The six verb endings in Spanish are -ar, -er, -ir, -ando, -iendo, and -ido.
So let’s take a deeper look
The six verb endings in Spanish are essential to mastering the language, as they determine the conjugation of verbs in different tenses and moods. The three main verb endings are -ar, -er, and -ir, which indicate the infinitive form of the verb. For example, the verb hablar (to speak) is an -ar verb, while the verb comer (to eat) is an -er verb and the verb vivir (to live) is an -ir verb.
In addition to the main verb endings, there are also three participle verb endings in Spanish. These are -ando, -iendo, and -ido, which are used to form present progressive, past progressive, and present perfect tenses, respectively. For example, the verb hablar in present progressive tense is hablando (speaking), and in past progressive tense is hablando (was speaking). The verb comer in present perfect tense is comido (eaten).
According to FluentU, “The three verb endings (infinitive or base form) are absolutely key in Spanish because they’ll help you determine which forms of the verb are regular and which are irregular.” The website provides a helpful table outlining the different verb endings, their uses, and examples of verbs in each category:
Verb Ending | Use | Example
-AR | Infinitive form and present tense form of regular -AR verbs | hablar (to speak)
-ER | Infinitive form and present tense form of regular -ER verbs | comer (to eat)
-IR | Infinitive form and present tense form of regular -IR verbs | vivir (to live)
-ANDO | Present progressive tense and gerund form of verbs ending in -AR | hablando (speaking)
-IENDO | Present progressive tense and gerund form of verbs ending in -ER/-IR | comiendo (eating) and viviendo (living)
-IDO | Present perfect tense and past participle form of regular verbs ending in -AR/-ER/-IR | hablado (spoken) and comido (eaten)
As for a quote, renowned Spanish poet Federico García Lorca once said, “The sight of an interesting book or the sound of a persuasive voice is always a kind of magic.” Similarly, mastering the Spanish verb endings can be seen as magical, as it allows one to effectively communicate and express themselves through the language.
In conclusion, understanding the six verb endings in Spanish is crucial for anyone looking to improve their proficiency in the language. Practice conjugating different verbs in each tense and mood, and soon enough, you’ll be speaking with ease and fluency.
Video response to your question
Rocky from Speak Spanish Faster explains a method to quickly and efficiently learn Spanish verb conjugation by mastering all tenses for one regular verb at a time. He emphasizes the importance of input and learning vocabulary before worrying about conjugation and critiques traditional school approaches to teaching conjugation. By focusing on regular verbs, learners can easily apply the conjugation rules to other verbs and master all regular verb conjugations in just a few weeks. The video also offers a free training for additional tips and reminds viewers to give a thumbs up, comment, and subscribe for more Spanish-related content.
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- Yo — I(formal)
- Tú — you (singular familiar)
- Usted — you (singular formal)
- Él, ella — he, she.
- Nosotros/as — we.
- Vosotros/as — you (plural familiar)
- Ustedes — you (plural formal)
- Ellos/as — they. Note that while there are eight different subjects, there are only six different forms for conjugation.
- Estar = To be.
- Ser = To be.
- Tener = To have.
- Haber = To have (auxiliary verb)
- Hacer = To do or make.
- Ir = To go.
- Venir = To come.
- Decir = To say or tell.