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A1 · GRAMMAR

Presente: -ar, -er, -ir verbs

Spanish verbs fall into three groups based on their infinitive endings: -ar, -er, and -ir. In the present tense, each person has a different ending, just like in English. Because the endings are so clear, subject pronouns (like yo, tú) are often dropped. Some of the most frequently used verbs are irregular.

In this lesson

1. -ar verbs

hablar → hablo, hablas, habla...

Hablo español.
I speak Spanish.
2. -er verbs

comer → como, comes, come...

Comemos a las dos.
We eat at two o'clock.
3. -ir verbs

vivir → vivo, vives, vive...

Vivo en Estambul.
I live in Istanbul.
4. Stem-changing verbs

e→ie (quiero), o→ue (puedo), e→i (pido).

¿Puedes ayudarme?
Can you help me?
💡 Making a sentence negative is very easy: just put no in front of the verb. No hablo inglés. (Unlike English, there are no auxiliary verbs like 'don't'.)