What you'll learn
By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to use "tends to" to describe general tendencies and habits.
When do I use it?
"Tends to" says that something usually happens or is usually true, without claiming it always does:
- "Prices tend to rise in summer."
- "She tends to arrive a few minutes early."
- "People tend to forget their passwords."
It is a hedge: more accurate than "always", more cautious than a plain present tense.
How do I form it?
subject + tends to + base verb subject + tend to + base verb (plural)
- He tends to work late on Fridays.
- These apps tend to update automatically.
- Investors tend to react quickly to news.
- The weather tends to be mild here.
The past: "tended to + verb" ("Customers tended to complain about the noise.").
Common mistakes for Spanish speakers
Spanish "suele" / "tiende a" maps to "tends to", but speakers often write "tend to" with a singular subject ("he tend to...") or drop the "to" ("he tends arrive"). Remember: he/she/it tends + to; they tend + to. It expresses a tendency, not a certainty — do not use it with a specific single past event ("yesterday I tended to be late" is wrong).
tends to / tend to + base verb — a usual pattern, not a fact.
Practice
Multiple Choice
C1Which sentence is correct?
Fill in the Blank
C1Prices tend rise before the holidays.
Hint: tend + to + base verb.
Find the Error
C1Sentence Transformation
C1Task: Rewrite with 'tends to'
Hint: tends to + base verb.
Practice Speaking
Apply what you've learned in a real conversation with AI feedback.
Level: C1