In any language, there are certain things that you have to learn that aren't necessarily a lot of fun. With the Spanish language, it's probably the verbs and all their conjugations and tenses. Here, we'll try to make everything a little easier for you.
| Infinitive | English Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ser | To be |
| Estar | To be (temporary) |
| Tener | To have |
| Haber | To have (auxiliary) |
| Hacer | To do / make |
| Ir | To go |
| Poder | To be able to |
| Decir | To say / tell |
| Ver | To see |
| Dar | To give |
| Saber | To know (facts) |
| Conocer | To know (people/places) |
| Querer | To want / love |
| Llegar | To arrive |
| Pasar | To pass / spend time |
| Dejar | To leave |
| Seguir | To follow |
| Pensar | To think |
| Encontrar | To find |
| Volver | To return |
| Llamar | To call |
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Spanish Verbs: The Complete Beginner-Friendly Guide
Verbs are integral to the Spanish language. You need them to describe actions, thoughts, feelings, and everyday routines. Learn how they work and you're a long way to speaking the language with some fluency. Spanish verbs may have lots of conjugations and tenses, but they follow patterns quite consistently, unless they're irregular verbs, so once you learn these patterns, you'll do quite well.
How Spanish Verbs Work in Everyday Language
Verbs express actions (hablar, comer, vivir) and states of being (ser, estar).
Every verb has an infinitive form ending in -ar, -er, or -ir, which determines how it conjugates.
Spanish verbs change depending on who performs the action (yo, tú, él, nosotros, vosotros, ellos).
Spoken Spanish relies heavily on a small core set of high-frequency verbs, so learning them unlocks fast progress.
Mastering even 30–40 essential verbs allows a beginner to handle most everyday conversations.
Regular vs Irregular Verbs Explained Clearly
Regular verbs follow predictable patterns, making them ideal for beginners (hablar → hablo, hablas, habla…).
Irregular verbs change spelling or stems (tener → tengo, tienes, tiene…), so they must be memorised separately.
Many essential verbs (ser, ir, hacer, tener) are irregular, so it's normal to learn them early.
Irregular verbs still follow patterns — stem-changes (E→IE, O→UE) make irregular verbs easier to recognise.
Learning a small set of irregular verbs accelerates fluency because you use them every day.
Why Mastering Verb Endings Is the Key to Fluency
Spanish verb endings communicate who is doing the action, often making subject pronouns optional.
Consistent ending patterns mean you can quickly conjugate most regular verbs in any tense.
Knowing endings improves listening comprehension, because you can immediately recognise the subject.
Endings also reveal tense, allowing you to distinguish between past, present, and future.
Practising endings makes speaking more automatic and reduces hesitation.
The Three Spanish Verb Groups (-AR, -ER, -IR)
Aside from irregular verbs, Spanish verbs are classified into three main groups. The endings generally determine how the verbs are conjugated. Once you can recognise these three groups, you'll be able to learn conjugations clearly.
Spanish Verb Endings at a Glance
All Spanish verbs end in -AR, -ER, or -IR. These endings determine how verbs are conjugated in every tense. Learning these patterns early helps you quickly recognise how verbs behave and makes conjugation much easier.
-AR Verbs (Most Common Group & Easiest to Learn)
-AR verbs make up the largest verb group in Spanish, so mastering them quickly boosts confidence.
Their endings follow simple patterns (hablar → hablo, hablas, habla), making them ideal for beginners.
Common verbs such as hablar, trabajar, estudiar, mirar, and llamar appear frequently in everyday conversation.
Once you learn -AR endings, you can conjugate hundreds of verbs instantly by applying the same pattern.
Practice tip: choose 10 -AR verbs and conjugate them in the present, past, and future to reinforce the pattern.
-ER Verbs (Useful for Everyday Actions)
-ER verbs include many high-frequency verbs used daily: comer, beber, leer, correr, saber.
Their endings are straightforward but differ slightly from -AR patterns (comer → como, comes, come).
Some -ER verbs are irregular (hacer, tener), so build a separate mini-list to review regularly.
Understanding -ER patterns helps with reading comprehension because these verbs appear widely in stories and articles.
Practice tip: make simple sentences such as “Yo como…”, “Tú lees…”, “Nosotros aprendemos…” to build automaticity.
-IR Verbs (Important for Many Irregular Patterns)
-IR verbs include both regular and highly irregular verbs (vivir vs venir, ir).
They often feature stem changes (E→I or E→IE), so they’re essential for mastering irregular conjugation patterns.
Common verbs include vivir, abrir, escribir, recibir, salir, venir.
Learning -IR endings also unlocks advanced tenses like the subjunctive, where -IR verbs behave differently from -AR/-ER.
Practice tip: group irregular -IR verbs together and study them by pattern instead of memorising each form separately.
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Essential Spanish Verbs All Learners Should Know
You can make learning Spanish slightly easier by prioritising the verbs that you learn. Learning more common words and verbs gets you much more bang for your buck. High-frequency verbs and the most common tenses can be used to talk about identity, possession, feelings, locations, and everyday actions.
20% of Spanish verbs are used
80%
of the time.
Core Verbs: Ser, Estar, Tener, Haber
Ser is used for identity, permanent traits, professions, nationalities, and time (soy estudiante, es lunes).
Estar expresses temporary states, emotions, and locations (estoy cansado, estamos en casa).
Tener shows possession and physical states (tengo hambre, tienes un coche).
Haber functions as an auxiliary verb for perfect tenses (he comido) and appears in the essential expression hay, meaning “there is/are.”
Practice tip: write 5 sentences that compare ser and estar, then 5 more using tener expressions (hunger, thirst, age, desire).
High-Frequency Verbs from A to Z
Focus on verbs that appear in everyday contexts, such as hacer (do), ir (go), poder (can), decir (say), poner (put).
Learn verbs in small alphabet groups to make memorisation manageable (A–C, D–F, etc.).
Link verbs to personalised examples, e.g., correr → “Corro por el parque los sábados.”
Use flashcards that show the infinitive on one side and an example sentence on the other for deeper recall.
Practice tip: Each evening, choose 10 verbs and create a sentence in the present, past, and future tenses.
How to Conjugate Spanish Verbs Step by Step
Conjugation is how you change a verb to indicate the subject, tense, and context. Spanish conjugation is initially more complex than English conjugation, but these patterns make the system quite predictable once you learn the basics. Break down conjugations into steps and start forming sentences.
Common Stem-Changing Verbs
Some Spanish verbs change their stem vowel when conjugated. Examples include pensar → pienso (E→IE), dormir → duermo (O→UE), and pedir → pido (E→I). These patterns follow predictable rules, and once you learn them, many irregular verbs become easier to understand.
Present Tense (El Presente)
Use the present tense to describe habits, facts, and current actions (Yo estudio, Él trabaja).
Remove the ending (-ar, -er, -ir) and add the correct present-tense ending based on the subject.
Start with regular verbs, then introduce irregular verbs like ser, estar, tener, ir, and hacer.
Ensure you understand that subject pronouns are optional because endings already show who performs the action.
Practice tip: write 10 daily routines using yo, tú, él, and nosotros forms.
Remove the infinitive ending (-ar, -er, -ir) and add:
-AR endings
- yo: -o
- tú: -as
- él/ella/usted: -a
- nosotros: -amos
- vosotros: -áis
- ellos/ustedes: -an
-ER endings
- yo: -o
- tú: -es
- él/ella/usted: -e
- nosotros: -emos
- vosotros: -éis
- ellos/ustedes: -en
-IR endings
- yo: -o
- tú: -es
- él/ella/usted: -e
- nosotros: -imos
- vosotros: -ís
- ellos/ustedes: -en
Quick Examples
- hablar → hablo
- comer → comes
- vivir → vivimos
Preterite and Imperfect (Past Tenses)
Use the preterite for completed actions in the past (Ayer comí pizza).
Use the imperfect for ongoing past actions or descriptions (Cuando era niño…).
Memorise the regular endings first, then study irregular preterite verbs (tener → tuve, ir/ser → fui).
Combine both tenses to describe stories naturally, switching between completed events and background details.
Practice tip: describe a childhood memory using the imperfect tense, then add two or three completed actions in the preterite.
Preterite Tense
-AR endings
- yo: -é
- tú: -aste
- él/ella/usted: -ó
- nosotros: -amos
- vosotros: -asteis
- ellos/ustedes: -aron
-ER / -IR endings
- yo: -í
- tú: -iste
- él/ella/usted: -ió
- nosotros: -imos
- vosotros: -isteis
- ellos/ustedes: -ieron
Quick Examples
- hablar → hablé
- comer → comió
- vivir → vivieron
Imperfect Tense
-AR endings
- yo: -aba
- tú: -abas
- él/ella/usted: -aba
- nosotros: -ábamos
- vosotros: -abais
- ellos/ustedes: -aban
-ER / -IR endings
- yo: -ía
- tú: -ías
- él/ella/usted: -ía
- nosotros: -íamos
- vosotros: -íais
- ellos/ustedes: -ían
Quick examples
- hablar → hablaba
- comer → comíamos
- vivir → vivían
Future and Conditional Tenses
The future tense uses the full infinitive plus endings (hablaré, comerás, vivirán).
The conditional tense also uses the infinitive plus different endings (hablaría, comeríamos).
Both tenses share the same irregular stems (tendr-, podr-, har-, dir-), so learn these once for both.
Use the future for predictions and intentions, and the conditional for polite requests or hypotheticals.
Practice tip: write predictions about next week, then write polite requests using the conditional.
How to form the Future Tense
Use the full infinitive + these endings:
- yo: -é
- tú: -ás
- él/ella/usted: -á
- nosotros: -emos
- vosotros: -éis
- ellos/ustedes: -án
Quick Examples
- hablar → hablaré
- comer → comerás
- vivir → viviremos
Shared Irregular Stems
- tener → tendr-
- venir → vendr-
- hacer → har-
- decir → dir-
- poner → pondr-
- poder → podr-
How to form the Conditional Tense
→ Use the full infinitive + these endings:
- yo: -ía
- tú: -ías
- él/ella/usted: -ía
- nosotros: -íamos
- vosotros: -íais
- ellos/ustedes: -ían
Quick Examples
- hablar → hablaría
- comer → comerías
- vivir → vivirían
Perfect Forms and Compound Tenses
These tenses use haber + past participle (he comido, hemos vivido).
Form participles with -ado for -AR verbs and -ido for -ER/-IR verbs.
Memorise the common irregular participles (visto, hecho, dicho, puesto, escrito).
Use compound tenses to describe experiences, recent events, or actions with present relevance.
Practice tip: write five sentences beginning with “He…” and finish them using accurate participles.
How to Form the Perfect Tense
→ haber (present) + past participle
Conjugation of haber
- yo: he
- tú: has
- él/ella/usted: ha
- nosotros: hemos
- vosotros: habéis
- ellos/ustedes: han
Participles
- -AR verbs: -ado (hablar → hablado)
- -ER / -IR verbs: -ido (comer → comido, vivir → vivido)
Common Irregular Participles
- escrito, visto, hecho, dicho, puesto, abierto, vuelto
Subjunctive Forms and When They’re Used
Use the subjunctive for wishes, emotions, doubts, uncertainty, or recommendations.
Form the present subjunctive by taking the yo form, removing the ending, and adding the opposite endings.
Learn trigger phrases such as quiero que, es importante que, dudo que, es posible que.
Prioritise high-frequency irregular subjunctive verbs (sea, vaya, tenga, haga).
Practice tip: write five sentences with “Quiero que…” and five with “Es necesario que…”.
Present Subjunctive Formation
→ Take the yo form, drop -o, add:
-AR endings
- yo: -e
- tú: -es
- él/ella/usted: -e
- nosotros: -emos
- vosotros: -éis
- ellos/ustedes: -en
-ER / -IR endings
- yo: -a
- tú: -as
- él/ella/usted: -a
- nosotros: -amos
- vosotros: -áis
- ellos/ustedes: -an
High-frequency irregular subjunctive forms
- ser → sea
- ir → vaya
- estar → esté
- tener → tenga
- hacer → haga
Understanding Spanish Reflexive Verbs
Reflexive verbs describe actions that a person does to themselves, but there are also Spanish verbs that are reflexive that aren't in English. Reflexive verbs use the “se” particle, which changes based on the subject. You can use reflexive verbs to express personal habits, feelings, and changes in states.
Studies suggest that you can improve retention rates by more than
30%
using spaced repetition.
How Reflexive Verbs Work
Reflexive verbs always include a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se).
These pronouns must match the subject, e.g., yo → me, tú → te, él/ella → se.
The infinitive form ends in -se (e.g., levantarse, ducharse, sentirse).
When conjugating, remove -se, conjugate the verb normally, then place the pronoun before the verb (me levanto).
Reflexive pronouns can attach to infinitives and gerunds (voy a vestirme, estoy peinándome).
Practice tip: Create a daily routine paragraph entirely using reflexive verbs to reinforce pronoun placement.
Daily Routine Verbs
Common reflexive routine verbs include levantarse (get up), despertarse (wake up), ducharse (shower), vestirse (dress).
These verbs allow you to describe your morning and evening routines naturally.
Some routine verbs use stem changes (despertarse → me despierto, vestirse → me visto).
Pair reflexive verbs with time phrases like por la mañana, después de, antes de for realistic practice.
Practice tip: Write a timeline of your morning using five reflexive verbs in chronological order.
Why Verb Drills Work
Regular verb drills help strengthen your long-term memory of Spanish verbs. Repetition improves recall speed, accuracy, and confidence in both speaking and writing. Short daily practice sessions are far more effective than occasional long study blocks.
Reflexive Verbs with Stem Changes
Many reflexive verbs are stem-changing, often using E→IE (sentarse → me siento) or E→I (vestirse → me visto).
Learn the most common irregulars first: sentirse, acostarse, divertirse, vestirse, despertarse.
Even with stem changes, pronoun rules stay the same — the stem change happens after dropping -se.
Irregularities usually follow predictable patterns, so group verbs by pattern rather than memorising them individually.
Practice tip: make a two-column list — one for E→IE and one for O→UE/E→I — and add examples with full conjugations.
| Infinitive | English Meaning |
|---|---|
| Levantarse | To get up |
| Despertarse | To wake up |
| Vestirse | To get dressed |
| Ducharse | To shower |
| Lavarse | To wash oneself |
| Peinarse | To comb one’s hair |
| Cepillarse | To brush (hair/teeth) |
| Afeitarse | To shave |
| Sentarse | To sit down |
| Sentirse | To feel |
| Acostarse | To go to bed |
| Divertirse | To have fun |
| Llamarse | To be called / named |
| Quedarse | To stay |
| Mudarse | To move house |
| Casarse | To get married |
| Preocuparse | To worry |
| Ponerse | To put on (clothes/emotions) |
| Enojarse | To get angry |
| Irse | To leave / go away |
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