Spanish verb conjugation: AR, ER, and IR ending verbs
In this guide, you’ll learn how to conjugate regular AR, ER, and IR verbs in both the present and preterite (past) tenses, focusing on predictable patterns.
Table of contents
- Understanding regular verb conjugations in Spanish
- Present tense conjugation for AR, ER, and IR verbs
- Conjugating verbs in the preterite (past) tense
- Differences between present and preterite conjugations
- How to master conjugating irregular verbs
- Common errors in verb conjugation (and how to avoid them)
- Practice exercises for AR, ER, and IR verbs
Understanding regular verb conjugations in Spanish
Regular verbs follow predictable patterns, which makes them easier to conjugate once you learn the rules. The main three types of verbs in Spanish end in -AR, -ER, and -IR. Irregular verbs, on the other hand, do not follow these patterns, which we'll touch on later.
Present tense conjugation for AR, ER, and IR verbs
To start, let’s review how to conjugate regular AR, ER, and IR verbs in the present tense.
Conjugation chart for -AR verbs, like hablar
| Subject | Hablar (to speak) |
|---|---|
| Yo | Hablo |
| Tú | Hablas |
| Él / Ella / Usted | Habla |
| Nosotros/as | Hablamos |
| Vosotros/as | Habláis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | Hablan |
Practice conjugating hablar to reinforce your understanding of AR verbs.
Conjugation chart for -ER verbs, like comer
| Subject | Comer (to eat) |
|---|---|
| Yo | Como |
| Tú | Comes |
| Él / Ella / Usted | Come |
| Nosotros/as | Comemos |
| Vosotros/as | Coméis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | Comen |
Practice conjugating comer with this helpful sentence-building exercise.
Conjugation chart for -IR verbs, like vivir
| Subject | Vivir (to live) |
|---|---|
| Yo | Vivo |
| Tú | Vives |
| Él / Ella / Usted | Vive |
| Nosotros/as | Vivimos |
| Vosotros/as | Vivís |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | Viven |
Ready to apply what you’ve learned? Practice conjugating vivir.
Conjugating verbs in the preterite (past) tense
Now, let’s move on to the preterite tense, which is used to describe actions completed in the past.
For -AR verbs, like caminar
| Subject | Caminar (to walk) |
|---|---|
| Yo | Caminé |
| Tú | Caminaste |
| Él / Ella / Usted | Caminó |
| Nosotros/as | Caminamos |
| Vosotros/as | Caminasteis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | Caminaron |
Test your knowledge of AR verbs by practicing the conjugation of caminar.
For -ER and IR verbs, like comer
| Subject | Comer (to eat) |
|---|---|
| Yo | Comí |
| Tú | Comiste |
| Él / Ella / Usted | Comió |
| Nosotros/as | Comimos |
| Vosotros/as | Comisteis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | Comieron |
Differences between present and preterite conjugations
It’s easy to confuse the present and preterite tenses, especially because some verb forms look similar. Here are a few examples:
- Present: Yo hablo español. (I speak Spanish.)
- Preterite: Yo hablé español ayer. (I spoke Spanish yesterday.)
How to master conjugating irregular verbs
Irregular verbs like traducir have conjugations that differ from the regular patterns. For instance, in the preterite tense, traducir becomes:
| Subject | Traducir (to translate) |
|---|---|
| Yo | Traduje |
| Tú | Tradujiste |
| Él / Ella / Usted | Tradujo |
| Nosotros/as | Tradujimos |
| Vosotros/as | Tradujisteis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | Tradujeron |
Common errors in verb conjugation (and how to avoid them)
- Confusing usted and tú forms. Remember, usted uses the third-person singular form of the verb.
- Mixing up present and preterite conjugations. Practice using both tenses in full sentences to gain clarity.
Practice exercises for AR, ER, and IR verbs
Need more practice? Here you can find exercises to conjugate common verbs in Spanish. These exercises will help reinforce what you've learned, giving you the chance to apply conjugation rules in a variety of sentences. Consistent practice is key to mastering verb forms.
