-ar verbs

In order to read and write in Spanish, we need to be able to make sentences. Sentences in Spanish are made up of the same elements as in English:

• Noun – a word that refers to a person, place, thing, or idea.

• Pronoun – a word that takes the place of a noun.

• Verb – an action word.

A sentence must have at least a noun (or pronoun) and a verb!*

* In Spanish only a verb is needed!

Sentences can be written from 1 of 3 points of view:

• 1st person:

• 3rd person:

• 2nd person:

Used to talk about someone else.

Used to talk to someone else.

Used to talk about yourself.

There are 10 subject pronouns in Spanish:

yo =tú =

él =

ella =

usted (Ud.) =

Iyou

(1 person, familiar)

he

she

nosotros/as = wevosotros/as = you

(2 or more people, familiar - Spain only!)

ellos =

you

(all males OR males and females)

ellas = they (all females)

ustedes (Uds.)=you

(1 person, polite)(2 or more people,polite in Spain)

they

To put a verb in to a sentence in Spanish, you must conjugate (or change it) to go with the subject.

We do this a little bit in English:

I jump. You jump.

But: She jumps.

To conjugate a regular –ar verb:

•You drop off the –ar at the end of the infinitive. ( the unconjugated form; also the form found in the dictionary)

•This gives you the stem.

•Then, you add the verb ending which matches the subject.

Verb endings:yo –o

tú – as

él –a

ella – a

usted – a

nosotros – amos

vosotros – áis

ellos –an

ellas – an

Uds. – an

A conjugated verb chart looks like this:

Yo hablo Nosotros/as hablamos

Tu hablas Vosotros/as habláis

Ud.

El habla

Ella

Uds.

Ellos hablan

Ellas

Hablar = to speak

Now, you are ready to start using sentences in Spanish!