Language/Spanish/Grammar/Present-Tense-Verbs

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Spanish → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Verbs → Present Tense Verbs

Introduction

Welcome to the lesson on present tense verbs in Spanish! In this lesson, you will learn how to conjugate regular, irregular, and stem-changing verbs in the present tense. Mastering the present tense is essential for effective communication in Spanish, as it is used to talk about actions happening in the present moment. So, let's dive in and explore the fascinating world of Spanish verbs!

Regular Verbs

Regular verbs are the easiest to conjugate in the present tense. They follow a predictable pattern, making it simpler for learners to grasp the conjugation rules. In Spanish, regular verbs are classified into three categories based on their infinitive endings: -ar, -er, and -ir. Let's take a look at the conjugation patterns for each category.

-ar Verbs

Verbs that end in -ar are the most common type of regular verbs in Spanish. To conjugate them in the present tense, remove the -ar ending and add the appropriate endings based on the subject pronouns. Let's see some examples:

Spanish	Pronunciation	English
hablar	[a-ˈblaɾ]	to speak
cantar	[kan-ˈtaɾ]	to sing
bailar	[ba-ˈlaɾ]	to dance

Here's the conjugation of the verb "hablar" (to speak) in the present tense:

• Yo hablo - I speak
• Tú hablas - You speak (informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted habla - He/She/You(formal) speaks
• Nosotros/Nosotras hablamos - We speak
• Vosotros/Vosotras habláis - You all speak (informal, Spain)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes hablan - They/You all speak

-er Verbs

Verbs that end in -er follow a similar conjugation pattern to -ar verbs. Let's take a look at some examples:

Spanish	Pronunciation	English
comer	[ko-ˈmeɾ]	to eat
beber	[be-ˈbeɾ]	to drink
correr	[ko-ˈreɾ]	to run

Here's the conjugation of the verb "comer" (to eat) in the present tense:

• Yo como - I eat
• Tú comes - You eat (informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted come - He/She/You(formal) eats
• Nosotros/Nosotras comemos - We eat
• Vosotros/Vosotras coméis - You all eat (informal, Spain)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes comen - They/You all eat

-ir Verbs

The conjugation of -ir verbs is similar to that of -er verbs, with some minor differences. Let's see some examples:

Spanish	Pronunciation	English
vivir	[bi-ˈbiɾ]	to live
escribir	[es-kɾi-ˈbiɾ]	to write
abrir	[a-ˈbɾiɾ]	to open

Here's the conjugation of the verb "vivir" (to live) in the present tense:

• Yo vivo - I live
• Tú vives - You live (informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted vive - He/She/You(formal) lives
• Nosotros/Nosotras vivimos - We live
• Vosotros/Vosotras vivís - You all live (informal, Spain)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes viven - They/You all live

Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs in Spanish don't follow the regular conjugation patterns. Their conjugation forms must be memorized individually. In this section, we will explore some of the most common irregular verbs in the present tense.

Ser (to be)

The verb "ser" is used to talk about permanent attributes or characteristics. It is essential to master its conjugation since it is one of the most frequently used verbs in Spanish. Let's take a look at its conjugation:

Spanish	Pronunciation	English
ser	[seɾ]	to be

Here's the conjugation of the verb "ser" (to be) in the present tense:

• Yo soy - I am
• Tú eres - You are (informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted es - He/She/You(formal) is
• Nosotros/Nosotras somos - We are
• Vosotros/Vosotras sois - You all are (informal, Spain)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes son - They/You all are

Estar (to be)

The verb "estar" is used to talk about temporary states or locations. Let's take a look at its conjugation:

Spanish	Pronunciation	English
estar	[esˈtaɾ]	to be

Here's the conjugation of the verb "estar" (to be) in the present tense:

• Yo estoy - I am
• Tú estás - You are (informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted está - He/She/You(formal) is
• Nosotros/Nosotras estamos - We are
• Vosotros/Vosotras estáis - You all are (informal, Spain)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes están - They/You all are

Tener (to have)

The verb "tener" is used to talk about possession or age. Let's take a look at its conjugation:

Spanish	Pronunciation	English
tener	[teˈneɾ]	to have

Here's the conjugation of the verb "tener" (to have) in the present tense:

• Yo tengo - I have
• Tú tienes - You have (informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted tiene - He/She/You(formal) has
• Nosotros/Nosotras tenemos - We have
• Vosotros/Vosotras tenéis - You all have (informal, Spain)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes tienen - They/You all have

Stem-Changing Verbs

Stem-changing verbs, also known as boot verbs, undergo changes in the stem vowel in all forms except for nosotros and vosotros. There are three types of stem changes: o→ue, e→ie, and e→i. Let's explore some examples of each type.

o→ue Verbs

In this type of stem change, the o in the stem changes to ue in all forms except for nosotros and vosotros. Let's take a look at some examples:

Spanish	Pronunciation	English
poder	[po-ˈðeɾ]	to be able to
dormir	[doɾ-ˈmiɾ]	to sleep
contar	[kon-ˈtaɾ]	to count, to tell

Here's the conjugation of the verb "poder" (to be able to) in the present tense:

• Yo puedo - I can
• Tú puedes - You can (informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted puede - He/She/You(formal) can
• Nosotros/Nosotras podemos - We can
• Vosotros/Vosotras podéis - You all can (informal, Spain)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes pueden - They/You all can

e→ie Verbs

In this type of stem change, the e in the stem changes to ie in all forms except for nosotros and vosotros. Let's see some examples:

Spanish	Pronunciation	English
querer	[ke-ˈɾeɾ]	to want, to love
cerrar	[θe-ˈɾaɾ]	to close
pensar	[pen-ˈsaɾ]	to think

Here's the conjugation of the verb "querer" (to want, to love) in the present tense:

• Yo quiero - I want, I love
• Tú quieres - You want, You love (informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted quiere - He/She/You(formal) wants
• Nosotros/Nosotras queremos - We want, We love
• Vosotros/Vosotras queréis - You all want, You all love (informal, Spain)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes quieren - They/You all want

e→i Verbs

In this type of stem change, the e in the stem changes to i in all forms except for nosotros and vosotros. Let's take a look at some examples:

Spanish	Pronunciation	English
pedir	[pe-ˈðiɾ]	to ask for
repetir	[ɾe-pe-ˈtiɾ]	to repeat
seguir	[se-ˈɣiɾ]	to follow

Here's the conjugation of the verb "pedir" (to ask for) in the present tense:

• Yo pido - I ask for
• Tú pides - You ask for (informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted pide - He/She/You(formal) asks for
• Nosotros/Nosotras pedimos - We ask for
• Vosotros/Vosotras pedís - You all ask for (informal, Spain)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes piden - They/You all ask for

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to conjugate regular, irregular, and stem-changing verbs in the present tense. Verbs play a crucial role in any language, and mastering their conjugation is essential for effective communication. Keep practicing and expanding your vocabulary, and you'll be well on your way to becoming a fluent Spanish speaker. ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)

Table of Contents - Spanish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Spanish

• The Spanish Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Nouns and Gender
• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Subject Pronouns

  ---

Verbs

• Present Tense Verbs
• Ser and Estar
• Reflexive Verbs

  ---

Adjectives

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Demonstrative Adjectives

  ---

Pronouns

• Direct Object Pronouns
• Indirect Object Pronouns

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Common Words and Phrases

• Greetings and Salutations
• Numbers and Counting
• Days of the Week and Months of the Year

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Restaurant Phrases

  ---

Travel and Directions

• Asking for Directions
• Hotel Vocabulary

  ---

Spanish-Speaking Countries

• Spain: History and Culture
• Latin America: History and Culture

  ---

Celebrations and Festivals

• Día de los Muertos
• Cinco de Mayo

  ---

Hispanic Heritage Month

• Notable Hispanic Figures
• Hispanic Influence on Music and Dance

Sources

• Mastering the Spanish Present Tense: A Beginner's Guide | FluentU ...
• Present Tense in Spanish - Spanish Verb Conjugation Rules
• Regular verbs in the present tense - Spanish Grammar | Hotel ...

Other Lessons

• The Spanish Alphabet and Pronunciation
• The noun gender
• Be Polite
• El Verboide
• Plural
• Descriptive Adjectives
• Los pronombres personales
• 0 to A1 Course
• Direct Object Pronouns
• Questions

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