Regular Present Tense Verbs
Pattern: In Spanish, there are three categories of verbs defined by the last two letters of the
infinitive form: -AR (like hablar [to speak]), -ER (like comer [to eat]), -IR (like vivir [to live]). In
order to make a verb agree with the subject of the sentence, it must be conjugated.
The Present Tense
The present tense in Spanish is usually used to talk about an action that is happening now, but
it can also mean three slightly different things. In the case of the verb hablar, it can mean:
● yo hablo I speak
● yo hablo I am speaking
● yo hablo I do speak
Infinitive Verbs
All verbs have an infinitive form. In Spanish, infinitive forms end in -AR, -ER, or -IR. Hablar is an
infinitive which means "to talk; to speak."
Regular Verbs
For most Spanish verbs, there is a consistent conjugation pattern. These verbs are considered
to be “regular” verbs. This is very important because once you learn the pattern, you are well on
your way to mastery of Spanish verbs in general.
-AR Verb Conjugation
In order to conjugate a verb, you must remove the ending (in this case, -AR) from the verb stem.
In the case of the regular -AR verb hablar, the verb stem is habl. Then, simply add the ending
that agrees with the subject of the sentence.
In the case of the verb hablar, the six present tense forms are: (yo) hablo, (tú) hablas, (él) habla,
(nosotros) hablamos, (vosotros) habláis, (ellos) hablan. These forms are equivalent to the
English forms I speak, you speak, he speaks, we speak, you guys speak, and they speak.
● Note that since the verb changes to match the subject of the sentence, it is possible to
leave the subject or subject pronoun out of the sentence entirely. In fact, it is very
common among native speakers.
Here is a sample list of common regular -AR verbs: hablar (to speak), estudiar (to study), nadar
(to swim), visitar (to visit), bailar (to dance), cantar (to sing), andar (to walk), comprar (to buy),
mirar (to watch), necesitar (to need), tocar (to play), trabajar (to work), ayudar (to help), amar (to
love).
-ER Verb Conjugation
Pattern: In Spanish, there are three categories of verbs defined by the last two letters of the
infinitive form: -AR (like hablar [to speak]), -ER (like comer [to eat]), -IR (like vivir [to live]). In
order to make a verb agree with the subject of the sentence, it must be conjugated.
The Present Tense
The present tense in Spanish is usually used to talk about an action that is happening now, but
it can also mean three slightly different things. In the case of the verb hablar, it can mean:
● yo hablo I speak
● yo hablo I am speaking
● yo hablo I do speak
Infinitive Verbs
All verbs have an infinitive form. In Spanish, infinitive forms end in -AR, -ER, or -IR. Hablar is an
infinitive which means "to talk; to speak."
Regular Verbs
For most Spanish verbs, there is a consistent conjugation pattern. These verbs are considered
to be “regular” verbs. This is very important because once you learn the pattern, you are well on
your way to mastery of Spanish verbs in general.
-AR Verb Conjugation
In order to conjugate a verb, you must remove the ending (in this case, -AR) from the verb stem.
In the case of the regular -AR verb hablar, the verb stem is habl. Then, simply add the ending
that agrees with the subject of the sentence.
In the case of the verb hablar, the six present tense forms are: (yo) hablo, (tú) hablas, (él) habla,
(nosotros) hablamos, (vosotros) habláis, (ellos) hablan. These forms are equivalent to the
English forms I speak, you speak, he speaks, we speak, you guys speak, and they speak.
● Note that since the verb changes to match the subject of the sentence, it is possible to
leave the subject or subject pronoun out of the sentence entirely. In fact, it is very
common among native speakers.
Here is a sample list of common regular -AR verbs: hablar (to speak), estudiar (to study), nadar
(to swim), visitar (to visit), bailar (to dance), cantar (to sing), andar (to walk), comprar (to buy),
mirar (to watch), necesitar (to need), tocar (to play), trabajar (to work), ayudar (to help), amar (to
love).
-ER Verb Conjugation
