3 Ways to Conjugate Spanish Verbs (Present Tense)

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Conjugating verbs in Spanish can be difficult. To conjugate a regular verb in the present tense, all you have to do is know your subject, remove the root of the verb and add the ending that corresponds to the subject. When you have to start conjugating reflexive or irregular verbs, the rules will undergo some changes, but fear not, it will be enough to learn a few key points. If you want to learn how to conjugate Spanish verbs to the present indicative, continue reading the article.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: First Method: Conjugate Regular Verbs

Step 1. Understand the subject

The subject is anyone who performs or undergoes the action expressed by the verb. To conjugate a verb in Spanish, you will first need to become familiar with the different personal subject pronouns of the language. Here they are:

• Yo - me
• Tú - you
• Usted - lei (formal)
• El, she - he, she
• Nosotros / as - us
• Vosotros / as - you
• Ustedes - you (formal)

• Ellos / as - they, they, them

  Note that although there are eight different subjects, there are only six forms of conjugation. El, ella and usted are conjugated equally, as are ellos, ellas and ustedes

Step 2. Determine the subject

When the subjects have become familiar to you, you will need to learn the corresponding verb. If the verb were necesitar (to need), who is the subject that holds the need? It is you? The person you are addressing? A group of kids? The subject will determine the form of the conjugation.

Step 3. Remove the ending

All Spanish verbs end in "-ar," "-ir," or "-er". After removing the ending, you can add a new one. Unless the verb is reflexive: in that case it will have the reflexive pronoun "if" joined at the end of the verb.

Step 4. Conjugate verbs ending in "-ar"

After learning how to form the conjugation of verbs ending in "-ar" in the present tense, it will be sufficient to add the appropriate ending at the end of each regular verb belonging to the conjugation in "-ar". Here are the rules to conjugate them to the present indicative, we will use the verb hablar (to speak):

• Yo: o - hablo
• Tú: as - hablas
• Él, Ella, Usted: a - habla
• Nosotros / as: amos - hablamos
• Vosotros / as: áis - habláis

• Ellos / as, Ustedes: an - hablan

  

  Step 5. Conjugate verbs ending in "-er"

  Learn to form the conjugation of verbs in "-er" in the present tense and then simply add the correct ending to the end of each verb. Here are the endings for verbs ending in "-er" in the present indicative, in the example we will use the verb beber (to drink):

  • Yo: o - bebo
  • Tú: es - bebes
  • Él, Ella, Usted: e - bebe
  • Nosotros / as: emos - bebemos
  • Vosotros / as: éis - bebéis
  • Ellos / as, Ustedes: en - beben

  

  Step 6. Conjugate verbs ending in "-ir"

  Learn to form the conjugation of verbs in "-ir" in the present tense and then simply add the correct ending at the end of each verb. Here are the endings for verbs ending in "-ir" in the present indicative, in the example we will use the verb vivir (to live):

  • Yo: o - alive
  • Tú: es - vives
  • Él, Ella, Usted: and - lives
  • Nosotros / as: imos - vivimos
  • Vosotros / as: ís - vivís
  • Ellos / as, Ustedes: en - viven

  Method 2 of 3: Second Method: Conjugate Reflexive Verbs

  

  Step 1. Learn to conjugate the pronoun "if"

  If you want to conjugate a reflexive verb, first you will have to learn to conjugate it with reference to the personal pronoun subject. Each subject personal pronoun has a distinct form of if. Here are the conjugate forms of the reflexive pronoun if, you will use them in each reflexive sentence:

  • Yo: me
  • Tú: you
  • Él, Ella, Usted: if
  • Nosotros / as: nos
  • Vosotros / as: os
  • Ellos / as, Ustedes: se

  

  Step 2. Place the form of "if" in front of the verb

  Before proceeding any further, place the appropriate form of the pronoun "if" before the verb. Think of it as if you were removing the "if" at the end of the verb before conjugating it. Remove the "if" from the end of the verb, move it forward, conjugate it and that's it.

  

  Step 3. Conjugate the verb

  Now conjugate the verb following the rules of the present indicative, as long as it is a regular verb. Place the verb after the correct form of se and you will have conjugated your reflexive verb form. In a statement made using a reflexive verb, you can eliminate the subject pronoun placed before the reflexive pronoun. For example, you can say "Yo me llavo" to say "I wash," but the statement "Me llavo" is more common. Here are the conjugated forms of the reflexive verb levanto (to rise) in the present indicative:

  • Yo: me levanto
  • Tú: te levantas
  • Él, Ella, Usted: se levanta
  • Nosotros / as: nos levantamos
  • Vosotros / as: os levantáis
  • Ellos / as, Ustedes: se levantan

  Method 3 of 3: Third Method: Conjugate Irregular Verbs

  

  Step 1. Conjugate verbs with irregular roots and endings

  These verbs can have different endings from those of regular verbs, both as regards the roots and as regards the endings. In those verbs that change their stem, in the present indicative there is a change in the vowel of the stem. However, the root does not change for all verbal forms: in fact, for nosotros and vosotros it remains unchanged. The vowel of the verb stem can change in a few different ways, let's see some examples:

  • To conjugate verbs with a stem that changes from o to ue, we use as an example the verb dormir (to sleep):

    • Yo: duermo
    • Tu: duermes
    • Él, Ella, Usted: duerme
    • Nosotros / as: dormimos
    • Vosotros / as: dormís
    • Ellos / as, Ustedes: duermen

  • To conjugate verbs with a stem that changes from e to ue, we use as an example the verb querer (to want):

    • Yo: quiero
    • Tú: quieres
    • Él, Ella, Usted: quiere
    • Nosotros / as: queremos
    • Vosotros / as: queréis
    • Ellos / as, Ustedes: quieren

  • To conjugate verbs with a stem that changes from e to i, we use as an example the verb Seguir (follow or continue):

    • Yo: sigo
    • Tú: sigues
    • Él, Ella, Usted: sigue
    • Nosotros / as: Seguimos
    • Vosotros / as: Seguís
    • Ellos / as, Ustedes: siguen

    

    Step 2. Conjugate verbs that change in the first person

    Some verbs are irregular in the formation of their first person in the present tense. The remaining forms of the verb will follow the conjugation conventions of regular verbs. To correctly conjugate these verbs, the best choice is to memorize them. Here are some examples relating to verbs that are irregular only in the first person of the present tense (the form yo):

    • Conjugate verbs that change from c to zc in the first person:

      • Conocer (getting to know): Yo conozco
      • Agradecer (thank): Yo agradezco
      • Ofrecer (offer): Yo ofrezco

    • Conjugate verbs in which a g appears in the first person:

      • Caer (fall): Yo caigo
      • Salir (going out): Yo I go up
      • Tener (to have): Yo I hold

    • Conjugate verbs that have other changes in the first person:

      • Dar (give): Yo doy
      • Saber (know): Yo self
      • Ver (see): Yo veo

      

      Step 3. Conjugate other irregular verbs in the present indicative

      There are other verbs, used more or less commonly, which do not undergo changes at the root, but which are conjugated in an irregular way. By memorizing them you will be able to acquire the first basics of the Spanish language. Here are some of the most common irregular verbs conjugated to the present indicative:

      • Estar (to be):

        • Yo: estoy
        • Tú: estás
        • Él, Ella, Usted: está
        • Nosotros / as: estamos
        • Vosotros / as: estáis
        • Ellos / as, Ustedes: están

      • Ser (to be):

        • Yo: soy
        • Tu: eres
        • Él, Ella, Usted: son
        • Nosotros / as: somos
        • Vosotros / as: sois
        • Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes: son

      • Ir (to go):

        • Yo: voy
        • Tú: vas
        • Él, Ella, Usted: go
        • Nosotros / as: vamos
        • Vosotros / as: vais
        • Ellos / as, Ustedes: van

        Advice

        • To learn how to conjugate verbs, look for repeating patterns. For example, whatever happens, "yo" will end in o, while el / ella / usted will have the same ending, as will ellos / ellas / ustedes.
        • It is not always necessary to include the pronoun. Just in case you want to be specific. Necesito una toalla has the same meaning as Yo necesito una toalla. However, with the conjugations of verbs involving the pronouns él / ella / usted and ellos / ellas / ustedes, it is useful to include the subject.
        • In Latin America, vosotros is generally not used. You will be more easily understood by using the pronoun ustedes, used in both formal and informal situations.
        • Do you want to conjugate verbs in the future? Add the conjugation of the verb "ir" (to go) at the beginning of the statement and leave the verb in its infinitive form. Ex: Voy a pasear al perro translates as "I'm going to take the dog out". There is a real way to create the simple future, but if you are new to Spanish, this trick can help you.
        • Comparing with the English language, these conjugations work for both the present perfect and the present continuous. For example, Tocamos el piano means both We play the piano and We are playing the piano.