AR, ER, IR

Here’s a simple explanation on how to conjugate regular Spanish verbs in the present and preterite tenses. If you learn the endings for each verb type (-AR, -ER, -IR), you’ll be able to figure out and conjugate most other verbs easily. Regular verbs follow predictable patterns, so once you master the endings, you’ll have the foundation to apply them across a wide range of verbs.

Now, let’s look at the conjugation patterns for each type of verb:

Present Tense (Indicative)

The present tense is used to talk about actions that happen regularly or are happening now.

1. -AR Verbs

Example: hablar (to speak)

• Yo hablo (I speak)

• Tú hablas (You speak, informal)

• Él/Ella/Usted habla (He/She/You formal speak)

• Nosotros/Nosotras hablamos (We speak)

• Vosotros/Vosotras habláis (You all speak, informal in Spain)

• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes hablan (They/You all speak)

2. -ER Verbs

Example: comer (to eat)

• Yo como (I eat)

• Tú comes (You eat, informal)

• Él/Ella/Usted come (He/She/You formal eat)

• Nosotros/Nosotras comemos (We eat)

• Vosotros/Vosotras coméis (You all eat, informal in Spain)

• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes comen (They/You all eat)

3. -IR Verbs

Example: vivir (to live)

• Yo vivo (I live)

• Tú vives (You live, informal)

• Él/Ella/Usted vive (He/She/You formal live)

• Nosotros/Nosotras vivimos (We live)

• Vosotros/Vosotras vivís (You all live, informal in Spain)

• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes viven (They/You all live)

Preterite Tense (Indicative)

The preterite is used to describe actions that were completed in the past.

1. -AR Verbs

Example: hablar (to speak)

• Yo hablé (I spoke)

• Tú hablaste (You spoke, informal)

• Él/Ella/Usted habló (He/She/You formal spoke)

• Nosotros/Nosotras hablamos (We spoke)

• Vosotros/Vosotras hablasteis (You all spoke, informal in Spain)

• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes hablaron (They/You all spoke)

2. -ER Verbs

Example: comer (to eat)

• Yo comí (I ate)

• Tú comiste (You ate, informal)

• Él/Ella/Usted comió (He/She/You formal ate)

• Nosotros/Nosotras comimos (We ate)

• Vosotros/Vosotras comisteis (You all ate, informal in Spain)

• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes comieron (They/You all ate)

3. -IR Verbs

Example: vivir (to live)

• Yo viví (I lived)

• Tú viviste (You lived, informal)

• Él/Ella/Usted vivió (He/She/You formal lived)

• Nosotros/Nosotras vivimos (We lived)

• Vosotros/Vosotras vivisteis (You all lived, informal in Spain)

• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes vivieron (They/You all lived)

Notes:

• Stem-changing verbs: In the present tense, some verbs undergo vowel changes in their stems (like pensar becomes pienso for “I think”). However, in the preterite, most of these changes do not occur.

• Irregular verbs: Some verbs (like ser, ir, tener, hacer) have irregular forms in both tenses and must be memorized separately.