Overview
This lesson introduces regular -ar verbs in Spanish, the most common verb type, and explains how to conjugate them in the present tense using a simple chart.
Types of Spanish Verbs
- Spanish verbs end in -ar, -er, or -ir.
- -ar verbs are the most common; -ir verbs are the least common.
- An -ar verb ends in the letters "ar" (e.g., hablar, cantar, buscar).
The Conjugation Chart
- A chart with six sections helps organize verb endings by subject pronoun.
- Top left: "yo" (I)
- Middle left: "tú" (you, informal)
- Bottom left: "él/ella/usted" (he, she, you formal)
- Top right: "nosotros" (we)
- Middle right: "vosotros" (you plural, Spain)
- Bottom right: "ellos/ellas/ustedes" (they, you plural)
Regular -ar Verb Endings (Present Tense)
- yo: -o
- tú: -as
- él/ella/usted: -a
- nosotros: -amos
- vosotros: -áis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes: -an
How to Conjugate Regular -ar Verbs
- Remove the -ar ending from the verb.
- Add the appropriate ending based on the subject.
- Examples:
- "Hablar" (to speak): yo hablo, tú hablas, él/ella/usted habla, nosotros hablamos, vosotros habláis, ellos/ellas/ustedes hablan.
- "Nadar" (to swim): yo nado, tú nadas, etc.
- "Buscar" (to look for): yo busco, tú buscas, etc.
Notes on Usage
- The subject pronoun can often be left out because the verb ending shows who is doing the action.
- Some verbs are irregular and will be covered in future lessons.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Conjugate — to change a verb form to match the subject and tense.
- Regular verb — a verb that follows standard rules for conjugation.
- Infinitive — the base form of the verb (e.g., hablar = to speak).
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice conjugating regular -ar verbs using the chart.
- Learn and memorize as many regular -ar verbs as possible.