Regular verbs in Spanish follow consistent and predictable conjugation patterns based on their infinitive endings: -ar, -er, or -ir. Learning these patterns allows you to conjugate many common verbs accurately in various tenses, making communication much clearer. Understanding how to conjugate regular verbs is a fundamental step in mastering Spanish verb usage.
Conjugation Patterns
Spanish regular verbs are divided into three main categories based on their infinitive endings: -ar, -er, and -ir. Each has its set of endings added to the stem (the verb without its infinitive ending). The stem is maintained the same across all forms for regular verbs.
Present Tense Regular Verb Conjugations
The present tense indicates habitual actions or current states. Below are tables showing the conjugation endings for each verb type, using examples.
| Spanish Pronoun | Hablar (to speak) | English | Example (Spanish) | Example (English) |
|---|
| yo | hablo | I speak | Yo hablo español. | I speak Spanish. |
| tú | hablas | You speak | Tú hablas inglés. | You speak English. |
| él/ella/usted | habla | He/she speaks | Ella habla francés. | She speaks French. |
| nosotros/as | hablamos | We speak | Nosotros hablamos hoy. | We speak today. |
| vosotros/as | habláis | You (pl.) speak | Vosotros habláis bien. | You all speak well. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | hablan | They speak | Ellos hablan rápido. | They speak fast. |
| Spanish Pronoun | Comer (to eat) | English | Example (Spanish) | Example (English) |
|---|
| yo | como | I eat | Yo como frutas. | I eat fruits. |
| tú | comes | You eat | Tú comes temprano. | You eat early. |
| él/ella/usted | come | He/she eats | Él come manzanas. | He eats apples. |
| nosotros/as | comemos | We eat | Nosotros comemos juntos. | We eat together. |
| vosotros/as | coméis | You (pl.) eat | Vosotros coméis ahora. | You all eat now. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | comen | They eat | Ellas comen pizza. | They eat pizza. |
| Spanish Pronoun | Vivir (to live) | English | Example (Spanish) | Example (English) |
|---|
| yo | vivo | I live | Yo vivo en España. | I live in Spain. |
| tú | vives | You live | Tú vives aquí. | You live here. |
| él/ella/usted | vive | He/she lives | Ella vive cerca. | She lives nearby. |
| nosotros/as | vivimos | We live | Nosotros vivimos juntos. | We live together. |
| vosotros/as | vivís | You (pl.) live | Vosotros vivís allí. | You all live there. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | viven | They live | Ellos viven lejos. | They live far away. |
Past Tense: Preterite Regular Verbs
The preterite tense is used to express completed actions in the past. Regular verbs add specific endings to the stem.
| Spanish Pronoun | Hablar (to speak) | English | Example (Spanish) | Example (English) |
|---|
| yo | hablé | I spoke | Yo hablé con ella. | I spoke with her. |
| tú | hablaste | You spoke | Tú hablaste bien. | You spoke well. |
| él/ella/usted | habló | He/she spoke | Él habló mucho. | He spoke a lot. |
| nosotros/as | hablamos | We spoke | Nosotros hablamos ayer. | We spoke yesterday. |
| vosotros/as | hablasteis | You (pl.) spoke | Vosotros hablasteis. | You all spoke. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | hablaron | They spoke | Ellos hablaron poco. | They spoke little. |
| Spanish Pronoun | Comer (to eat) | English | Example (Spanish) | Example (English) |
|---|
| yo | comí | I ate | Yo comí una manzana. | I ate an apple. |
| tú | comiste | You ate | Tú comiste mucho. | You ate a lot. |
| él/ella/usted | comió | He/she ate | Ella comió temprano. | She ate early. |
| nosotros/as | comimos | We ate | Nosotros comimos bien. | We ate well. |
| vosotros/as | comisteis | You (pl.) ate | Vosotros comisteis. | You all ate. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | comieron | They ate | Ellos comieron juntos. | They ate together. |
| Spanish Pronoun | Vivir (to live) | English | Example (Spanish) | Example (English) |
|---|
| yo | viví | I lived | Yo viví en Madrid. | I lived in Madrid. |
| tú | viviste | You lived | Tú viviste aquí. | You lived here. |
| él/ella/usted | vivió | He/she lived | Él vivió feliz. | He lived happily. |
| nosotros/as | vivimos | We lived | Nosotros vivimos allí. | We lived there. |
| vosotros/as | vivisteis | You (pl.) lived | Vosotros vivisteis. | You all lived. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | vivieron | They lived | Ellos vivieron lejos. | They lived far away. |
Summary
Regular verbs provide a reliable method to express a wide array of ideas in Spanish. Mastering the patterns for -ar, -er, and -ir verbs in the present and preterite tenses allows learners to communicate about current activities and past events smoothly. Practicing these conjugations builds confidence and fluency.
For further exploration of verb types and irregular verbs, visit the Verb Types and Verbs pages. 
