Spanish Present Tense: AR, ER and IR Verbs
The present tense is the first tense you will use and the one you will use the most. It describes what you do, what is happening, and even what you will do soon. Spanish verbs come in three families, and each family follows its own pattern. Learn those three patterns and you can conjugate hundreds of verbs.
Quick answer
- Take off -ar, -er, -ir and add the ending that matches who is doing the action: hablo, hablas, habla, hablamos, hablan.
- You can usually drop the pronoun. Hablo español already means “I speak Spanish.”
- Watch for the verbs that change: stem changes like quiero and irregular yo forms like tengo and hago.
Regular verbs: three families
Every Spanish verb in its basic form ends in -ar, -er, or -ir. To conjugate a regular verb, remove that ending to get the stem, then add the ending for the person. The -er and -ir families share almost every ending: they only differ in nosotros.
| Who | hablar (to speak) | comer (to eat) | vivir (to live) |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo (I) | hablo | como | vivo |
| tú (you) | hablas | comes | vives |
| él, ella, usted (he, she, you formal) | habla | come | vive |
| nosotros (we) | hablamos | comemos | vivimos |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes (they, you all) | hablan | comen | viven |
Examples
- Yo hablo inglés y un poco de español.I speak English and a little Spanish.-ar verb, yo form.
- Tú comes en la oficina.You eat at the office.-er verb, tú form.
- Ella vive en Monterrey.She lives in Monterrey.-ir verb, ella form.
- Trabajamos por la tarde.We work in the afternoon.-amos for nosotros.
- Mis primos escriben mensajes todo el día.My cousins write messages all day.-en for ellos.
In Mexico and the rest of Latin America, ustedes is the only way to say “you all.” In Spain, people also use vosotros (habláis, coméis, vivís).
Do you need the subject pronoun?
Usually not. The ending already tells you who is acting, so Hablo español is complete. Add yo, tú, él and the others for emphasis or contrast: Yo hablo español, pero él habla francés. Using them in every sentence sounds unnatural and is a common sign of a beginner.
Examples
- Vivo cerca del centro.I live near downtown.No pronoun needed.
- Tú trabajas en casa, pero yo trabajo en una tienda.You work at home, but I work in a store.Pronouns show contrast.
Stem-changing verbs
Some verbs change the vowel in the stem, but only in the forms where the stem is stressed. That is every form except nosotros, which is why they are called “boot verbs”: draw a line around the changing forms and you get the shape of a boot.
| Change | Verb | Forms |
|---|---|---|
| e → ie | querer (to want) | quiero, quieres, quiere, queremos, quieren |
| o → ue | poder (can) | puedo, puedes, puede, podemos, pueden |
| e → i | pedir (to ask for) | pido, pides, pide, pedimos, piden |
Examples
- Quiero un jugo de naranja.I want an orange juice.e → ie.
- ¿Puedes ayudarme?Can you help me?o → ue.
- Pedimos la cuenta.We ask for the check.Nosotros does not change.
Irregular yo forms
A group of common verbs follow the regular pattern everywhere except in the yo form. Learn them as pairs and the rest of each verb stays regular.
| Verb | yo form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| hacer | hago | I do, I make |
| tener | tengo | I have |
| venir | vengo | I come |
| poner | pongo | I put |
| salir | salgo | I leave, I go out |
| conocer | conozco | I know (a person or place) |
| ver | veo | I see |
Examples
- Hago la tarea después de cenar.I do homework after dinner.Hacer → hago.
- Salgo de casa a las ocho.I leave home at eight.Salir → salgo.
- Tengo dos hermanos.I have two brothers.Tener → tengo.
The most important verbs are fully irregular. You can learn ser and estar in ser vs. estar.
What the present tense means in Spanish
One Spanish present covers three English forms: “I speak,” “I am speaking,” and, with a time word, “I will speak.” Spanish does not use “do” or “does” for questions and negatives either: ¿Vives aquí? and No vivo aquí..
Examples
- Estudio español todos los días.I study Spanish every day.A habit.
- Ahora leo un libro.I am reading a book now.Happening now.
- Mañana viajo a Puebla.I travel to Puebla tomorrow.A near future plan.
- ¿Trabajas aquí?Do you work here?No “do” in Spanish.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Yo habla español.
Correct: Yo hablo español.
The ending must match the subject. Yo takes -o.
Incorrect: Nosotros vivemos aquí.
Correct: Nosotros vivimos aquí.
-ir verbs use -imos, not -emos.
Incorrect: Yo quero un café.
Correct: Yo quiero un café.
Querer is a stem-changing verb: e becomes ie.
Incorrect: Yo hacer la tarea.
Correct: Yo hago la tarea.
Conjugate the verb. The yo form of hacer is irregular: hago.
A routine for any verb
- Find the family (-ar, -er, or -ir), remove the ending, and add the right ending for the person.
- Check if it is a boot verb or has an irregular yo form. If not, it is regular.
- Drop the pronoun unless you want contrast or clarity.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
Do I always have to say yo, tú, and the other pronouns?
No. The endings already show the subject, so most sentences leave the pronoun out. Use it to contrast people or to avoid confusion, since habla can mean “he speaks,” “she speaks,” or “you speak” (formal).
How do I say ‘I am eating’?
The simple present works: Como ahora. Spanish also has a present progressive with estar plus a verb ending in -ando or -iendo: Estoy comiendo. The simple present is more common for habits.
How many verbs are irregular?
A few dozen very common verbs are irregular, and they are the ones you use all the time. Most of them follow a small number of patterns, such as the irregular yo forms and the boot changes.
When should I learn the past tense?
After the present feels natural. The next step is preterite vs. imperfect.
Ready to practice your Spanish?
Conjugation becomes automatic with repetition. Practice -ar verbs in a short, free session, then try -er and -ir verbs.
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