Conjugation of Verbs in the

Present Tense

Present TensePresent TenseRegular Regular

ObjectiveObjective

·conjugate regular verbs in the present tense.

Types of RegularVerbsTypes of RegularVerbs

Verbs that end in “ar”Verbs that end in “ar”Verbs that end in “er”Verbs that end in “er”Verbs that end in “ir”Verbs that end in “ir”

Here are some Here are some examples:examples:

HablHablararComComererVivVivirir

hablar, comer,& hablar, comer,& vivirvivir

((Infinitive formsInfinitive forms))hablar hablar == to speakto speakcomercomer == to eatto eatvivirvivir == to liveto live

A verb has two partsA verb has two partsa a stemstem & an & an endingending

HablHablcomcomvivviv

ararereririr

EnglishEnglishWhen we form a sentence When we form a sentence in English, we begin the in English, we begin the sentence with a sentence with a subjectsubject;;

The subject can be either a The subject can be either a noun or…a pronounnoun or…a pronoun

English Subject PronounsEnglish Subject Pronouns

IIYou You (familiar)(familiar)

he, she, he, she, it, it, you you (formal)(formal)

WeWe

They, You They, You (plural)(plural)

Spanish Subject PronounsSpanish Subject Pronouns

YoYotútúél, ella, él, ella, ustedusted

NosotrosNosotros

ellos, ellos, ellas, ellas, ustedesustedes

¿Que pasa aquí?¿Que pasa aquí?

What happened to What happened to the “the “itit”?”?

Since all Spanish Since all Spanish nouns are either nouns are either

masculine or masculine or feminine…..feminine…..

there is there is no Spanish no Spanish subject pronoun for subject pronoun for

“it”.“it”.

When the subject is aWhen the subject is a singular masculine or singular masculine or

feminine nounfeminine noun, , we simply use the same we simply use the same ending on the verb that ending on the verb that we would use if the we would use if the subject was “él” or “ella”subject was “él” or “ella”..((That would be the third person That would be the third person singular verb ending)singular verb ending)

When the subject is a When the subject is a pluralplural masculine or masculine or

feminine nounfeminine noun, , we simply use the same we simply use the same ending on the verb that we ending on the verb that we would use if the subject would use if the subject was “was “ellos” or “ellas” ellos” or “ellas” .( .(That That would be the third person plural would be the third person plural verb ending)verb ending)

Enough of that Enough of that confusion!confusion!

Lets move on to Lets move on to verb conjugationverb conjugation

As with English verbs, As with English verbs, Spanish verbs must be Spanish verbs must be conjugated in order conjugated in order to to

make the verb agree with make the verb agree with the subject in person and the subject in person and

number.number.

In order to make a In order to make a Spanish verb agree with Spanish verb agree with the subject, we have to the subject, we have to

change its endingchange its ending..

Present tense regular Present tense regular verb endings verb endings “er”verbs“er”verbs..

ooesesee

emosemos

enen

The verb endingThe verb ending identifies identifies the subject.the subject.

oo = = IIeses = you = you (familiar)(familiar)

ee = he, she, = he, she, you you (formal)(formal)

emosemos = we = we

enen = they , = they , you (plural)you (plural)

Correspondingly, Correspondingly, the the subject dictates the verb subject dictates the verb

endingending II - o - oYou You (familiar)(familiar) - es - es

he, she,he, she, you you (formal)(formal) -e -e

WeWe - emos- emos

They, you They, you (plural)(plural) -en-en

The ending of a The ending of a verb also tells us verb also tells us when the action when the action

takes placetakes place..

First, let’s look at a First, let’s look at a typical “er” verbtypical “er” verb

comercomer

(to eat)(to eat)

In order to make In order to make the verb agree with the verb agree with

the subject we the subject we must ...must ...

Drop the ending Drop the ending from the infinitive from the infinitive

form ….form ….

ComerComer((infinitive forminfinitive form - to - to

eat)eat)

Drop the “er” Drop the “er” endingending

comcom

Remember the “er” verb Remember the “er” verb endings????endings????

ooesesee

emosemos

enen

Stem + endingStem + ending

comcomoocomcomesescomcomee

comcomemosemos

comcomenen

……And, that means:And, that means:

I eatI eatYou (familiar) eatYou (familiar) eathe eats, he eats,

she eats, she eats,

you (formal) eatyou (formal) eat

We eatWe eat

They eat, They eat, You (plural) You (plural) eateat

Finally, let’s look at Finally, let’s look at a typical “ir” verba typical “ir” verb

vivirvivir

(to live)(to live)

Remember the “ir” verb Remember the “ir” verb endings????endings????

ooesesee

imosimos

enen

Stem + endingStem + ending

vivvivoovivvivesesvivvivee

vivvivimosimos

vivvivenen

……And, that means:And, that means:

I liveI liveYou (familiar) You (familiar)

livelivehe lives, she he lives, she

lives, you lives, you (formal) live(formal) live

We liveWe live

They live, You They live, You (plural) live(plural) live