Regular verbs
In order to form the present indicative of AR verbs the infinitive endings ar is dropped. Add the following endings for the first conjugation (AR)
| Infinitive | Amar (to love) | Hablar (to talk) | Caminar (to walk) | Endings |
| Root | Am | Habl | Camin | |
| Yo | Amo | Hablo | Camino | o |
| tu | amas | hablas | caminas | as |
| el/ ella | amas | habla | camina | a |
| nosotros | amamos | hablamos | caminamos | amos |
| ellos | aman | hablan | caminan | an |
In Latin America we never use vosotros.
Many of the most frequently used Spanish verbs belong to the first conjugation AR. Here is a list:
| Verbs | Meanings | Verbs | Meanings |
| Bailar | To dance | estudiar | To study |
| buscar | To look for | invitar | To invite |
| cambiar | To change | llamar | To call |
| cantar | To sing | mirar | To look at |
| cenar | To dine | nadar | To swim |
| comprar | To buy | pagar | To pay for |
| descansar | To rest | trabajar | To work |
Second conjugation ER
The infinitives of second conjugation verbs end in ER. In order to form the present tense of regular ER verbs the infinitive endings is dropped. Add the personal endings:
O, es, e, emos, en
| Infinitive | Comer (to eat) | Aprender( to learn) | Beber (to drink) | Endings |
| Root | Com | Aprend | Beb | |
| Yo | como | aprendo | bebo | o |
| tu | comes | aprendes | bebas | es |
| el/ ella | come | aprende | bebe | e |
| nosotros | comemos | aprendemos | bebemos | emos |
| ellos | comen | aprenden | beben | en |
List of second conjugation
| Verbs | Meanings | Verbs | Meanings |
| Correr | To run | prometer | To promise |
| comprender | To understand | ver | To see |
| creer | To believe | vender | To sell |
| leer | To read | meter | To put |
Regular third conjugation verbs
In order to form the present indicative of IR verbs, the infinitive ending is dropped and the personal endings: o, es, e, imos, en are added to the root.
| Infinitive | Abrir (to open) | Vivir (lo live) | Endings |
| Root | Abr | Viv | |
| Yo | Abro | vivo | o |
| tú | abres | vives | es |
| él/ ella | abre | vives | e |
| nosotros | abrimos | vivimos | imos |
| ellos | abren | viven | En |
Present Indicative- Irregular verbs
The following verbs are considered irregular in the present tense:
Tener: to have poner: to put hacer: to do valer: to bring salir: to leave.
Note, that the only irregular forms is the first person singular. All other forms are regular.
| Infinitive | Tener (to have) | Salir (to leave) | Hacer: (to do) | Poner (to put) |
| Yo | Tengo | Salgo | Hago | Pongo |
| tú | tienes | sales | haces | pones |
| él/ ella | tiene | sale | hace | pone |
| nosotros | tenemos | salimos | hacemos | ponemos |
| ellos | tienen | salen | hacen | ponen |
The following verbs have the same irregular form.
- Caer: to fall down
- Oír: to hear
- Traer: to bring
- Valer: to cost
- Venir: to come
Most verbs that end in CER- CIR are also irregular in the present tense. Only the first person is irregular. All other forms function as regular verbs.
| Verbs | Meanings | Verbs | Meanings |
| Conocer | To know | merecer | To deserve |
| Ofrecer | To offer | parecer | To seem |
| producir | To produce | conducir | To drive |
| Aparecer | To appear |
| Conocer | Conducir | Ofrecer | Parecer |
| Yo conozco | Yo conduzco | Yo ofrezco | Yo parezco |
| Tú conocer | Tu conduces | Tú ofreces | Tú pareces |
| Él conoce | Él conduce | Él ofrece | Él parece |
| Nos conocemos | Nos conducimos | Nos ofrecemos | Nos parecemos |
| Ellos conocen | Ellos conducen | Ellos ofrecen | Ellos parecen |
Stem changing verbs
First class
The following verbs change the stem of the infinitive e to ie i all forms except Nosotros.
| Infinitive | Pensar (to think) | Cerrar (to close) | Comenzar (to start) | Perder (to lose) |
| Yo | Piens-o | Cierr-o | Comienz-o | Pierd-o |
| tú | Piens-as | Cierr-as | Comienz-as | Pierd-es |
| él/ ella | Piens-a | Cierr-a | Comienz-a | Pierd-e |
| nosotros | Pens-amos | Cerr-amos | Comenz-amos | Perdem-os |
| ellos | Piens-an | Cierr-an | Comienz-an | Pierd-en |
Stem changing verbs- First class e < ie
- Atender: to help, assist
- Comenzar: to start
- Convertir: to convert
- Defender: to defend
- despertarse: to wake up
- divertirse: to enjoy
- empezar. to start
- entender: to understand
- mentir: to lie
- preferir: to prefer
- querer: to want
- sentar: to seat
- sentarse: to sit down
- Sentirse: to feel, be
- Sugerir: to suggest
Second class o-ue
The following verbs change the stem of the infinitive o to ue in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
- Acordar: to remember
- Almorzar: to lunch
- contar: to tell, count
- probar: to prove
- mostrar: to show
- encontrar: to meet, find
- costar: to cost
- volver: to return
- poder: to be able
- mover: to move
- envolver: to wrap
- devolver: to return, give back
- recordar: to remember