To conjugate a Spanish verb is to change its form so it fits the sentence. A verb form can tell you who is doing something and when it happens. Start with the present tense and three regular verbs: hablar (to speak), comer (to eat), and vivir (to live). Once you understand their pattern, many new verbs become much less intimidating.
Start with the infinitive, then find the stem
The infinitive is the dictionary form of a verb. Spanish infinitives end in -ar, -er, or -ir. Remove that ending to find the stem: hablar → habl-, comer → com-, and vivir → viv-.
For a regular verb, keep the stem and add the present-tense ending for the subject. To say “I speak,” begin with habl- and add -o: hablo. To say “we eat,” begin with com- and add -emos: comemos.
Hablo español. — I speak Spanish.
50 Spanish Verbs in Real Sentences
Learn at your own pace. Pause, repeat, and try saying each example out loud. Watch on YouTube ↗
Know who the sentence is about
Yo means “I,” tú means informal singular “you,” and él and ella mean “he” and “she.” Usted addresses one person with a degree of formality that varies by place and situation. It takes the same verb form as él and ella.
Nosotros or nosotras means “we.” Ellos and ellas mean “they.” Ustedes means plural “you” and takes the ellos/ellas form.
In Latin America, ustedes is the usual way to address a group. In much of Spain, vosotros and vosotras are used for an informal group. Some regions also use vos for singular “you”; that pattern is a useful next topic after these foundations.
The regular present-tense endings
| Subject | -ar: hablar | -er: comer | -ir: vivir |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | hablo | como | vivo |
| tú | hablas | comes | vives |
| él / ella / usted | habla | come | vive |
| nosotros / nosotras | hablamos | comemos | vivimos |
| vosotros / vosotras | habláis | coméis | vivís |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | hablan | comen | viven |
Notice that all three yo forms end in -o. Regular -er and -ir verbs share several endings; their nosotros and vosotros forms differ. Accent marks in habláis, coméis, and vivís are part of the spelling.
Turn the chart into real sentences
A chart is a reference. A sentence gives the form a job. Try Hablo con mi amiga (I talk with my friend), Comemos a las dos (we eat at two), and Viven cerca (they live nearby).
Spanish often leaves out subject pronouns when the meaning is clear: Hablo español is complete. Keep a pronoun when it helps clarify or contrast: Yo vivo aquí, pero ella vive en Madrid.
The present tense can express habits and general facts: Trabajo los lunes, “I work on Mondays.” Depending on context, it can also describe what is happening now: ¿Qué comes? can mean “What are you eating?” You do not always need a separate progressive form to express English “am doing.”
A simple practice routine that works
Choose one verb and one subject. Say the complete sentence aloud, then change the subject: Vivo aquí. Vives aquí. Vivimos aquí. Add a question: ¿Vives aquí? Practicing this way connects the ending to a useful meaning.
Do not apply regular endings blindly to every verb. Frequent verbs such as ser, estar, ir, and tener have irregular forms. Other verbs change their stem. Learn the regular pattern first, then add common exceptions in small groups.
Common questions about conjugation
Do I need to memorize every Spanish tense first?
No. Build useful present-tense sentences, then expand into other tenses as your conversations require them. Accuracy with a small set of common verbs is a valuable start.
Why does usted use habla instead of hablas?
Although usted means “you,” it takes the third-person singular form. Use tú hablas and usted habla. Plural ustedes takes hablan.
Do English and Spanish subjects always match word for word?
No. Spanish can omit a clear subject pronoun, and expressions such as me gusta organize the sentence differently from English. Learn the full construction as well as the verb ending.