This document provides information about conjugating -ER and -IR verbs in the present tense in Spanish. It explains that Spanish verbs are categorized by their endings as -AR, -ER, or -IR verbs. The infinitive form of the verb is changed to match the subject by removing the ending and adding the appropriate ending from the present tense verb charts. Examples are given to show conjugating common -ER and -IR verbs like comer, beber and escribir for different subjects.

1. Present Tense
-ER & -IR VERBS

2. Verbs in Spanish
You have already learned that there are 3 types of verbs in Spanish:
Verbs that end with –AR, called “-AR Verbs”
Verbs that end with –ER, called “-ER Verbs”
Verbs that end with –IR, called “-IR Verbs”

3. Infinitives
You also learned that when the verbs have the ending (-ar, -er, -ir), it is called an
“infinitive verb” and means “to…”.
Hablar-to speak
Comer-to eat
Vivir-to live

4. Subject Pronouns
You have learned about subject pronouns.
Yo
Tú
Él
Ella
Usted
…and others

5. Conjugation
In English, we make sentences by using verb infinitives and subject pronouns together.
We conjugate-change the verbs to match the subject.
I speak, she speaks
I eat, he eats
I live, it lives
The same is true in Spanish.

6. Conjugation-to change an infinitive verb to
match the subject.
To conjugate a verb in Spanish, you must change the infinitive form by dropping the
ending.
comer
com –er
com-
Each verb (–ar,-er,-ir) has an ending chart to match the verbs
Take off the
ending!
The part left is
called the stem.
Start with the
infinitive

7. Present Tense –ER Verb Chart
Yo -
Tú –
Él
Nosotros/as –
Vosotros/as –
Ellos
Ellas
Uds.
enElla
Ud.
e
o
es eís
emos

8. Just take the stem and add the ending!
Yo -
Tú –
Él
Nosotros/as –
Vosotros/as –
Ellos
Ellas
Uds.
comenElla
Ud.
come
como
comes comeís
comemos

9. You can now make a sentence with the
conjugated verb!
Yo como cereal. -I eat cereal.
Ella come cereal. – she eats cereal.
Now do the same with verbs that end in –IR…

10. Present Tense –IR Verb Chart
Yo -
Tú –
Él
Nosotros/as –
Vosotros/as –
Ellos
Ellas
Uds.
enElla
Ud.
e
o
es ís
imos The only
difference
between –ER
and –IR verbs is
here!

11. Practice!
Conjugate the verb in parenthesis to match the subject.
• Yo (beber)
• Tú (beber)
• Ella (escribir)
• Nosotros (escribir)
• Ellos (escribir)
• Yo bebo- I drink
• Tú bebes- you drink
• Ella escribe- she writes
• Nosotros escribimos- we write
• Ellos escriben- they write