Conjugated Verbs in Spanish

This section introduces conjugated verbs in Spanish and includes tips for students studying foundation and higher tiers. In Spanish, verbs are conjugated to show who is performing the action (the subject) and when the action is taking place (the tense). Conjugation is a key aspect of Spanish grammar, and it involves changing the ending of a verb based on its subject and tense.

The base form of the verb is called the infinitive (e.g. hablar – to speak, comer – to eat, vivir – to live). To conjugate a verb, you remove the infinitive ending (-ar, -er, or -ir) and add different endings that correspond to the subject.

Types of Conjugation in Spanish

In Spanish, verbs are classified into three categories based on their infinitive endings:

  • -ar verbs: hablar (to speak), trabajar (to work), bailar (to dance)
  • -er verbs: comer (to eat), beber (to drink), leer (to read)
  • -ir verbs: vivir (to live), escribir (to write), abrir (to open)

Each type of verb has a specific set of conjugation endings depending on the tense and subject.

Present Tense Conjugation

The present tense is used to describe actions happening right now or regularly. In Spanish, verbs are conjugated by removing the infinitive endings (-ar, -er, or -ir) and adding the appropriate present tense endings.

Conjugation of Regular -AR Verbs (Conjugación de verbos regulares -AR)

Let’s use hablar (to speak) as an example:

  • Yo hablo (I speak)
  • Tú hablas (You speak)
  • Él/ella habla (He/she speaks)
  • Nosotros hablamos (We speak)
  • Vosotros habláis (You [plural] speak) – (Spain only)
  • Ellos/ellas hablan (They speak)

Key Rule for -AR Verbs:

  • Yo: -o
  • : -as
  • Él/ella: -a
  • Nosotros: -amos
  • Vosotros: -áis
  • Ellos/ellas: -an

Conjugation of Regular -ER Verbs

Let’s use comer (to eat) as an example:

  • Yo como (I eat)
  • Tú comes (You eat)
  • Él/ella come (He/she eats)
  • Nosotros comemos (We eat)
  • Vosotros coméis (You [plural] eat) – (Spain only)
  • Ellos/ellas comen (They eat)

Key Rule for -ER Verbs:

  • Yo: -o
  • : -es
  • Él/ella: -e
  • Nosotros: -emos
  • Vosotros: -éis
  • Ellos/ellas: -en

Conjugation of Regular -IR Verbs

Let’s use vivir (to live) as an example:

  • Yo vivo (I live)
  • Tú vives (You live)
  • Él/ella vive (He/she lives)
  • Nosotros vivimos (We live)
  • Vosotros vivís (You [plural] live) – (Spain only)
  • Ellos/ellas viven (They live)

Key Rule for -IR Verbs:

  • Yo: -o
  • : -es
  • Él/ella: -e
  • Nosotros: -imos
  • Vosotros: -ís
  • Ellos/ellas: -en

Irregular Verbs in the Present Tense

Not all verbs follow the regular conjugation patterns. Some common verbs are irregular in the present tense and do not follow the standard -ar, -er, or -ir endings. Here are some common irregular verbs in the present tense:

Irregular Verb: SER (to be)

  • Yo soy (I am)
  • Tú eres (You are)
  • Él/ella es (He/she is)
  • Nosotros somos (We are)
  • Vosotros sois (You [plural] are) – (Spain only)
  • Ellos/ellas son (They are)

Irregular Verb: ESTAR (to be)

  • Yo estoy (I am)
  • Tú estás (You are)
  • Él/ella está (He/she is)
  • Nosotros estamos (We are)
  • Vosotros estáis (You [plural] are) – (Spain only)
  • Ellos/ellas están (They are)

Irregular Verb: IR (to go)

  • Yo voy (I go)
  • Tú vas (You go)
  • Él/ella va (He/she goes)
  • Nosotros vamos (We go)
  • Vosotros vais (You [plural] go) – (Spain only)
  • Ellos/ellas van (They go)

Irregular Verb: TENER (to have)

  • Yo tengo (I have)
  • Tú tienes (You have)
  • Él/ella tiene (He/she has)
  • Nosotros tenemos (We have)
  • Vosotros tenéis (You [plural] have) – (Spain only)
  • Ellos/ellas tienen (They have)

Past Tense Conjugation

The preterite tense is used to describe actions that happened in the past. In Spanish, regular verbs in the preterite are conjugated by removing the infinitive endings and adding specific endings based on the type of verb (-ar, -er, -ir).

Conjugation of Regular -AR Verbs in the Preterite (Conjugación de verbos regulares -AR en el pretérito)

Let’s use hablar (to speak) in the preterite:

  • Yo hablé (I spoke)
  • Tú hablaste (You spoke)
  • Él/ella habló (He/she spoke)
  • Nosotros hablamos (We spoke)
  • Vosotros hablasteis (You [plural] spoke) – (Spain only)
  • Ellos/ellas hablaron (They spoke)

Key Rule for -AR Verbs in the Preterite:

  • Yo: -é
  • : -aste
  • Él/ella: -ó
  • Nosotros: -amos
  • Vosotros: -asteis
  • Ellos/ellas: -aron

Conjugation of Regular -ER and -IR Verbs in the Preterite (Conjugación de verbos regulares -ER y -IR en el pretérito)

Let’s use comer (to eat) and vivir (to live) in the preterite:

  • Yo comí / Yo viví (I ate / I lived)
  • Tú comiste / Tú viviste (You ate / You lived)
  • Él/ella comió / Él/ella vivió (He/she ate / He/she lived)
  • Nosotros comimos / Nosotros vivimos (We ate / We lived)
  • Vosotros comisteis / Vosotros vivisteis (You [plural] ate / You [plural] lived) – (Spain only)
  • Ellos/ellas comieron / Ellos/ellas vivieron (They ate / They lived)

Key Rule for -ER and -IR Verbs in the Preterite:

  • Yo: -í
  • : -iste
  • Él/ella: -ió
  • Nosotros: -imos
  • Vosotros: -isteis
  • Ellos/ellas: -ieron

Future Tense Conjugation

In the future tense, Spanish verbs are not conjugated by removing the infinitive ending. Instead, the entire infinitive verb is used, and specific endings are added.

Conjugation of Regular Verbs in the Future Tense (Conjugación de verbos regulares en el futuro)

Let’s use hablar (to speak) in the future tense:

  • Yo hablaré (I will speak)
  • Tú hablarás (You will speak)
  • Él/ella hablará (He/she will speak)
  • Nosotros hablaremos (We will speak)
  • Vosotros hablaréis (You [plural] will speak) – (Spain only)
  • Ellos/ellas hablarán (They will speak)

Key Rule for All Verbs in the Future:

  • Yo: -é
  • : -ás
  • Él/ella: -á
  • Nosotros: -emos
  • Vosotros: -éis
  • Ellos/ellas: -án

Summary

  • Conjugated verbs in Spanish change based on the subject (who is doing the action) and the tense (when the action occurs).
  • Regular verbs are conjugated by removing the infinitive ending and adding specific endings based on the subject and tense.
  • Irregular verbs do not follow regular conjugation patterns and need to be memorised.
  • The present tense is used for actions happening now or regularly.
  • The preterite tense is used for actions that happened in the past.
  • The future tense uses the entire infinitive verb with added endings.

Examples (Foundation Level):

  • Yo como (I eat)
  • Tú hablas (You speak)
  • Él vive (He lives)

Examples (Higher Tier):

  • Nosotros vamos (We go)
  • Ellos comieron (They ate)
  • Tú hablarás (You will speak)
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