Definition: Verbs are action words. They show what someone or something is doing, or they express a state of being. Verbs can change depending on the subject (who is doing the action) and the tense (when the action is happening).

Examples:

1. hablar (to speak): Yo hablo español. (I speak Spanish.)
2. comer (to eat): Él come una manzana. (He eats an apple.)
3. vivir (to live): Ellos viven en una casa grande. (They live in a big house.)
4. estudiar (to study): Nosotros estudiamos para el examen. (We study for the exam.)
5. trabajar (to work): Ella trabaja en una oficina. (She works in an office.)

Verbs are like the engine of a sentence. They drive the action or state of being. Just like in English, verbs in Spanish also change according to who is doing the action (subject) and when the action is happening (tense).

In Spanish, there are three main types of verbs based on their endings and how they are conjugated. These are:

1. -ar verbs (verbos -ar): Verbs that end in “-ar” in their infinitive form. These are the most common type of verbs in Spanish. Examples:
   • hablar (to speak)
   • caminar (to walk)
   • estudiar (to study)
   • cantar (to sing)
   • nadar (to swim)
2. -er verbs (verbos -er): Verbs that end in “-er” in their infinitive form. They are conjugated similarly to -ar verbs but with different endings. Examples:
   • comer (to eat)
   • beber (to drink)
   • leer (to read)
   • creer (to believe)
   • correr (to run)
3. -ir verbs (verbos -ir): Verbs that end in “-ir” in their infinitive form. They have their own set of endings for conjugation. Examples:
   • vivir (to live)
   • escribir (to write)
   • abrir (to open)
   • partir (to leave/depart)
   • recibir (to receive)

These verb types are important to recognize because they dictate the conjugation patterns that verbs follow in different tenses and moods. Understanding the patterns associated with each verb type can help in learning to conjugate verbs accurately in Spanish.

Tips:

• Practice conjugating verbs in different tenses (present, past, future) to become comfortable with their usage.
• Pay attention to verb endings and how they change depending on the subject of the sentence.
• Start with common verbs and gradually expand your vocabulary to include more complex ones.