Verbs in the Present Tense

Verbs in the Present Tense(Los verbos en el tiempo presente)

The fundamental parts of the Spanish verb

The infinitive: The basic, un-conjugated form, the one that corresponds to the English “to do” (something). For example, to speak, to work, to sing, etc.

The Spanish infinitive always ends in r

Example: hablar

The Spanish infinitive always ends in rhablarcomerescribircantaraprenderleer

salirconocercostarcorrerfinalizarfreír

The fundamental parts of the Spanish verb

The ending: The last two letters of the infinitive.

The ending always consists of two letters.

Example: hablar

The fundamental parts of the Spanish verb

hablarcomerescribircantaraprenderleer

hablarcomerescribircantaraprenderleer

The ending always consists of two letterssalirconocercostarcorrerfinalizarfreír

salirconocercostarcorrerfinalizarfreír

There are three types or categories of verbs in Spanish:those that end in ar, those that end in er, and those that end in ir

The fundamental parts of the Spanish verb

The stem or root: Whatever is left after removing the ending from the infinitive.

The stem can consist of a variable number of letters, depending on the length of the verb in question.

Example: caminar

The fundamental parts of the Spanish verb

The infinitive – the ending = the stem

salirconocercostarcorrerfinalizarfreír

hablarcomerescribircantaraprenderleer

The fundamental parts of the Spanish verb

The infinitive: The basic, unconjugated form of the verb. estudiar

The fundamental parts of the verb

• The ending: The last two letters of the infinitive.

• The stem: What is left after taking the ending from the infinitive.

ar

estudi

When we conjugate any verb we always begin with its stem.

To conjugate:

To put a verb in its correct person and number so that we know who

is doing the action.

Verb Conjugation

The following verbs are regular -ar verbs and are conjugated according to the pattern in the following slides.

hablar to speakayudar to helpbailar to dancebuscar to look forcaminar to walkcomprar to buy

Verbs of the 1st conjugation (-ar)

conversar to converseenseñar to teachescuchar to listenestudiar to study

llegar to arrivemirar to look atnadar to swimnecesitar to needpreparar to prepareregresar to returntomar to take or

to drinktrabajar to workviajar to travel

The –ar verb endings

Yo: -o Nosotros/as: -amos

Tú: -as

Ud., él, ella: -a Uds., ellos, ellas: -an

a

Hablar: to talk

ah bloaah blasaah blaa

habl mosa

ah blana

Verbs of the 1st conjugation (-ar)

All persons and numbers are based on the stem.

Notice which vowel gets the emphasis!

yotú

Ud.élella

nosotros/as

ellosellas

Uds.

Verbs of the first conjugation -ar

necesitar: to need

Yo necesitoTú necesitasUd.Él Ella necesita

Nosotros/as necesitamos

Uds.Ellos Ellas necesitan

Verbs of the first conjugation -ar

Caminar: to walk

Yo caminoTú caminasUd.Él Ella camina

Nosotros/as caminamos

Uds.Ellos Ellas caminan

trabajar

aatrab joaatrab jasaatrab jaa

trabaj mosa

atrab jana

Verbs of the 1st conjugation (-ar)

Its stem?

The emphasis?

a

estudiar: to study

uest diouuest diasuuest diau

estudi mosa

uest dianu

Verbs of the 1st conjugation (-ar)

Its stem?

The emphasis?

Verb usageThe Spanish present indicative tense has several

equivalents in English. As in English, it can express present habitual actions:

Estudiamos español en la universidad.We study Spanish at the university.

But, unlike English, it can also express ongoing actions: En este momento estudiamos en la biblioteca.Right now we’re studying in the library.

It can even express future actions: Esta noche estudiamos para el examen.Tonight we will study for the exam.

estudio estudiamosestudiasestudia estudian

La biblioteca es un buen lugar para estudiar.

Verb forms that refer to people that are within the conversation flip to their “opposite” form.

¿Qué estudias?

Estudio matemática

s.

¿Qué estudias tú?

estudio estudiamosestudiasestudia estudian

La biblioteca es un buen lugar para estudiar.

Verb forms that refer to people that are outside the conversation do not change.

¿Qué estudia Juan?

Estudia filosofía.

The –er verb endings

Yo: -o Nosotros/as: -emos

Tú: -es

Ud., él, ella: -e Uds., ellos, ellas: -en

Verbs of the 2nd conjugation (-er)Comer: to eat

All persons and numbers are based on the stem.

comcom

com

com

com

Yo Tú Ud. ÉlElla

Nosotros/asUds.EllosEllas en

o emoses

e

The –ir verb endings

Yo: -o Nosotros/as: mos

Tú: -es

Ud., él, ella: -e Uds., ellos, ellas: -en

-i

Verbs of the 2nd conjugation (-er)Vivir: to live

All persons and numbers are based on the stem.

vivviv

viv

viv

viv

Yo Tú Ud. ÉlElla

Nosotros/asUds.EllosEllas en

o moses

e

i

FIN