Introduction to Present Tense

Present Tense

 

In Spanish, there are 3 verb endings: -AR, -ER and -IR. Here are some examples:

Hablar, comprender, abrir

 

Regular ar- ending verbs in the present tense are conjugated in the following manner:

e.g. trabajar- to work

Yo trabajo

Tú trabajas

Él, ella, usted trabaja

Nosotros/as trabajamos

Ellos/ellas, ustedes trabajan

                                                                       

Er- ending verbs

e.g. comer- to eat

Como

Comes

Come

Comemos

Comen

 

and finally, ir-ending verbs

e.g. vivir- to live

vivo

vives

vive

vivimos

viven

 

Common Regular ar-ending verbs (a-g)

Andar-to walk

Ayudar-to help

Bailar-to dance

Bajar-to go down(stairs), to lower, to turn down

Besar- to kiss

Buscar-to look for, to search

Cambiar-to change

Caminar-to walk

Cantar-to sing

Celebrar-to celebrate

Cenar-to have dinner

Charlar-to chat

Cocinar-to cook

Comprar-to buy

Cortar-to cut

Dejar-to let, leave

Dibujar-to draw

Durar-to last

Entrar-to enter

Escuchar-to listen (to)

Esperar-to wait for, to hope, to expect

Estudiar-to study

Fumar-to smoke

Ganar-to earn, win

Gastar-to spend, waste

Gritar-to shout

Guardar-to keep

 

(h-v)

Hablar-to speak

Invitar-to invite

Llamar-to call

Llegar-to arrive

Llevar-to wear, to carry

Llorar-to cry

Mandar-to send

Manejar-to drive

Mirar-to look at, watch

Nadar-to swim

Pagar-to pay

Pasar-to spend time, pass (movement)

pintar-to paint

preguntar- to ask (a question)

preparar-to prepare

regresar-to come back, return

sacar-to take out

saludar-to greet

terminar-to finish, end

tocar-to play a musical instrument, to touch

tomar-to take, drink

trabajar-to work

viajar-to travel

 

Common Regular er-ending verbs

Aprender-to learn

Beber-to drink

Comer-to eat

Cometer (un error)-to make (a mistake)

Comprender-to understand

Correr-to run

Coser-to sew

Creer-to believe, to think

Deber-to owe, have to, (must)

Leer-to read

Meter (en)- to put (into)

Prender (la luz)- to turn on (the light)

Poseer-to possess, own

Romper-to break

Toser-to cough

Vender-to sell

 

Common Regular ir- ending verbs

Abrir-to open

Asistir (a)- to attend

Compartir-to share

Decidir-to decide

Describir-to describe

Discutir-to discuss, argue

Escribir-to write

Imprimir-to print

Ocurrir-to happen

Permitir-to permit

Recibir-to receive

Subir-to climb, go up

Sufrir-to suffer

Vivir- to live