Verb Conjugation Guide for Regular Verbs in Spanish

ESP does not teach verb conjugation, per se, in our classrooms as studies have shown that a natural understanding of underlying language structures is better acquired through use rather than through the memorization of rules. However, we thought this information might be helpful for parents. The following explains the method used for conjugating the three forms of "regular" verbs in the present tense. (Please note: as with any language, not all verbs are "regular".)

-AR verbs (verbs with infinitives ending in "ar")

drop the "ar" and add the following endings to each form of the verb

yo hablo - [yoh ah-bloh] I speak

tú hablas - [too ah-blahs] you speak
(use with friends or those younger than you)

usted habla - [ooh-sted ah-blah] you speak, he/she speaks
(use the "you" form with those older than you or as a form of respect)

nosotros hablamos - [noh-soh-trohs ah-blah-mohs] we speak

ellos/ellas/ustedes hablan - [a-yohs/a-yahs/ooh-sted-ace ah-blahn] they/they/you speak
(use the first "they" with any group including at least one male; use the second "they" with any group including only females; use the "you" only when referring to more than one person - as in "you all")

-ER and -IR verbs (verbs with infinitives ending in "er" or "ir")

drop the "er" or "ir" and add the following endings to each form of the verb

yo como - [yoh coh-moh] I eat

yo vivo - [yoh bee-boh] I live

tú comes - [too coh-mace] you eat

tú vives - [too bee-bace] you live    (see above for usage guidelines)

usted come - [ooh-sted coh-may] you eat

usted vive - [ooh-sted bee-bay] you live    (see above for usage guidelines)

nosotros comemos - [noh-soh-trohs coh-may-mohs] we eat

nosotros vivimos - [noh-soh-trohs bee-bee-mohs] we live **note the difference in endings here**

ellos/ellas/ustedes comen - [a-yohs/a-yahs/ooh-sted-ace coh-mehn] they/they/you eat

ellos/ellas/ustedes viven - [a-yohs/a-yahs/ooh-sted-ace bee-behn] they/they/you live    (see above for usage guidelines)