Click the button below to see similar posts for other categories

How do you conjugate regular -er verbs in the present tense?

Spanish grammar can be fun and interesting! One of the exciting parts is learning how to change regular -er verbs in the present tense.

In Spanish, verbs end in three main ways: -ar, -er, and -ir. Today, we will focus on -er verbs. Understanding how to change these verbs is very important for learning the language.

Present Tense Conjugation of Regular -er Verbs

Regular -er verbs, like "comer" (to eat) and "leer" (to read), follow a simple pattern when we change them into the present tense. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Find the infinitive form: This is the verb in its base form, ending in -er.

  2. Take off the -er ending: For "comer," you get "com-."

  3. Add the present tense endings: The endings change depending on who is doing the action:

    • Yo (I) - o: como (I eat)
    • (you, informal) - es: comes (you eat)
    • Él/Ella/Usted (he/she/you, formal) - e: come (he/she/you eat)
    • Nosotros/Nosotras (we) - emos: comemos (we eat)
    • Vosotros/Vosotras (you all, informal in Spain) - éis: coméis (you all eat)
    • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes (they/you all, formal) - en: comen (they/you all eat)

Here are a few more examples:

  • Leer (to read):
    • Yo leo (I read)
    • Tú lees (you read)
    • Él/Ella/Usted lee (he/she/you read)
    • Nosotros leemos (we read)
    • Vosotros leéis (you all read)
    • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes leen (they/you all read)

Key Grammar Points

When learning to change Spanish verbs, it's important to know the difference between regular and irregular verbs. Irregular verbs, like "ser" (to be), "estar" (to be), "ir" (to go), and "tener" (to have), change in special ways that don’t follow the regular patterns. Here are their present tense forms:

  • Ser:

    • Yo soy (I am)
    • Tú eres (you are)
    • Él/Ella/Usted es (he/she/you are)
    • Nosotros somos (we are)
    • Vosotros sois (you all are)
    • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes son (they/you all are)
  • Estar:

    • Yo estoy (I am)
    • Tú estás (you are)
    • Él/Ella/Usted está (he/she/you are)
    • Nosotros estamos (we are)
    • Vosotros estáis (you all are)
    • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes están (they/you all are)
  • Ir:

    • Yo voy (I go)
    • Tú vas (you go)
    • Él/Ella/Usted va (he/she/you go)
    • Nosotros vamos (we go)
    • Vosotros vais (you all go)
    • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes van (they/you all go)
  • Tener:

    • Yo tengo (I have)
    • Tú tienes (you have)
    • Él/Ella/Usted tiene (he/she/you have)
    • Nosotros tenemos (we have)
    • Vosotros tenéis (you all have)
    • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes tienen (they/you all have)

Definite and Indefinite Articles

In Spanish, nouns have a gender. This means they can be masculine or feminine, which changes which articles you use.

The definite articles are:

  • el (singular, masculine)
  • la (singular, feminine)
  • los (plural, masculine)
  • las (plural, feminine)

The indefinite articles are:

  • un (singular, masculine)
  • una (singular, feminine)
  • unos (plural, masculine)
  • unas (plural, feminine)

Forming Questions

Making questions in Spanish is easy! You can start with a question word like “qué” (what), “cómo” (how), “dónde” (where), or “por qué” (why). You can also reverse the order of the words. For example:

  • Statement: Tú comes pizza. (You eat pizza.)
  • Question: ¿Comes tú pizza? (Do you eat pizza?)

When you switch the subject and the verb, you create a question. You can also raise your voice at the end to make it sound like a question.

Introduction to the Past Tense

While you are learning about the present tense, it’s helpful to know about the past tense too. In Spanish, there are two main types: the preterite (for completed actions) and the imperfect (for actions that were ongoing in the past). Knowing when to use each type is important for getting better at Spanish.

With regular -er verbs and these basic ideas, you're on your way to understanding Spanish grammar! Keep practicing how to change verbs, use articles, ask questions, and start learning about the past tense. This will help you become more confident and fluent in Spanish!

Related articles

Similar Categories
Basic Conversation for Year 9 SpanishGrammar and Vocabulary for Year 9 SpanishBasic Conversation for Year 7 SpanishGrammar and Vocabulary for Year 7 SpanishBasic Conversation for Year 8 SpanishGrammar and Vocabulary for Year 8 SpanishBasic Conversation for Gymnasium 1 SpanishGrammar and Vocabulary for Gymnasium 1 SpanishBasic Conversation for Gymnasium 2 SpanishGrammar and Vocabulary for Gymnasium 2 SpanishBasic Conversation for Gymnasium 3 SpanishGrammar and Vocabulary for Gymnasium 3 Spanish
Click HERE to see similar posts for other categories

How do you conjugate regular -er verbs in the present tense?

Spanish grammar can be fun and interesting! One of the exciting parts is learning how to change regular -er verbs in the present tense.

In Spanish, verbs end in three main ways: -ar, -er, and -ir. Today, we will focus on -er verbs. Understanding how to change these verbs is very important for learning the language.

Present Tense Conjugation of Regular -er Verbs

Regular -er verbs, like "comer" (to eat) and "leer" (to read), follow a simple pattern when we change them into the present tense. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Find the infinitive form: This is the verb in its base form, ending in -er.

  2. Take off the -er ending: For "comer," you get "com-."

  3. Add the present tense endings: The endings change depending on who is doing the action:

    • Yo (I) - o: como (I eat)
    • (you, informal) - es: comes (you eat)
    • Él/Ella/Usted (he/she/you, formal) - e: come (he/she/you eat)
    • Nosotros/Nosotras (we) - emos: comemos (we eat)
    • Vosotros/Vosotras (you all, informal in Spain) - éis: coméis (you all eat)
    • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes (they/you all, formal) - en: comen (they/you all eat)

Here are a few more examples:

  • Leer (to read):
    • Yo leo (I read)
    • Tú lees (you read)
    • Él/Ella/Usted lee (he/she/you read)
    • Nosotros leemos (we read)
    • Vosotros leéis (you all read)
    • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes leen (they/you all read)

Key Grammar Points

When learning to change Spanish verbs, it's important to know the difference between regular and irregular verbs. Irregular verbs, like "ser" (to be), "estar" (to be), "ir" (to go), and "tener" (to have), change in special ways that don’t follow the regular patterns. Here are their present tense forms:

  • Ser:

    • Yo soy (I am)
    • Tú eres (you are)
    • Él/Ella/Usted es (he/she/you are)
    • Nosotros somos (we are)
    • Vosotros sois (you all are)
    • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes son (they/you all are)
  • Estar:

    • Yo estoy (I am)
    • Tú estás (you are)
    • Él/Ella/Usted está (he/she/you are)
    • Nosotros estamos (we are)
    • Vosotros estáis (you all are)
    • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes están (they/you all are)
  • Ir:

    • Yo voy (I go)
    • Tú vas (you go)
    • Él/Ella/Usted va (he/she/you go)
    • Nosotros vamos (we go)
    • Vosotros vais (you all go)
    • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes van (they/you all go)
  • Tener:

    • Yo tengo (I have)
    • Tú tienes (you have)
    • Él/Ella/Usted tiene (he/she/you have)
    • Nosotros tenemos (we have)
    • Vosotros tenéis (you all have)
    • Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes tienen (they/you all have)

Definite and Indefinite Articles

In Spanish, nouns have a gender. This means they can be masculine or feminine, which changes which articles you use.

The definite articles are:

  • el (singular, masculine)
  • la (singular, feminine)
  • los (plural, masculine)
  • las (plural, feminine)

The indefinite articles are:

  • un (singular, masculine)
  • una (singular, feminine)
  • unos (plural, masculine)
  • unas (plural, feminine)

Forming Questions

Making questions in Spanish is easy! You can start with a question word like “qué” (what), “cómo” (how), “dónde” (where), or “por qué” (why). You can also reverse the order of the words. For example:

  • Statement: Tú comes pizza. (You eat pizza.)
  • Question: ¿Comes tú pizza? (Do you eat pizza?)

When you switch the subject and the verb, you create a question. You can also raise your voice at the end to make it sound like a question.

Introduction to the Past Tense

While you are learning about the present tense, it’s helpful to know about the past tense too. In Spanish, there are two main types: the preterite (for completed actions) and the imperfect (for actions that were ongoing in the past). Knowing when to use each type is important for getting better at Spanish.

With regular -er verbs and these basic ideas, you're on your way to understanding Spanish grammar! Keep practicing how to change verbs, use articles, ask questions, and start learning about the past tense. This will help you become more confident and fluent in Spanish!

Related articles