Most verbs are regular. This means that they follow a pattern.
To conjugate regular verbs in the present tense, remove the -ar / -er / -ir from the infinitive and then add the correct ending:
| subject pronoun | hablar (to talk) | comer (to eat) | vivir (to live) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | yo | hablo | como | vivo |
| you | tú | hablas | comes | vives |
| he/she/it/you (polite) | él/ella/usted | habla | come | vive |
| we | nosotros/as | hablamos | comemos | vivimos |
| you (plural) | vosotros/as | habláis | coméis | vivís |
| they/you (polite plural) | ellos/ellas/ustedes | hablan | comen | viven |
In Spanish, it isn't usually necessary to use the subject pronoun. The verb ending makes it clear who is doing the action. For example:
Complete each verb with the correct present tense ending.
1.Me llamo Pablo y trabaj_ en una tienda. (infinitive = trabajar)
Me llamo Pablo y trabajo en una tienda. (My name is Pablo and I work in a shop.) The verb is in the 'I' form.
2.Mis padres nunca com___ carne porque son vegetarianos. (infinitive = comer)
Mis padres nunca comen carne porque son vegetarianos. (My parents never eat meat because they are vegetarian.) The verb is in the 'they' form.
3.Álvaro no llev___ uniforme. (infinitive = llevar)
Álvaro no lleva uniforme. (Álvaro doesn't wear a uniform.) The verb is in the 'he/she' form.
4.Mi hermana y yo descarg___ vídeos a menudo. (infinitive = descargar)
Mi hermana y yo descargamos vídeos a menudo. (My sister and I often download videos.) The verb is in the 'we' form.
5.¿A qué hora sal___ de casa por la mañana, Laura? (infinitive = salir)
¿A qué hora sales de casa por la mañana, Laura? (At what time do you leave home in the morning, Laura?) The verb is in the 'you' form.