Volumen 2 · Capítulo 02

Present Tense System

One pattern gives you hundreds of useful verbs.

Spanish verbs come in three families: -ar, -er, and -ir. To use the present tense, remove the ending and add a new ending.

Do not memorize a giant chart first. Learn the spoken pattern.

The -ar pattern: hablar

I speak
he/she speaks · you formal speak
we speak
they speak · you all speak

Useful -ar verbs:

to need
to work
to buy
to arrive
to take · to drink

The -er pattern: comer

I eat
he/she eats · you formal eat
we eat
they eat · you all eat

Useful -er verbs:

to eat
to drink
to learn
to sell

The -ir pattern: vivir

-ir verbs look almost the same as -er verbs in the forms you need most.

I live
he/she lives · you formal live
we live
they live · you all live

Useful -ir verbs:

to live
to open
to receive
to go up · to upload · to get on

Drill: make four sentences from one verb

Pick a verb and say the four useful forms:

I need a copy.
You need a copy.
We need a copy.
They need a copy.

This is the multiplier chapter. Every regular verb you learn now becomes four working tools.