te sientas todo el día. (You don’t do anything, you just sit around all day.)

Rude meaning: In some contexts, it can be used as a vulgar way to tell someone to sit down and shut up, for example, ¡Siéntate y cállate! (Sit down and shut up!)

Real Life Examples of Sentarse in the Present Tense

Cuando llego a la oficina, me siento en mi escritorio y reviso mi correo electrónico. (When I arrive at the office, I sit at my desk and check my email.)

¿Por qué te sientas tan lejos de la pantalla? Acércate un poco más. (Why are you sitting so far from the screen? Move a little closer.)

Mi abuela se sienta en su mecedora favorita todas las tardes para tomar el té. (My grandmother sits in her favorite rocking chair every afternoon to have tea.)

En el parque, nos sentamos en el césped para disfrutar del sol primaveral. (At the park, we sit on the grass to enjoy the spring sunshine.)

¿Por qué os sentáis tan separados? Júntense para que podamos conversar mejor. (Why are you sitting so far apart? Come closer together so we can chat better.)

Los niños se sientan en círculo en la alfombra durante la hora del cuento. (The children sit in a circle on the rug during story time.)

Cuando voy al cine, me siento en las filas de atrás para tener una mejor vista. (When I go to the movies, I sit in the back rows for a better view.)

¿Por qué te sientas tan encorvado? Endereza la espalda para una mejor postura. (Why are you sitting so hunched over? Straighten your back for better posture.)

Mi tío se sienta en su sillón reclinable después del trabajo para relajarse. (My uncle sits in his recliner after work to relax.)

Cuando vamos de picnic, nos sentamos sobre una manta en el parque. (When we go on a picnic, we sit on a blanket in the park.)

En la clase de yoga, os sentáis con las piernas cruzadas en vuestras esterillas. (In yoga class, you sit cross-legged on your mats.)

Los fans se sientan en las gradas para animar a su equipo favorito. (The fans sit in the stands to cheer for their favorite team.)

Cuando estoy cansado, me siento en el sofá y pongo los pies sobre la mesa de centro. (When I’m tired, I sit on the couch and put my feet up on the coffee table.)

¿Por qué te sientas tan cerca de la televisión? Aléjate un poco para cuidar tus ojos. (Why are you sitting so close to the TV? Move back a bit to protect your eyes.)

El juez se sienta en el estrado durante el juicio. (The judge sits on the bench during the trial.)

Conjugation Chart with English Translations

Conjugations of Sentarse (to sit down) in the Present Tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.