Spanish Present Tense Conjugation Guide

A helpful Spanish Verbs Conjugation Chart plus tips, examples, practice ideas, and classroom resources.

The Spanish present tense (el presente) is one of the first major building blocks for communication. Mastering it lets you say who you are, what you do, what you like, and what’s happening right now. Below you’ll find a high‑impact Spanish Verbs Conjugation Chart for regular -AR, -ER, and -IR verbs, followed by step‑by‑step guidance, examples, and practice activities you can use in class or self‑study.

Spanish Verbs Conjugation Chart: Present Tense Regular (-AR / -ER / -IR)

Use this quick reference chart to attach the correct ending to a verb stem. To get the stem, remove the last two letters (-ar, -er, or -ir) from the infinitive.

Applies to regular verbs only. Irregular and stem‑changing verbs follow different patterns—see below.

Spanish Verbs Conjugation Chart: How to Conjugate Step by Step

1. Start with the infinitive: e.g., hablar, comer, vivir.
2. Identify the verb type: Does it end in -ar, -er, or -ir?
3. Drop the ending to find the stem: habl-, com-, viv-.
4. Add the correct present tense ending from the chart above that matches the subject pronoun.
5. Pronounce it out loud—sound helps memory!

Spanish Verbs Conjugation Chart: Worked Examples

See how the endings attach to three high‑frequency regular verbs:

Full Conjugation Drill

Try writing the full set for each verb. Example with hablar:

yo hablo
tú hablas
él/ella/usted habla
nosotros/as hablamos
vosotros/as habláis
ellos/ellas/ustedes hablan

Spanish Verbs Conjugation Chart: Practice Activities

Use these low‑prep activities to help students move from recognition to production.

• Rapid Fire: Teacher says subject; students shout the correct ending.
• Stem Swap: Put random stems on the board. Students add endings.
• Verb Charades: Mime an action (comer, bailar, vivir); class conjugates aloud.
• Exit Ticket: Write 3 sentences using different subjects before leaving.
• Color Match Cards: Sort verb infinitives into -AR/-ER/-IR piles, then conjugate.

Spanish Verbs Conjugation Chart: Irregular & Stem‑Changing Verbs to Watch

Many high‑frequency verbs do not follow the regular endings in every form. Here are some of the most common types you’ll meet early on:

Irregular “yo” Forms

Common Stem Changes

These verbs change the vowel in the stem in all forms except nosotros/as & vosotros/as:

• e → ie: pensar → pienso, piensas…
• o → ue: dormir → duermo, duermes…
• e → i: pedir → pido, pides…

Spanish Verbs Conjugation Chart: Common Questions

Do I need to learn vosotros? If you plan to travel or live in Spain, yes—it’s used daily. In Latin America, people typically use ustedes instead.

Why are there accents in -áis, -éis, -ís? They mark the stressed syllable and distinguish these forms from others.

Is subject pronoun always required? No. Spanish is a “pro‑drop” language—often you omit the pronoun because the verb ending shows the subject. Use the pronoun for clarity or emphasis.

What about ongoing actions (I am speaking)? That’s the present progressive (estoy hablando). Different structure—learn it after the simple present.

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