Present Tense Basics: -AR, -ER, -IR Verbs

Introduction

In Spanish, all infinitive verbs end in one of three patterns: -ar, -er, or -ir. Each group follows its own set of regular endings in the present tense. Once you learn these patterns, you can conjugate hundreds of verbs.

-AR Verbs (the largest group)

Example: hablar (to speak)

Drop the -ar ending and add:

Common -AR Verbs

• hablar — to speak
• trabajar — to work
• estudiar — to study
• caminar — to walk
• cocinar — to cook

-ER Verbs

Example: comer (to eat)

Drop the -er ending and add:

Common -ER Verbs

• comer — to eat
• beber — to drink
• leer — to read
• correr — to run
• aprender — to learn

-IR Verbs

Example: vivir (to live)

Drop the -ir ending and add:

Common -IR Verbs

• vivir — to live
• escribir — to write
• abrir — to open
• decidir — to decide
• recibir — to receive

Key Observations

Notice that -er and -ir verbs share almost the same endings. The only difference is the nosotros form:

• -ER → nosemos (comemos)
• -IR → nosimos (vivimos)

Tip: If you can remember the -AR endings (the most common group) and know that -ER/-IR are nearly identical, you already know the vast majority of regular present tense conjugations.

Practice