Introduction to Regular Verbs
Regular verbs in Spanish follow consistent and predictable patterns when conjugated according to their endings: -ar, -er, or -ir. These verbs maintain the same stem throughout their conjugation in the present tense, making them easier to learn than irregular verbs. Understanding regular verb conjugation is fundamental to developing basic Spanish communication skills.
Regular Verb Endings
Spanish regular verbs are divided into three groups based on their infinitive endings: -ar, -er, and -ir. Each group has its own set of conjugation endings for different tenses, starting with the present tense:
- -ar verbs like hablar (to speak) have endings such as -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an
- -er verbs like comer (to eat) have endings like -o, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en
- -ir verbs like vivir (to live) share most endings with -er verbs, except for the nosotros and vosotros forms: -o, -es, -e, -imos, -ís, -en
Present Tense Conjugation
The present tense is one of the most commonly used tenses and serves to describe ongoing actions, general truths, and habits. Regular verbs in the present tense follow the patterns mentioned above with the verb stem followed by the respective endings.
Here is a conjugation table for each group with example verbs:
| Spanish Pronoun | -ar: Hablar | English Translation | -er: Comer | English Translation | -ir: Vivir | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | hablo | I speak | como | I eat | vivo | I live |
| Tú | hablas | You speak (informal) | comes | You eat | vives | You live |
| Él / Ella / Ud. | habla | He/She/You speak (formal) | come | He/She/You eat | vive | He/She/You live |
| Nosotros/as | hablamos | We speak | comemos | We eat | vivimos | We live |
| Vosotros/as | habláis | You all speak (informal) | coméis | You all eat (informal) | vivís | You all live (informal) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Uds. | hablan | They/You all speak | comen | They/You all eat | viven | They/You all live |
Usage Examples
- Yo hablo español – I speak Spanish.
- Tú comes una manzana – You eat an apple.
- Ella vive en México – She lives in Mexico.
These examples illustrate how the verb stems remain the same, and only the endings change depending on the subject pronoun.
Practice Tips
To master regular verbs, practice conjugating different verbs in each group across various subject pronouns. Memorize the endings and try to use them in sentences daily. Listening and speaking practice will help reinforce the patterns naturally.
For further practice, you might explore the Present Tense section which provides more detailed exercises and examples.
