Regular "-er", "-ir" ending verbs
In 2.2.0 we mentioned that in Spanish, the basic form of a verb, or the infinitive form, always ends in either "-ar", "-er", OR "-ir".
(In the examples below, all infinitive endings are in blue.)
Infinitive form |
bailar
estudiar
comer
beber
escribir
vivir
|
As a review, to conjugate "-ar" ending verbs, remove the "-ar" ending and replace it with the following endings:
(In the charts below, the subject pronouns and their conjugation endings are noted in blue.)
Subject Pronoun (Singular) |
Conjugation of -ar (bailar) |
Subject Pronoun (Plural) |
Conjugation of -ar (bailar) |
Yo |
bailo |
nosotros/nosotras |
bailamos |
tú |
bailas |
vosotros/vosotras |
bailáis |
usted, él/ella |
baila |
ustedes, ellos/ellas |
bailan |
Regular verbs ending in "-er", "-ir" will follow the same conjugation pattern as regular "-ar" ending verbs, but with the following new endings:
Subject Pronoun (Singular) |
Conjugation of -er (comer) |
Subject Pronoun (Plural) |
Conjugation of -er (comer) |
Yo |
como |
nosotros/nosotras |
comemos |
tú |
comes |
vosotros/vosotras |
coméis |
usted, él/ella |
come |
ustedes, ellos/ellas |
comen |
Subject Pronoun (Singular) |
Conjugation of -ir (abrir) |
Subject Pronoun (Plural) |
Conjugation of -ir (abrir) |
Yo |
abro |
nosotros/nosotras |
abrimos |
tú |
abres |
vosotros/vosotras |
abrís |
usted, él/ella |
abre |
ustedes, ellos/ellas |
abren |
¡Ojo! The endings for "-er" and "-ir" are almost the same, except for the "nosotros, nosotras" and the "vosotros, vosotras" form.
When two verbs are used together in a sentence with no change of subject pronoun or noun, the second verb is not conjugated (infinitive). In a negative sentence, place the "no" before the conjugated verb:
Examples |
Yo debo barrer el piso hoy.
Yo no asisto a muchos conciertos.
|
Common regular "-er", "-ir" verbs
-er verbs |
-ir verbs |
aprender (a) - to learn |
abrir - to open |
barrer - to sweep |
asistir (a) - to attend (a place/event) |
beber - to drink |
compartir - to share |
comer - to eat |
consumir - to consume |
comprender - to understand |
decidir - to decide |
correr - to run |
definir - to define |
creer - to believe (in) |
describir - to describe |
deber - should |
escribir - to write |
leer - to read |
insistir - to insist |
meter - to put in; to insert |
permitir - to allow |
prender - to catch; to turn on |
persistir - to persist |
romper - to break |
prohibir - to prohibit; to forbid |
temer - to fear; to dread |
recibir - to receive |
vender - to sell |
vivir - to live |
¡Ojo!
- Aprender: The "a" is required only when used with another verb in the infinitive:
Aprendo el español. (but) Aprendo "a" hablar el español.
- Asistir: Is not to be confused with the verb 'to assist' (helping someone). The "a" is required in the sentence when used with a "noun of place or event". When "a" is used with the masculine singular definite article "el", "a + el" combine to "al":
Asisto "al" partido de fútbol los domingos. Asistimos "a" la universidad.
- Prohibir: Requires a written accent on the letter "i" for all the conjugations except the "nosotros, nosotras" and the "vosotros, vosotras" form: prohíbo, prohíbes, prohíbe, prohibimos, prohibís, prohíben. All conjugations that require an accent on letter "i" are noted in bold.