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Verbs and Conjugation by Cari Luna

A verb is a word that shows action. Verbs need to be conjugated to express who is doing the action and when it's being done. Regular Spanish verbs are conjugated by dropping the infinitive ending (-ar, -er, or -ir) and attaching the appropriate ending. Most of the verbs in this book are in the present tense — other tenses are beyond the scope of this phrase book. If this is a topic that interests you, we encourage you to seek more in-depth Spanish language instruction or pick up The Everything® Spanish Verb Book.

Regular Verb Endings <tgroup cols="4"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="25%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="25%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <colspec colname="col3" colnum="3" colwidth="25%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <colspec colname="col4" colnum="4" colwidth="25%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <thead> <tr> <td><p>Subject Pronoun</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-ar</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-er</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-ir</emphasis></p></td> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>yo</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-o</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-o</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-o</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>tú</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-as</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-es</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-es</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>él, ella, usted</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-a</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-e</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-e</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>nosotros, nosotras</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-amos</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-emos</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-imos</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>vosotros, vosotras</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-áis</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-éis</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-ís</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>ellos, ellas, ustedes</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-an</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-en</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>-en</emphasis></p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <p>Here are three sample conjugations of regular verbs.</p> <bridgehead>BUSCAR: to look for (-ar verb)</bridgehead> <p>yo busco (BOO-skoh)</p> <p>tú buscas (BOO-skahs)</p> <p>él, ella, usted busca (BOO-skah)</p> <p>nosotros buscamos (boo-SKAH-mohs)</p> <p>vosotros buscáis (boo-SKAHYS)</p> <p>ellos, ellas, ustedes buscan (BOO-skahn)</p> <bridgehead>VENDER: to sell (-er verb)</bridgehead> <p>yo vendo (VEHN-doh)</p> <p>tú vendes (VEHN-dehs)</p> <p>él, ella, usted vende (VEHN-deh)</p> <p>nosotros vendemos (vehn-DEH-mohs)</p> <p>vosotros vendéis (vehn-DEHYS)</p> <p>ellos, ellas, ustedes venden (VEHN-dehn)</p> <bridgehead>VIVIR: to live (-ir verb)</bridgehead> <p>yo vivo (VEE-vo)</p> <p>tú vives (VEE-vehs)</p> <p>él, ella, usted vive (VEE-veh)</p> <p>nosotros vivimos (vee-VEE-mohs)</p> <p>vosotros vivís (vee-VEES)</p> <p>ellos, ellas, ustedes viven (VEE-vehn)</p> <p>Irregular verb conjugations vary from this format. They might have modified spelling to accommodate correct pronunciation, or they might sound markedly different from the infinitive. Irregular verb conjugations need to be memorized.</p> <bridgehead>IR: to go (irregular)</bridgehead> <p>yo voy (voy)</p> <p>tú vas (vahs)</p> <p>él, ella, usted va (vah)</p> <p>nosotros vamos (vAH-mohs)</p> <p>vosotros vais (vahys)</p> <p>ellos, ellas, ustedes van (vahn)</p> <h2>Reflexive Verbs</h2> <p>A reflexive verb is one that describes an action that the subject takes upon itself. An example of a reflexive verb is <emphasis>llamarse</emphasis>, literally “to call oneself.” In Spanish, this verb is used to say “my name is …”</p> <p><emphasis>Yo me llamo Susan.</emphasis></p> <p>My name is Susan.</p> <p><emphasis>Tú te llamas Roberto.</emphasis></p> <p>Your name is Robert.</p> <bridgehead>Reflexive Pronouns</bridgehead> <table frame="all" width="100%"> <title/> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="center"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>me</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>meh</p></td> <td><p>myself</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>te</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>teh</p></td> <td><p>yourself (singular, informal)</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>se</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>seh</p></td> <td><p>himself, herself, yourself, themselves, yourselves</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>nos</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>nohs</p></td> <td><p>ourselves</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>os</emphasis></p></td> <td><p>ohs</p></td> <td><p>yourselves (plural, informal in Spain)</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <!--/gc--> <div id="pagination"><ul><li class="prev"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/pronunciation-and-grammar/from-noun-to-pronoun.htm" title="From Noun to Pronoun">From Noun to Pronoun</a></li><li class="next"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/pronunciation-and-grammar/the-top-ten-spanish-phrases-you-should-know.htm" title="The Top 10 Spanish Phrases to Know">The Top 10 Spanish Phrases to Know</a> </li></ul></div></div> <div id="coda"> <div id="rel"><div class="n5">Related Articles</div><ul> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/pronunciation-and-grammar/verbs-and-conjugation.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Verbs and Conjugation - Spanish Phrases </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/spanish-phrases/on-the-move/getting-around.htm" 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