Introduction to Present Tense
The present tense in Spanish is used to describe actions currently happening, habitual actions, and general truths. Regular verbs are categorized into three conjugations based on their infinitive endings: -ar, -er, and -ir.
- Used for actions happening now, habitual actions, and timeless truths.
- Regular verbs are divided into -ar, -er, and -ir categories.
- Conjugation changes the verb ending to match the subject.
What are the uses of the present tense in Spanish?
The present tense is used for current actions, habitual actions, and general truths.
Conjugation Patterns
Regular verbs in Spanish follow distinct patterns based on their endings (-ar, -er, -ir). By removing the infinitive ending and adding specific endings, verbs agree with their subjects.
| Subject | -ar | -er | -ir |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | -o | -o | -o |
| Tú | -as | -es | -es |
| Él/Ella/Usted | -a | -e | -e |
| Nosotros | -amos | -emos | -imos |
| Vosotros | -áis | -éis | -ís |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | -an | -en | -en |
Examples
- Hablar (to speak): hablo, hablas, habla, hablamos, habláis, hablan
- Comer (to eat): como, comes, come, comemos, coméis, comen
- Vivir (to live): vivo, vives, vive, vivimos, vivís, viven
What infinitive endings define regular verb categories in Spanish?
Regular verbs are categorized by -ar, -er, and -ir infinitive endings.
-ar Verbs: Specifics and Examples
-ar verbs are the most common and follow a straightforward pattern. By replacing the -ar with the appropriate endings, the verb agrees with the subject.
- Infinitive ends in -ar.
- Common verbs: hablar, estudiar, cantar.
- Conjugation involves replacing -ar with specific endings for each subject.
Example: Hablar (to speak)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | Hablo |
| Tú | Hablas |
| Él/Ella/Usted | Habla |
| Nosotros | Hablamos |
| Vosotros | Habláis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Hablan |
How do you conjugate '-ar' verbs for 'nosotros'?
For -ar verbs, 'nosotros' is conjugated with -amos.
What are some common -ar verbs?
Common -ar verbs include Hablar, Estudiar, and Cantar.
-er Verbs: Specifics and Examples
-er verbs also follow a regular pattern, though distinct from -ar verbs. They are conjugated by removing -er and adding specific endings to match the subject.
- Infinitive ends in -er.
- Common verbs: comer, beber, leer.
- Conjugation involves replacing -er with specific endings for each subject.
Example: Comer (to eat)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | Como |
| Tú | Comes |
| Él/Ella/Usted | Come |
| Nosotros | Comemos |
| Vosotros | Coméis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Comen |
How do you conjugate '-er' verbs for 'vosotros'?
For -er verbs, 'vosotros' is conjugated with -éis.
What are some common -er verbs?
Common -er verbs include Comer, Beber, and Leer.
-ir Verbs: Specifics and Examples
-ir verbs share similarities with -er verbs but have unique endings for some forms. They are conjugated by removing -ir and adding specific endings.
- Infinitive ends in -ir.
- Common verbs: vivir, escribir, abrir.
- Conjugation involves replacing -ir with specific endings for each subject.
Example: Vivir (to live)
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | Vivo |
| Tú | Vives |
| Él/Ella/Usted | Vive |
| Nosotros | Vivimos |
| Vosotros | Vivís |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Viven |
How do you conjugate '-ir' verbs for 'nosotros'?
For -ir verbs, 'nosotros' is conjugated with -imos.
What are some common -ir verbs?
Common -ir verbs include Vivir, Escribir, and Abrir.