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2.5: -ER verbs

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    415621

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    The present tense of -ER verbs.

    We group Spanish verbs by their last two letters. Verbs that end in -ER are the second largest group of Spanish verbs. The other two groups of verbs end in -AR and IR.

    Spanish verbs change their endings to show who the subject of the verb is. This is called conjugating. We are going to learn to conjugate -ER verbs, which is very similar to conjugating AR verbs except we will use the letter E in place of the letter A in the endings.

    In order to conjugate, we are going to use the same format as the subject pronouns. This is because the endings of a Spanish verb change based on who is completing the action.

    The first step in conjugating, is to remove the last two letters, the ER. Without the ER, we are left with the stem of the verb. This is the part we will use to conjugate. We conjugate by adding an ending to the stem. The ending we add is based on who is completing the action. So, the conjugated forms of the AR verb comer are:

    COMER

    Yo como. Nosotros/Nosotras comemos.

    Tú comes. Vosotros/Vosotras coméis.

    Él/Ella/Usted come. Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes comen.

    It is necessary to remember O, ES, E, EMOS, ÉIS, and EN in order to conjugate. Some students find it helpful to clap while they repeat the endings. Practice saying: O, ES, E, EMOS, ÉIS, EN.

    Now, write and say the conjugated forms of the verb beber

    BEBER

    Yo beb_____. Nosotros/Nosotras beb__________.

    Tú beb _____. Vosotros/Vosotras beb___________.

    Él/Ella/Usted beb ______. Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes beb___________.

    Now, write and say the conjugated forms of the verb correr

    CORRER

    Yo corr_____. Nosotros/Nosotras corr__________.

    Tú corr_____. Vosotros/Vosotras corr ___________.

    Él/Ella/Usted corr ______. Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes corr___________.

    Now, write and say the conjugated forms of an ER verb that you pick

    _______________

    Yo _________. Nosotros/Nosotras ______________.

    Tú _________. Vosotros/Vosotras _______________.

    Él/Ella/Usted __________. Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes _______________.

    The present indicative can be translated in three ways. For example, Como. translates to

    1. I eat.

    2. I do eat.

    3. I am eating.

    Native Spanish speakers generally do not use the subject pronouns with the conjugated forms of yo, tú, nosotros/nosotras, vosotros/vosotras because the conjugation indicates who the subject is. Still, sometimes native speakers use the subject pronouns to give emphasis to the subject.

    Como mucho. means I eat a lot. All of the words are of equal importance.

    Yo como mucho. means I eat a lot but really emphasizes the subject.

    Since the conjugated forms of él, ella, usted, ellos, ellas, ustedes share a conjugated form, the subject pronoun is often included to clarify who is doing the action.

    The form of vosotros/vosotras is usually used in Spain.

    Frequently used -ER verbs

    aprender to learn

    barrer to sweep

    beber to drink

    comer to eat

    comprender to understand

    correr to run

    coser to sew

    creer to believe

    deber + infinitive should, ought to

    depender de to depend

    esconder to hide

    leer to read

    prender to catch, to turn on

    responder to respond

    romper to break

    suceder to happen, occur

    tejer to knit, weave

    temer to fear

    toser to cough

    vender to sell

    ver to see

    With practice, conjugating becomes easier and sort of fun. So, let us practice conjugating regular ER verbs.

    Prácticas.

    A. Conjugate the verbs in the indicated forms.

    1. Yo (leer) ___________________.

    2. Ella (responder) ____________________.

    3. Ustedes (depender) __________________.

    4. Tú (vender) ___________________.

    5. Ellos (visitar) __________________.

    6. Usted (comprender) ___________________.

    7. Nosotros (creer) __________________.

    8. Yo (coser) __________________.

    9. Las chicas (tejer) ___________________.

    10. Tú (esconder) ___________________.

    11. Mi amigo y yo (prender) __________________.

    12. La clase (ver) ____________________.

    13. Mis amigos (responder) ____________________.

    14. Ustedes (toser) ____________________.

    15. Usted (correr) ____________________.

    B. Answer the following questions in complete sentences in Spanish.

    1. ¿Corres rápidamente?

    2. ¿Lees mucho?

    3. ¿Bebes café?

    4. ¿Crees en el destino?

    5. ¿Respondes mucho en clase?

    6. ¿Cuándo respondes en español?

    7. ¿Aprendes mejor en clase o en linea?

    8. ¿De quién dependes?

    9. ¿Cuándo prendes tu computadora?

    10. ¿Qué temes?

    C. Translate the following sentences.

    1. She drinks a lot of water.

    2. We understand Spanish.

    3. You (tú) are seeing

    4. I do eat.

    5. They fear.

    6. You (usted) run.

    7. I read a lot.

    8. We do believe.

    9. They (ellas) are eating.

    10. They (ellos) learn.

    D. Use the verbs in the list above to write five of your own short sentences.

    1.

    2.

    3.

    4.

    5.

    E. The song Otro Día Más Sin Verte by Jon Secada is a song about how a he feels when he does not see someone he wants to see. Listen to the song. Then, write about five different things you like to do. You can start your sentences with ME GUSTA and use an infinitive, an unconjugated form of the verb.

    For example

    Me gusta correr rápidamente.

    1.

    2.

    3.

    4.

    5.

    F. Why do we conjugate verbs? How do we conjugate an -ER verb? Give three examples


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