In Spanish, regular verbs are those that follow a consistent and predictable pattern of conjugation according to their infinitive endings: -ar, -er, and -ir. This regularity makes it easier to learn and apply verb forms across different tenses once you know the rules for each verb family.
- Infinitive endings determine the conjugation pattern: -ar, -er, -ir.
- Most verbs you learn at A1 are regular, making them easier to master.
- Each verb family has its own set of endings for each tense and subject.
-ar, -er, and -ir
It follows standard conjugation rules.
Conjugation Patterns
All regular verbs drop their infinitive endings and add new endings according to the subject:
| Subject | -ar | -er | -ir |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | -o | -o | -o |
| Tú | -as | -es | -es |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | -a | -e | -e |
| Nosotros | -amos | -emos | -imos |
| Vosotros | -áis | -éis | -ís |
| Ellos/Uds. | -an | -en | -en |
- For -ar verbs, use endings like -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an.
- For -er verbs, use -o, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en.
- For -ir verbs, use -o, -es, -e, -imos, -ís, -en (note the difference in nosotros and vosotros).
For -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an
For -ir verbs, 'nosotros' is -imos and 'vosotros' is -ís, unlike -er verbs.
Examples: Present Tense
| Infinitive | Meaning | Yo | Tú | Él/Ella | Nosotros | Vosotros | Ellos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hablar (-ar) | To speak | Hablo | Hablas | Habla | Hablamos | Habláis | Hablan |
| Comer (-er) | To eat | Como | Comes | Come | Comemos | Coméis | Comen |
| Vivir (-ir) | To live | Vivo | Vives | Vive | Vivimos | Vivís | Viven |
- You can apply these patterns to any regular verb: estudiar, beber, abrir...
The correct forms for 'they [verb]' are Hablan, Comen, Vivien.
Yes
Practice
- Conjugate bailar (to dance) in present tense for all subjects.
- What are the infinitive endings for regular verbs? Give one example for each.
- How would you say "we live" and "you all eat" (Spain) using regular verbs?
'-ar' (because of the 'amos' ending for nosotros)
Conclusion
Regular verbs are the backbone of Spanish verb conjugation. By mastering the patterns for -ar, -er, and -ir verbs, you can confidently conjugate many verbs correctly, even those you encounter for the first time.
- Regular verbs follow patterns based on their endings: -ar, -er, -ir.
- Conjugation means changing the verb ending to match the subject and tense.
- Learning these patterns helps you use and understand many verbs correctly.