Regular Patterns
A regular verb in Spanish is one that follows a consistent pattern of conjugation across different tenses and moods. These verbs adhere to a set of rules for adding endings to the verb stem. The stem is what remains of the verb once you remove the infinitive ending (-ar, -er, or -ir). The regularity means that once you learn the conjugation pattern for one verb in each group, you can apply the same pattern to other verbs in the same group.
Characteristics of Regular Verbs
- Consistent Endings: Regular verbs use predictable endings for each tense. This means the endings added to the stem are the same for all regular verbs in that category.
- Three Conjugation Groups:
- -ar verbs: The largest group. Examples include hablar (to speak), estudiar (to study).
- -er verbs: Examples include comer (to eat), leer (to read).
- -ir verbs: Examples include vivir (to live), escribir (to write).
- No Stem Changes: Unlike irregular verbs, regular verbs do not change their stem in different forms.
Conjugation Patterns
Each group of regular verbs has its own set of endings that are added to the verb stem. Here is a quick overview:
-ar Verbs (e.g., hablar)
- Present: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an
- Preterite (Past): -é, -aste, -ó, -amos, -asteis, -aron
- Future: -aré, -arás, -ará, -aremos, -aréis, -arán
-er Verbs (e.g., comer)
- Present: -o, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en
- Preterite (Past): -í, -iste, -ió, -imos, -isteis, -ieron
- Future: -eré, -erás, -erá, -eremos, -eréis, -erán
-ir Verbs (e.g., vivir)
- Present: -o, -es, -e, -imos, -ís, -en
- Preterite (Past): -í, -iste, -ió, -imos, -isteis, -ieron
- Future: -iré, -irás, -irá, -iremos, -iréis, -irán
Regular Verbs
Here’s a list of five common regular verbs for each of the three infinitive endings, along with their conjugations and example sentences.
Regular -ar Verbs
1. Hablar (to speak)
Present
- yo hablo – I speak
- tú hablas – you speak
- él/ella/usted habla – he/she/you (formal) speak
- nosotros/nosotras hablamos – we speak
- vosotros/vosotras habláis – you all speak
- ellos/ellas/ustedes hablan – they/you all speak
Preterite (Past)
- yo hablé – I spoke
- tú hablaste – you spoke
- él/ella/usted habló – he/she/you (formal) spoke
- nosotros/nosotras hablamos – we spoke
- vosotros/vosotras hablasteis – you all spoke
- ellos/ellas/ustedes hablaron – they/you all spoke
Future
- yo hablaré – I will speak
- tú hablarás – you will speak
- él/ella/usted hablará – he/she/you (formal) will speak
- nosotros/nosotras hablaremos – we will speak
- vosotros/vosotras hablaréis – you all will speak
- ellos/ellas/ustedes hablarán – they/you all will speak
Example Sentence:
- Hablo español con mis amigos. (I speak Spanish with my friends.)
2. Estudiar (to study)
Present
- yo estudio – I study
- tú estudias – you study
- él/ella/usted estudia – he/she/you (formal) study
- nosotros/nosotras estudiamos – we study
- vosotros/vosotras estudiáis – you all study
- ellos/ellas/ustedes estudian – they/you all study
Preterite
- yo estudié – I studied
- tú estudiaste – you studied
- él/ella/usted estudió – he/she/you (formal) studied
- nosotros/nosotras estudiamos – we studied
- vosotros/vosotras estudiasteis – you all studied
- ellos/ellas/ustedes estudiaron – they/you all studied
Future
- yo estudiaré – I will study
- tú estudiarás – you will study
- él/ella/usted estudiará – he/she/you (formal) will study
- nosotros/nosotras estudiaremos – we will study
- vosotros/vosotras estudiaréis – you all will study
- ellos/ellas/ustedes estudiarán – they/you all will study
Example Sentence:
- Estudiaré para el examen mañana. (I will study for the exam tomorrow.)
3. Trabajar (to work)
Present
- yo trabajo – I work
- tú trabajas – you work
- él/ella/usted trabaja – he/she/you (formal) work
- nosotros/nosotras trabajamos – we work
- vosotros/vosotras trabajáis – you all work
- ellos/ellas/ustedes trabajan – they/you all work
Preterite
- yo trabajé – I worked
- tú trabajaste – you worked
- él/ella/usted trabajó – he/she/you (formal) worked
- nosotros/nosotras trabajamos – we worked
- vosotros/vosotras trabajasteis – you all worked
- ellos/ellas/ustedes trabajaron – they/you all worked
Future
- yo trabajaré – I will work
- tú trabajarás – you will work
- él/ella/usted trabajará – he/she/you (formal) will work
- nosotros/nosotras trabajaremos – we will work
- vosotros/vosotras trabajaréis – you all will work
- ellos/ellas/ustedes trabajarán – they/you all will work
Example Sentence:
- Trabajamos en el proyecto juntos. (We work on the project together.)
Regular -er Verbs
1. Comer (to eat)
Present
- yo como – I eat
- tú comes – you eat
- él/ella/usted come – he/she/you (formal) eat
- nosotros/nosotras comemos – we eat
- vosotros/vosotras coméis – you all eat
- ellos/ellas/ustedes comen – they/you all eat
Preterite
- yo comí – I ate
- tú comiste – you ate
- él/ella/usted comió – he/she/you (formal) ate
- nosotros/nosotras comimos – we ate
- vosotros/vosotras comisteis – you all ate
- ellos/ellas/ustedes comieron – they/you all ate
Future
- yo comeré – I will eat
- tú comerás – you will eat
- él/ella/usted comerá – he/she/you (formal) will eat
- nosotros/nosotras comeremos – we will eat
- vosotros/vosotras comeréis – you all will eat
- ellos/ellas/ustedes comerán – they/you all will eat
Example Sentence:
- Comemos en el restaurante los sábados. (We eat at the restaurant on Saturdays.)
2. Leer (to read)
Present
- yo leo – I read
- tú lees – you read
- él/ella/usted lee – he/she/you (formal) read
- nosotros/nosotras leemos – we read
- vosotros/vosotras leéis – you all read
- ellos/ellas/ustedes leen – they/you all read
Preterite
- yo leí – I read (past)
- tú leíste – you read (past)
- él/ella/usted leyó – he/she/you (formal) read (past)
- nosotros/nosotras leímos – we read (past)
- vosotros/vosotras leísteis – you all read (past)
- ellos/ellas/ustedes leyeron – they/you all read (past)
Future
- yo leeré – I will read
- tú leerás – you will read
- él/ella/usted leerá – he/she/you (formal) will read
- nosotros/nosotras leeremos – we will read
- vosotros/vosotras leeréis – you all will read
- ellos/ellas/ustedes leerán – they/you all will read
Example Sentence:
- Leo un libro cada noche antes de dormir. (I read a book every night before bed.)
3. Beber (to drink)
Present
- yo bebo – I drink
- tú bebes – you drink
- él/ella/usted bebe – he/she/you (formal) drink
- nosotros/nosotras bebemos – we drink
- vosotros/vosotras bebéis – you all drink
- ellos/ellas/ustedes beben – they/you all drink
Preterite
- yo bebí – I drank
- tú bebiste – you drank
- él/ella/usted bebió – he/she/you (formal) drank
- nosotros/nosotras bebimos – we drank
- vosotros/vosotras bebisteis – you all drank
- ellos/ellas/ustedes bebieron – they/you all drank
Future
- yo beberé – I will drink
- tú beberás – you will drink
- él/ella/usted beberá – he/she/you (formal) will drink
- nosotros/nosotras beberemos – we will drink
- vosotros/vosotras beberéis – you all will drink
- ellos/ellas/ustedes beberán – they/you all will drink
Example Sentence:
- Bebo agua después de correr. (I drink water after running.)
Regular -ir Verbs
1. Vivir (to live)
Present
- yo vivo – I live
- tú vives – you live
- él/ella/usted vive – he/she/you (formal) live
- nosotros/nosotras vivimos – we live
- vosotros/vosotras vivís – you all live
- ellos/ellas/ustedes viven – they/you all live
Preterite
- yo viví – I lived
- tú viviste – you lived
- él/ella/usted vivió – he/she/you (formal) lived
- nosotros/nosotras vivimos – we lived
- vosotros/vosotras vivisteis – you all lived
- ellos/ellas/ustedes vivieron – they/you all lived
Future
- yo viviré – I will live
- tú vivirás – you will live
- él/ella/usted vivirá – he/she/you (formal) will live
- nosotros/nosotras viviremos – we will live
- vosotros/vosotras viviréis – you all will live
- ellos/ellas/ustedes vivirán – they/you all will live
Example Sentence:
- Vivimos en una ciudad pequeña. (We live in a small city.)
2. Escribir (to write)
Present
- yo escribo – I write
- tú escribes – you write
- él/ella/usted escribe – he/she/you (formal) write
- nosotros/nosotras escribimos – we write
- vosotros/vosotras escribís – you all write
- ellos/ellas/ustedes escriben – they/you all write
Preterite
- yo escribí – I wrote
- tú escribiste – you wrote
- él/ella/usted escribió – he/she/you (formal) wrote
- nosotros/nosotras escribimos – we wrote
- vosotros/vosotras escribisteis – you all wrote
- ellos/ellas/ustedes escribieron – they/you all wrote
Future
- yo escribiré – I will write
- tú escribirás – you will write
- él/ella/usted escribirá – he/she/you (formal) will write
- nosotros/nosotras escribiremos – we will write
- vosotros/vosotras escribiréis – you all will write
- ellos/ellas/ustedes escribirán – they/you all will write
Example Sentence:
- Escribiré una carta a mi abuela. (I will write a letter to my grandmother.)
3. Abrir (to open)
Present
- yo abro – I open
- tú abres – you open
- él/ella/usted abre – he/she/you (formal) open
- nosotros/nosotras abrimos – we open
- vosotros/vosotras abrís – you all open
- ellos/ellas/ustedes abren – they/you all open
Preterite
- yo abrí – I opened
- tú abriste – you opened
- él/ella/usted abrió – he/she/you (formal) opened
- nosotros/nosotras abrimos – we opened
- vosotros/vosotras abristeis – you all opened
- ellos/ellas/ustedes abrieron – they/you all opened
Future
- yo abriré – I will open
- tú abrirás – you will open
- él/ella/usted abrirá – he/she/you (formal) will open
- nosotros/nosotras abriremos – we will open
- vosotros/vosotras abriréis – you all will open
- ellos/ellas/ustedes abrirán – they/you all will open
Example Sentence:
- Abro la puerta para mi perro. (I open the door for my dog.)
More Useful Regular Verbs
Regular -ar Verbs
- Hablar (to speak)
- Estudiar (to study)
- Trabajar (to work)
- Comprar (to buy)
- Bailar (to dance)
- Viajar (to travel)
- Cocinar (to cook)
- Escuchar (to listen)
- Caminar (to walk)
- Llamar (to call)
Regular -er Verbs
- Comer (to eat)
- Beber (to drink)
- Aprender (to learn)
- Vender (to sell)
- Correr (to run)
- Romper (to break)
- Comprender (to understand)
- Leer (to read)
- Prometer (to promise)
- Deber (to owe/must)
Regular -ir Verbs
- Vivir (to live)
- Escribir (to write)
- Abrir (to open)
- Recibir (to receive)
- Decidir (to decide)
- Subir (to go up/ascend)
- Partir (to leave)
- Compartir (to share)
- Describir (to describe)
- Insistir (to insist)
Summary
By learning these regular verbs and their conjugations, you will be able to form basic sentences in the present, past, and future tenses in Spanish. These verbs cover everyday actions and are essential for effective communication. As you practice, you’ll gain confidence in using these patterns with other regular verbs, expanding your vocabulary and ability to express yourself in Spanish.
Why did the Spanish verb always have good manners? Because it knew how to conjugate properly!
If you’ve read everything, please consider leaving a like, sharing, commenting, or all three!
Need some help with your Spanish journey? Go to the contact area and send me a message; I’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
YOU WILL ALSO LIKE:
The English Nook 
Leave a comment