Spanish present tense
Spanish verbs
• In Spanish there are 3 types of infinitive verb endings:
-ar (hablar) –er (comer) –ir (vivir)
An infinitive is the base form of a verb e.g to speak (hablar),
to eat (comer) and to live (vivir)
A verb is made up of 2 different parts; the stem and the
ending. For example:
Habl…ar = Hablar
Com…er = Comer
Viv…ir = Vivir
Conjugating
• Conjugation is the process of changing the infinitive form
of the verb to suit who or what is doing the action. In
regular present tense verbs this relates to changing the
ending of the word (–ar –er –ir) , but in irregular present
tense verbs the stem is changed as well as the ending.
Regular verbs – drop the ending & replace with
who is doing the action.
Who (English)
Who (Spanish)
-AR
-ER
-IR
I
Yo
+o
+o
+o
You
Tú
+as
+es
+es
He/She/It
Él/Ella
+a
+e
+e
You (formal)
Usted
+a
+e
+e
We
Nosotros/as
+amos
+emos
+imos
You (all)
Vosotros/as
+áis
+éis
+ís
They
Ellos/Ellas
+an
+en
+en
You (all –
formal)
Ustedes
+an
+en
+en
Task: Translate – We look, They learn and I open
List of regular verbs
pasar to pass, to pass on, to spend (time), to
happen
deber to owe, must, should, ought to
quedar to stay, remain
hablar to speak
llevar to carry, bring
dejar to leave, abandon, to let, allow
llamar to call, to name
tomar to take, drink
vivir to live
tratar to treat, handle
mirar to watch, look at
esperar to hope
existir to exist
entrar to enter, go in, come in
trabajar to work
ocurrir to occur, happen
recibir to receive, to welcome, greet
terminar to finish, end
permitir to permit, allow
necesitar to need, require
resultar to turn out (to be)
cambiar to change
presentar to introduce
crear to create, to make
considerar to consider
acabar to finish, end
Irregular verbs (stem changers)
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•
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Some Spanish verbs (irregulars) are called stem changes because when conjugated the stem
changes. They still have the same ending as any regular infinitive.
Like the endings in regular verbs (AR, ER & IR) there are 3 types of stem changes that can be
made. This depends what letter the infinitive form of the irregular verb has. If it includes an O
then it us replaced with UE, an E replaced with IE and sometimes an E replaced with I.
In each grouping of stem changing verbs the stem changes except for the nosotros and
vosotros forms of the verb for example;
tener - to have
venir - to come
tengo
tienes
tiene
tenemos
tenéis
tienen
vengo
vienes
viene
venimos
venís
vienen
List of irregular verbs
Competir to conceive
despedir to fire
impedir to impede
medir to measure
pedir to ask for
Poder one can
repetir to repeat
servir to serve
teñir to color, dye, stain
vestir to dress
Ser & Estar
• In Spanish, there are two verbs that can be
translated as "to be." These two verbs are
ser and estar.
estar
ser
estoy
estás
está
estamos
estáis
están
soy
eres
es
somos
sois
son
When to use ser & estar?
Ser is used to express:
1. the hour, day, and date
2. place of origin
3. occupation
4. nationality
5. religious or political affiliation
6. the material something is made of
7. possession
8. relationship of one person to
another
9. certain impersonal expressions
10. where an event is taking place
11. essential qualities
Estar is used to express:
1. geographic or physical location
2. state or condition
3. many idiomatic expressions
4. progressive tenses
Ser & Estar cntd.
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When the verb "to be" is followed by a noun, the verb ser is always used.
When the verb "to be" is followed by an adjective, the verb used depends upon the
meaning. When referring to an essential characteristic, use ser. When referring to a state
or condition, use estar.
When the verb "to be" is followed by an adjective, the verb can actually change the
meaning of the adjective. El profesor está aburrido;The professor is bored//El profesor
es aburrido;
The professor is boring.
To tell where something is located right now, use estar.
To tell where an event is taking place, use ser.