VERB: Forming the PRESENT TENSE

1. To form the present tense, it is important to understand an INFINITIVE. It is the root

word of Spanish verbs. In Spanish, the infinitives can be determined through their
endings including ar, -er, and ir.These endings also determine the three conjugations
of a verb. Verbs that end in arare first conjugation verbs. Verbs that end in erare
second conjugation verbs. And verbs that end in -ir arethird conjugation verbs.

First
conjugation
-ar
Second
conjugation
-er
Third
conjugation
-ir

bailar to dance creer to believe escribir to write

Conjugation is very important because this will determine the different forms of the verbs
depending on the number (singular and plural) and person (first, second, third). The
three conjugations have their own sets of forming the different form of the verb

2. How do we form the first conjugation of present tense in Spanish?
To form the first conjugation present tense in Spanish, we have to remove the ending of
the first conjugation infinitive arand add the six endings including o, -as, -a, -amos, -
is, -an.

bailar to dance
Singular Plural
1
st
person bailo dance Bailamos dance
2
nd
person bailas dance Bailis dance
3
rd
person baila dances Bailan dance

The verb must agree with the number (singular, plural) and person (first, second, third)
of the subject in the sentence.

Yohablo con mi madre. I dance with my mother.
(singular, 1
st
person)

Nosotrosbailamos. We dance.
(plural, 1
st
person)

Angela danceselegantemente. Angela dances gracefully.
(singular, 3
rd
person)

Tbailas. You dance.
(singular, 2nd person)

The subject pronouns (yo, tu, l, nosotros/as, vosotros/as, and ellos) can be omitted
when they are used as a subject of the sentence.




3. How do we form the second conjugation of present tense in Spanish?
To form the second conjugation present tense in Spanish, we have to remove the ending
of the second conjugation infinitive -erand add the six endings including o, -es, -e, -
emos, -is, -en.

creer to believe
Singular Plural
1
st
person creo believe creemos believe
2
nd
person crees believe creis believe
3
rd
person cree believes creen believe

The verb must agree with the number (singular, plural) and person (first, second, third)
of the subject in the sentence.

Yocreo en Dios. I believe in God
Tcreesqueellaeshermosa. You believe that she is beautiful.
Miprimocreeque la vidaes simple. My cousin believes that life is simple.
Porqucreenellos? Why do they believe?

The subject pronouns (yo, tu, l, nosotros/as, vosotros/as, and ellos) can be omitted
when they are used as a subject of the sentence.

4. How do we form the third conjugation of present tense in Spanish?
To form the third conjugation present tense in Spanish, we have to remove the ending of
the second conjugation infinitive irand add the six endings including o, -es, -e, -imos, -
s, -en.


Singular Plural
1
st
person escribo write escribimos write
2
nd
person escribes write escribs write
3
rd
person escribe writes escriben write

The verb must agree with the number (singular, plural) and person (first, second, third)
of the subject in the sentence.


Ella escribe a sumadre. She writes to her mother.
El estudianteescribe a suprofesor. The student writes to his teacher.
Ellosescribenunacarta de solicitud. They write a letter of request.

The subject pronouns (yo, tu, l, nosotros/as, vosotros/as, and ellos) can be omitted
when they are used as a subject of the sentence.




Assignment: Conjugate the following verbs:
Example: bailar bailo, bailas, baila, bailamos, bailais, bailan
Comer - como, comes, come, comemos, comeis, comen

1. cargar
2. limpiar
3. bailar
4. beber
5. comer
6. borrar
7. besar
8. escuchar
9. pintar
10. orar
11. leer
12. ejecutar
13. cantar
14. hablar
15. escribir