Mastering Spanish Verb Conjugation: A Comprehensive Guide
Spanish verb conjugation is a fundamental aspect of learning the language, crucial for forming grammatically correct sentences and expressing different tenses, moods, and aspects. Understanding how to conjugate verbs allows you to communicate effectively and accurately in Spanish.
This guide provides a detailed overview of Spanish verb conjugation, covering regular and irregular verbs, different tenses, and common usage patterns. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, this resource will help you master the intricacies of Spanish verb conjugation and improve your overall language proficiency.
This guide caters to a broad audience, from students just starting their Spanish journey to more advanced learners looking to refine their skills. It’s also beneficial for teachers seeking a comprehensive resource to explain and illustrate verb conjugation to their students.
By the end of this guide, you will have a solid understanding of how Spanish verbs are conjugated and be able to apply this knowledge in your own speaking and writing.
Table of Contents
- Definition of Verb Conjugation
- Structural Breakdown of Spanish Verbs
- Categories of Spanish Verbs
- Examples of Verb Conjugation
- Usage Rules for Verb Tenses
- Common Mistakes in Verb Conjugation
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics in Verb Conjugation
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Definition of Verb Conjugation
Verb conjugation in Spanish refers to the process of changing the form of a verb to indicate tense, mood, person, and number. It’s a critical aspect of Spanish grammar because the verb ending carries a significant amount of information, allowing you to understand who is performing the action, when it occurred, and the speaker’s attitude towards the action.
Without proper conjugation, sentences can become confusing or grammatically incorrect.
In Spanish, verbs are conjugated based on the subject pronoun (yo, tú, él/ella/usted, nosotros/nosotras, vosotros/vosotras, ellos/ellas/ustedes) and the tense (present, past, future, etc.). Each verb tense has a specific set of endings that are added to the verb stem. Mastering these endings is essential for fluency in Spanish. The verb conjugation allows for more concise sentences, as the subject pronoun is often omitted because the verb ending already indicates who is performing the action. For example, instead of saying “Yo hablo español” (I speak Spanish), you can simply say “Hablo español.”
Structural Breakdown of Spanish Verbs
Understanding the structure of Spanish verbs is crucial for effective conjugation. A Spanish verb generally consists of two main parts: the stem and the ending. The stem is the base part of the verb that carries the core meaning, while the ending indicates the tense, mood, person, and number. To conjugate a regular verb, you typically remove the infinitive ending (-ar, -er, or -ir) from the infinitive form and then add the appropriate ending for the desired tense and subject pronoun.
For example, let’s take the verb hablar (to speak). The infinitive ending is -ar, so the stem is habl-. To conjugate hablar in the present tense for yo (I), you would add the ending -o to the stem, resulting in hablo (I speak). Similarly, for tú (you), you would add the ending -as, resulting in hablas (you speak). This process is consistent for all regular verbs, making it relatively straightforward to learn the basic conjugation patterns. However, irregular verbs have unique conjugation patterns that must be memorized.
Categories of Spanish Verbs
Spanish verbs can be broadly categorized into four main types: regular verbs, irregular verbs, stem-changing verbs, and reflexive verbs. Each category has its own set of rules and patterns for conjugation.
Regular Verbs
Regular verbs are those that follow a consistent pattern of conjugation in all tenses. These verbs are the easiest to learn because once you understand the basic conjugation rules, you can apply them to any regular verb ending in -ar, -er, or -ir.
The key to conjugating regular verbs is to identify the stem and then add the appropriate ending.
For example, the verb comer (to eat) is a regular -er verb. The stem is com-. To conjugate it in the present tense: yo como, tú comes, él/ella/usted come, nosotros/nosotras comemos, vosotros/vosotras coméis, ellos/ellas/ustedes comen. The endings are consistent and predictable, making regular verbs a solid foundation for learning Spanish verb conjugation.
Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs do not follow the standard conjugation patterns. These verbs often have changes in the stem or use different endings than regular verbs. Irregular verbs must be memorized individually, as there is no single rule to predict their conjugation. Some of the most common irregular verbs include ser (to be), estar (to be), tener (to have), ir (to go), and hacer (to do/make).
For example, the verb ser (to be) is highly irregular. In the present tense: yo soy, tú eres, él/ella/usted es, nosotros/nosotras somos, vosotros/vosotras sois, ellos/ellas/ustedes son. As you can see, the forms are quite different from what you would expect based on regular verb conjugation rules. Mastering irregular verbs is essential for achieving fluency in Spanish.
Stem-Changing Verbs
Stem-changing verbs are a type of irregular verb where the stem undergoes a change in certain tenses and for certain subject pronouns. These changes typically occur in the present tense and the preterite tense.
Common stem changes include e to ie, o to ue, and e to i.
For example, the verb pensar (to think) is a stem-changing verb. In the present tense, the stem changes from pens- to piens- for all forms except nosotros and vosotros: yo pienso, tú piensas, él/ella/usted piensa, nosotros/nosotras pensamos, vosotros/vosotras pensáis, ellos/ellas/ustedes piensan. These stem changes add another layer of complexity to Spanish verb conjugation, but they become easier to recognize with practice.
Reflexive Verbs
Reflexive verbs are used when the subject of the verb performs the action on themselves. These verbs are identified by the reflexive pronoun se attached to the infinitive form (e.g., lavarse – to wash oneself). When conjugating reflexive verbs, you must use a reflexive pronoun that corresponds to the subject pronoun.
For example, to conjugate lavarse (to wash oneself) in the present tense: yo me lavo, tú te lavas, él/ella/usted se lava, nosotros/nosotras nos lavamos, vosotros/vosotras os laváis, ellos/ellas/ustedes se lavan. The reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) indicate that the action of washing is being performed on the subject itself. Reflexive verbs are commonly used to describe daily routines and personal care activities.
Examples of Verb Conjugation
To illustrate the principles of Spanish verb conjugation, let’s examine several examples across different tenses and verb types. These examples will provide a practical understanding of how to apply the conjugation rules.
Present Tense Conjugation
The present tense is used to describe actions that are happening now, habitual actions, or general truths. Here are examples of regular and irregular verbs conjugated in the present tense.
The following table shows the conjugation of regular verbs hablar (to speak), comer (to eat), and vivir (to live) in the present tense.
| Pronoun | Hablar (to speak) | Comer (to eat) | Vivir (to live) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Example 1 | Yo hablo español. (I speak Spanish.) | Yo como pizza. (I eat pizza.) | Yo vivo en Madrid. (I live in Madrid.) |
| Example 2 | Tú hablas inglés. (You speak English.) | Tú comes fruta. (You eat fruit.) | Tú vives en Londres. (You live in London.) |
| Example 3 | Él habla francés. (He speaks French.) | Ella come carne. (She eats meat.) | Usted vive en Nueva York. (You live in New York.) |
| Example 4 | Nosotros hablamos alemán. (We speak German.) | Nosotros comemos pasta. (We eat pasta.) | Nosotros vivimos en París. (We live in Paris.) |
| Example 5 | Vosotros habláis italiano. (You (plural) speak Italian.) | Vosotros coméis pescado. (You (plural) eat fish.) | Vosotros vivís en Roma. (You (plural) live in Rome.) |
| Example 6 | Ellos hablan ruso. (They speak Russian.) | Ellas comen verduras. (They eat vegetables.) | Ustedes viven en Berlín. (You (plural) live in Berlin.) |
| Example 7 | Hablo con mi amigo. (I speak with my friend.) | Como en un restaurante. (I eat at a restaurant.) | Vivo cerca del parque. (I live near the park.) |
| Example 8 | Hablas muy rápido. (You speak very fast.) | Comes demasiado. (You eat too much.) | Vives una vida tranquila. (You live a quiet life.) |
| Example 9 | Él habla por teléfono. (He speaks on the phone.) | Ella come despacio. (She eats slowly.) | Usted vive solo. (You live alone.) |
| Example 10 | Nosotros hablamos del tiempo. (We speak about the weather.) | Nosotros comemos juntos. (We eat together.) | Nosotros vivimos felices. (We live happily.) |
| Example 11 | Vosotros habláis con fluidez. (You (plural) speak fluently.) | Vosotros coméis bien. (You (plural) eat well.) | Vosotros vivís cómodamente. (You (plural) live comfortably.) |
| Example 12 | Ellos hablan mucho. (They speak a lot.) | Ellas comen poco. (They eat little.) | Ustedes viven aquí. (You (plural) live here.) |
| Example 13 | Siempre hablo con mi madre. (I always speak with my mother.) | Siempre como a la misma hora. (I always eat at the same time.) | Siempre vivo en esta ciudad. (I always live in this city.) |
| Example 14 | Nunca hablas en clase. (You never speak in class.) | Nunca comes dulces. (You never eat sweets.) | Nunca vives en el campo. (You never live in the countryside.) |
| Example 15 | ¿Habla usted español? (Do you speak Spanish?) | ¿Come usted carne? (Do you eat meat?) | ¿Vive usted aquí? (Do you live here?) |
| Example 16 | Hablamos en voz baja. (We speak in a low voice.) | Comemos en silencio. (We eat in silence.) | Vivimos en paz. (We live in peace.) |
| Example 17 | Habláis demasiado rápido. (You (plural) speak too fast.) | Coméis con apetito. (You (plural) eat with appetite.) | Vivís con alegría. (You (plural) live with joy.) |
| Example 18 | Hablan de política. (They speak about politics.) | Comen en la calle. (They eat on the street.) | Viven cerca del mar. (They live near the sea.) |
| Example 19 | Hablo todos los días. (I speak every day.) | Como todos los días. (I eat every day.) | Vivo todos los días. (I live every day.) |
| Example 20 | Hablas con tus padres. (You speak with your parents.) | Comes con tus amigos. (You eat with your friends.) | Vives con tu familia. (You live with your family.) |
The following table shows the conjugation of irregular verbs ser (to be), estar (to be), and tener (to have) in the present tense.
| Pronoun | Ser (to be) | Estar (to be) | Tener (to have) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | Soy | Estoy | Tengo |
| Tú | Eres | Estás | Tienes |
| Él/Ella/Usted | Es | Está | Tiene |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | Somos | Estamos | Tenemos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | Sois | Estáis | Tenéis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Son | Están | Tienen |
| Example 1 | Yo soy estudiante. (I am a student.) | Yo estoy cansado. (I am tired.) | Yo tengo un libro. (I have a book.) |
| Example 2 | Tú eres inteligente. (You are intelligent.) | Tú estás feliz. (You are happy.) | Tú tienes un coche. (You have a car.) |
| Example 3 | Él es alto. (He is tall.) | Ella está enferma. (She is sick.) | Usted tiene razón. (You are right.) |
| Example 4 | Nosotros somos amigos. (We are friends.) | Nosotros estamos ocupados. (We are busy.) | Nosotros tenemos tiempo. (We have time.) |
| Example 5 | Vosotros sois jóvenes. (You (plural) are young.) | Vosotros estáis contentos. (You (plural) are happy.) | Vosotros tenéis dinero. (You (plural) have money.) |
| Example 6 | Ellos son simpáticos. (They are nice.) | Ellas están en casa. (They are at home.) | Ustedes tienen hambre. (You (plural) are hungry.) |
| Example 7 | Soy de España. (I am from Spain.) | Estoy en la playa. (I am at the beach.) | Tengo que estudiar. (I have to study.) |
| Example 8 | Eres muy amable. (You are very kind.) | Estás muy guapa. (You are very beautiful.) | Tienes mucho trabajo. (You have a lot of work.) |
| Example 9 | Él es mi hermano. (He is my brother.) | Ella está trabajando. (She is working.) | Usted tiene una pregunta. (You have a question.) |
| Example 10 | Somos estudiantes de español. (We are Spanish students.) | Estamos aprendiendo mucho. (We are learning a lot.) | Tenemos un examen mañana. (We have an exam tomorrow.) |
| Example 11 | Sois muy divertidos. (You (plural) are very funny.) | Estáis de vacaciones. (You (plural) are on vacation.) | Tenéis mucha suerte. (You (plural) are very lucky.) |
| Example 12 | Son mis padres. (They are my parents.) | Están esperando. (They are waiting.) | Tienen una casa grande. (They have a big house.) |
| Example 13 | Soy alto y delgado. (I am tall and slim.) | Estoy listo para salir. (I am ready to go out.) | Tengo ganas de verte. (I want to see you.) |
| Example 14 | Eres mi mejor amigo. (You are my best friend.) | Estás en el parque. (You are in the park.) | Tienes una sonrisa hermosa. (You have a beautiful smile.) |
| Example 15 | Es importante estudiar. (It is important to study.) | Está lloviendo. (It is raining.) | Tiene sentido. (It makes sense.) |
| Example 16 | Somos de la misma clase. (We are from the same class.) | Estamos muy emocionados. (We are very excited.) | Tenemos muchos planes. (We have many plans.) |
| Example 17 | Sois muy amables. (You (plural) are very kind.) | Estáis muy lejos. (You (plural) are very far.) | Tenéis que venir. (You (plural) have to come.) |
| Example 18 | Son muy interesantes. (They are very interesting.) | Están muy cansados. (They are very tired.) | Tienen muchos amigos. (They have many friends.) |
| Example 19 | Soy feliz aquí. (I am happy here.) | Estoy bien, gracias. (I am fine, thank you.) | Tengo un coche nuevo. (I have a new car.) |
| Example 20 | Eres muy especial. (You are very special.) | Estás muy cerca. (You are very close.) | Tienes todo lo que necesitas. (You have everything you need.) |
Preterite Tense Conjugation
The preterite tense is used to describe completed actions in the past. Here are examples of regular and irregular verbs conjugated in the preterite tense.
The following table shows the conjugation of regular verbs hablar (to speak), comer (to eat), and vivir (to live) in the preterite tense.
| Pronoun | Hablar (to speak) | Comer (to eat) | Vivir (to live) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | Hablé | Comí | Viví |
| Tú | Hablaste | Comiste | Viviste |
| Él/Ella/Usted | Habló | Comió | Vivió |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | Hablamos | Comimos | Vivimos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | Hablasteis | Comisteis | Vivisteis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Hablaron | Comieron | Vivieron |
| Example 1 | Yo hablé con mi madre ayer. (I spoke with my mother yesterday.) | Yo comí pizza anoche. (I ate pizza last night.) | Yo viví en España el año pasado. (I lived in Spain last year.) |
| Example 2 | Tú hablaste muy rápido. (You spoke very fast.) | Tú comiste toda la tarta. (You ate all the cake.) | Tú viviste una gran aventura. (You lived a great adventure.) |
| Example 3 | Él habló en la conferencia. (He spoke at the conference.) | Ella comió en un restaurante caro. (She ate at an expensive restaurant.) | Usted vivió muchos años aquí. (You lived here for many years.) |
| Example 4 | Nosotros hablamos sobre el proyecto. (We spoke about the project.) | Nosotros comimos juntos en Navidad. (We ate together at Christmas.) | Nosotros vivimos felices para siempre. (We lived happily ever after.) |
| Example 5 | Vosotros hablasteis con el profesor. (You (plural) spoke with the professor.) | Vosotros comisteis mucho durante la fiesta. (You (plural) ate a lot during the party.) | Vosotros vivisteis en esa casa. (You (plural) lived in that house.) |
| Example 6 | Ellos hablaron de sus vacaciones. (They spoke about their vacation.) | Ellas comieron todas las galletas. (They ate all the cookies.) | Ustedes vivieron en el extranjero. (You (plural) lived abroad.) |
| Example 7 | Hablé por teléfono durante horas. (I spoke on the phone for hours.) | Comí algo rápido antes de salir. (I ate something quick before leaving.) | Viví cerca de la playa cuando era niño. (I lived near the beach when I was a child.) |
| Example 8 | Hablaste con el jefe. (You spoke with the boss.) | Comiste demasiada comida. (You ate too much food.) | Viviste una vida emocionante. (You lived an exciting life.) |
| Example 9 | Ella habló en voz baja. (She spoke in a low voice.) | Comió toda la fruta. (She ate all the fruit.) | Vivió en una cabaña en el bosque. (She lived in a cabin in the forest.) |
| Example 10 | Hablamos mucho durante el viaje. (We spoke a lot during the trip.) | Comimos en un restaurante italiano. (We ate at an Italian restaurant.) | Vivimos en diferentes ciudades. (We lived in different cities.) |
| Example 11 | Hablasteis con los vecinos. (You (plural) spoke with the neighbors.) | Comisteis en un picnic. (You (plural) ate at a picnic.) | Vivisteis en un apartamento pequeño. (You (plural) lived in a small apartment.) |
| Example 12 | Hablaron sobre sus problemas. (They spoke about their problems.) | Comieron en la mesa. (They ate at the table.) | Vivieron en una granja. (They lived on a farm.) |
| Example 13 | Hablé con mis abuelos. (I spoke with my grandparents.) | Comí con mi familia. (I ate with my family.) | Viví con mis padres. (I lived with my parents.) |
| Example 14 | Hablaste con el vendedor. (You spoke with the seller.) | Comiste con tus amigos. (You ate with your friends.) | Viviste con tu pareja. (You lived with your partner.) |
| Example 15 | Habló sobre su viaje a Italia. (He spoke about his trip to Italy.) | Comió un postre delicioso. (He ate a delicious dessert.) | Vivió una vida plena. (He lived a full life.) |
| Example 16 | Hablamos sobre la película. (We spoke about the movie.) | Comimos en un café. (We ate at a cafe.) | Vivimos en una casa antigua. (We lived in an old house.) |
| Example 17 | Hablasteis sobre vuestro trabajo. (You (plural) spoke about your work.) | Comisteis en la playa. (You (plural) ate on the beach.) | Vivisteis en una ciudad grande. (You (plural) lived in a big city.) |
| Example 18 | Hablaron sobre sus planes. (They spoke about their plans.) | Comieron en el jardín. (They ate in the garden.) | Vivieron en una casa de campo. (They lived in a country house.) |
| Example 19 | Hablé de mis sueños. (I spoke about my dreams.) | Comí deprisa. (I ate quickly.) | Viví solo. (I lived alone.) |
| Example 20 | Hablaste con claridad. (You spoke clearly.) | Comiste con gusto. (You ate with pleasure.) | Viviste con amor. (You lived with love.) |
The following table shows the conjugation of irregular verbs ser (to be), estar (to be), and tener (to have) in the preterite tense.
| Pronoun | Ser (to be) | Estar (to be) | Tener (to have) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | Fui | Estuve | Tuve |
| Tú | Fuiste | Estuviste | Tuviste |
| Él/Ella/Usted | Fue | Estuvo | Tuvo |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | Fuimos | Estuvimos | Tuvimos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | Fuisteis | Estuvisteis | Tuvisteis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Fueron | Estuvieron | Tuvieron |
| Example 1 | Yo fui a la fiesta. (I went to the party.) | Yo estuve en casa ayer. (I was at home yesterday.) | Yo tuve un problema. (I had a problem.) |
| Example 2 | Tú fuiste muy amable. (You were very kind.) | Tú estuviste muy feliz. (You were very happy.) | Tú tuviste suerte. (You were lucky.) |
| Example 3 | Él fue doctor. (He was a doctor.) | Ella estuvo enferma. (She was sick.) | Usted tuvo razón. (You were right.) |
| Example 4 | Nosotros fuimos amigos. (We were friends.) | Nosotros estuvimos ocupados. (We were busy.) | Nosotros tuvimos tiempo. (We had time.) |
| Example 5 | Vosotros fuisteis jóvenes. (You (plural) were young.) | Vosotros estuvisteis contentos. (You (plural) were happy.) | Vosotros tuvisteis dinero. (You (plural) had money.) |
| Example 6 | Ellos fueron simpáticos. (They were nice.) | Ellas estuvieron en la playa. (They were at the beach.) | Ustedes tuvieron hambre. (You (plural) were hungry.) |
| Example 7 | Fui a Madrid. (I went to Madrid.) | Estuve allí una semana. (I was there for a week.) | Tuve que trabajar. (I had to work.) |
| Example 8 | Fuiste a la escuela. (You went to school.) | Estuviste estudiando. (You were studying.) | Tuviste un examen. (You had an exam.) |
| Example 9 | Fue un gran día. (It was a great day.) | Estuvo lloviendo. (It was raining.) | Tuvo éxito en su trabajo. (He had success in his work.) |
| Example 10 | Fuimos a un concierto. (We went to a concert.) | Estuvimos bailando. (We were dancing.) | Tuvimos mucha diversión. (We had a lot of fun.) |
| Example 11 | Fuisteis a la montaña. (You (plural) went to the mountain.) | Estuvisteis esquiando. (You (plural) were skiing.) | Tuvisteis frío. (You (plural) were cold.) |
| Example 12 | Fueron a casa tarde. (They went home late.) | Estuvieron cansados. (They were tired.) | Tuvieron un largo día. (They had a long day.) |
| Example 13 | Fui muy joven. (I was very young.) | Estuve muy emocionado. (I was very excited.) | Tuve muchos sueños. (I had many dreams.) |
| Example 14 | Fuiste muy valiente. (You were very brave.) | Estuviste allí para mí. (You were there for me.) | Tuviste una gran idea. (You had a great idea.) |
| Example 15 | Fue un error. (It was a mistake.) | Estuvo bien. (It was okay.) | Tuvo consecuencias. (It had consequences.) |
| Example 16 | Fuimos a la playa. (We went to the beach.) | Estuvimos nadando. (We were swimming.) | Tuvimos un buen tiempo. (We had a good time.) |
| Example 17 | Fuisteis a la fiesta. (You (plural) went to the party.) | Estuvisteis bailando toda la noche. (You (plural) were dancing all night.) | Tuvisteis que madrugar. (You (plural) had to get up early.) |
| Example 18 | Fueron a ver una película. (They went to see a movie.) | Estuvieron riendo mucho. (They were laughing a lot.) | Tuvieron que esperar. (They had to wait.) |
| Example 19 | Fui a visitar a mi abuela. (I went to visit my grandmother.) | Estuve con ella todo el día. (I was with her all day.) | Tuve una conversación larga. (I had a long conversation.) |
| Example 20 | Fuiste a comprar. (You went shopping.) | Estuviste buscando ofertas. (You were looking for deals.) | Tuviste que decidir qué comprar. (You had to decide what to buy.) |
Imperfect Tense Conjugation
The imperfect tense is used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past, as well as to set the scene or provide background information. It is often translated as “used to,” “was/were -ing,” or “would.”
The following table shows the conjugation of regular verbs hablar (to speak), comer (to eat), and vivir (to live) in the imperfect tense.
| Pronoun | Hablar (to speak) | Comer (to eat) | Vivir (to live) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | Hablaba | Comía | Vivía |
| Tú | Hablabas | Comías | Vivías |
| Él/Ella/Usted | Hablaba | Comía | Vivía |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | Hablábamos | Comíamos | Vivíamos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | Hablabais | Comíais | Vivíais |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Hablaban | Comían | Vivían |
| Example 1 | Yo hablaba con mis amigos todos los días. (I used to talk with my friends every day.) | Yo comía mucho helado cuando era niño. (I used to eat a lot of ice cream when I was a child.) | Yo vivía cerca del mar. (I used to live near the sea.) |
| Example 2 | Tú hablabas francés en la escuela. (You used to speak French at school.) | Tú comías fruta todos los días. (You used to eat fruit every day.) | Tú vivías en París. (You used to live in Paris.) |
| Example 3 | Él hablaba por teléfono a menudo. (He used to talk on the phone often.) | Ella comía pescado cada semana. (She used to eat fish every week.) | Usted vivía en una casa grande. (You used to live in a big house.) |
| Example 4 | Nosotros hablábamos de libros. (We used to talk about books.) | Nosotros comíamos juntos los domingos. (We used to eat together on Sundays.) | Nosotros vivíamos en la misma calle. (We used to live on the same street.) |
| Example 5 | Vosotros hablabais en voz baja. (You (plural) used to speak in a low voice.) | Vosotros comíais en el jardín. (You (plural) used to eat in the garden.) | Vosotros vivíais en el campo. (You (plural) used to live in the countryside.) |
| Example 6 | Ellos hablaban de política. (They used to talk about politics.) | Ellas comían dulces a escondidas. (They used to eat sweets secretly.) | Ustedes vivían en el centro de la ciudad. (You (plural) used to live in the city center.) |
| Example 7 | Siempre hablaba con mi abuelo. (I always used to talk with my grandfather.) | Siempre comía en casa. (I always used to eat at home.) | Siempre vivía feliz. (I always used to live happily.) |
| Example 8 | Nunca hablabas de tus problemas. (You never used to talk about your problems.) | Nunca comías verduras. (You never used to eat vegetables.) | Nunca vivías en la ciudad. (You never used to live in the city.) |
| Example 9 | Él hablaba con fluidez. (He used to speak fluently.) | Ella comía despacio. (She used to eat slowly.) | Usted vivía cómodamente. (You used to live comfortably.) |
| Example 10 | Nosotros hablábamos por teléfono. (We used to talk on the phone.) | Nosotros comíamos mucho. (We used to eat a lot.) | Nosotros vivíamos juntos. (We used to live together.) |
| Example 11 | Vosotros hablabais con vuestros padres. (You (plural) used to talk with your parents.) | Vosotros comíais con vuestros amigos. (You (plural) used to eat with your friends.) | Vosotros vivíais con vuestra familia. (You (plural) used to live with your family.) |
| Example 12 | Ellos hablaban en inglés. (They used to speak in English.) | Ellas comían en silencio. (They used to eat in silence.) | Ustedes vivían cerca del parque. (You (plural) used to live near the park.) |
| Example 13 | Hablaba de sus viajes. (I used to talk about my travels.) | Comía de todo. (I used to eat everything.) | Vivía sin preocupaciones. (I used to live without worries.) |
| Example 14 | Hablabas con entusiasmo. (You used to talk with enthusiasm.) | Comías con gusto. (You used to eat with pleasure.) | Vivías con alegría. (You used to live with joy.) |
| Example 15 | Hablaba de su trabajo. (He used to talk about his work.) | Comía en la oficina. (He used to eat at the office.) | Vivía en una ciudad grande. (He used to live in a big city.) |
| Example 16 | Hablábamos de nuestras aventuras. (We used to talk about our adventures.) | Comíamos en restaurantes diferentes. (We used to eat at different restaurants.) | Vivíamos en diferentes países. (We used to live in different countries.) |
| Example 17 | Hablabais de vuestros planes. (You (plural) used to talk about your plans.) | Comíais en la playa. (You (plural) used to eat on the beach.) | Vivíais en un apartamento pequeño. (You (plural) used to live in a small apartment.) |
| Example 18 | Hablaban de sus sueños. (They used to talk about their dreams.) | Comían helado todos los días. (They used to eat ice cream every day.) | Vivían cerca de la estación. (They used to live near the station.) |
| Example 19 | Hablaba con mi perro. (I used to talk to my dog.) | Comía solo. (I used to eat alone.) | Vivía con mi gato. (I used to live with my cat.) |
| Example 20 | Hablabas con tus vecinos. (You used to talk to your neighbors.) | Comías con tu familia. (You used to eat with your family.) | Vivías con tus amigos. (You used to live with your friends.) |
The following table shows the conjugation of irregular verbs ser (to be), estar (to be), and tener (to have) in the imperfect tense.
| Pronoun | Ser (to be) | Estar (to be) | Tener (to have) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | Era | Estaba | Tenía |
| Tú | Eras | Estabas | Tenías |
| Él/Ella/Usted | Era | Estaba | Tenía |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | Éramos | Estábamos | Teníamos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | Erais | Estabais | Teníais |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Eran | Estaban | Tenían |
| Example 1 | Yo era un niño. (I was a child.) | Yo estaba cansado. (I was tired.) | Yo tenía un perro. (I had a dog.) |
| Example 2 | Tú eras mi amigo. (You were my friend.) | Tú estabas feliz. (You were happy.) | Tú tenías un coche. (You had a car.) |
| Example 3 | Él era alto. (He was tall.) | Ella estaba enferma. (She was sick.) | Usted tenía razón. (You were right.) |
| Example 4 | Nosotros éramos jóvenes. (We were young.) | Nosotros estábamos ocupados. (We were busy.) | Nosotros teníamos tiempo. (We had time.) |
| Example 5 | Vosotros erais estudiantes. (You (plural) were students.) | Vosotros estabais contentos. (You (plural) were happy.) | Vosotros teníais dinero. (You (plural) had money.) |
| Example 6 | Ellos eran simpáticos. (They were nice.) | Ellas estaban en casa. (They were at home.) | Ustedes tenían hambre. (You (plural) were hungry.) |
| Example 7 | Era de España. (I was from Spain.) | Estaba en la playa. (I was at the beach.) | Tenía que estudiar. (I had to study.) |
| Example 8 | Eras muy amable. (You were very kind.) | Estabas muy guapa. (You were very beautiful.) | Tenías mucho trabajo. (You had a lot of work.) |
| Example 9 | Él era mi hermano. (He was my brother.) | Ella estaba trabajando. (She was working.) | Usted tenía una pregunta. (You had a question.) |
| Example 10 | Éramos estudiantes de español. (We were Spanish students.) | Estábamos aprendiendo mucho. (We were learning a lot.) | Teníamos un examen mañana. (We had an exam tomorrow.) |
| Example 11 | Erais muy divertidos. (You (plural) were very funny.) | Estabais de vacaciones. (You (plural) were on vacation.) | Teníais mucha suerte. (You (plural) were very lucky.) |
| Example 12 | Eran mis padres. (They were my parents.) | Estaban esperando. (They were waiting.) | Tenían una casa grande. (They had a big house.) |
| Example 13 | Era alto y delgado. (I was tall and slim.) | Estaba listo para salir. (I was ready to go out.) | Tenía ganas de verte. (I wanted to see you.) |
| Example 14 | Eras mi mejor amigo. (You were my best friend.) | Estabas en el parque. (You were in the park.) | Tenías una sonrisa hermosa. (You had a beautiful smile.) |
| Example 15 | Era importante estudiar. (It was important to study.) | Estaba lloviendo. (It was raining.) | Tenía sentido. (It made sense.) |
| Example 16 | Éramos de la misma clase. (We were from the same class.) | Estábamos muy emocionados. (We were very excited.) | Teníamos muchos planes. (We had many plans.) |
| Example 17 | Erais muy amables. (You (plural) were very kind.) | Estabais muy lejos. (You (plural) were very far.) | Teníais que venir. (You (plural) had to come.) |
| Example 18 | Eran muy interesantes. (They were very interesting.) | Estaban muy cansados. (They were very tired.) | Tenían muchos amigos. (They had many friends.) |
| Example 19 | Era feliz allí. (I was happy there.) | Estaba bien, gracias. (I was fine, thank you.) | Tenía un coche nuevo. (I had a new car.) |
| Example 20 | Eras muy especial. (You were very special.) | Estabas muy cerca. (You were very close.) | Tenías todo lo que necesitas. (You had everything you need.) |
Future Tense Conjugation
The future tense is used to describe actions that will happen in the future. In Spanish, the future tense can be formed in two main ways: using the simple future tense or using the periphrastic future (ir + a + infinitive).
The following table shows the conjugation of regular verbs hablar (to speak), comer (to eat), and vivir (to live) in the simple future tense.
| Pronoun | Hablar (to speak) | Comer (to eat) | Vivir (to live) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | Hablaré | Comeré | Viviré |
| Tú | Hablarás | Comerás | Vivirás |
| Él/Ella/Usted | Hablará | Comerá | Vivirá |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | Hablaremos | Comeremos | Viviremos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | Hablaréis | Comeréis | Viviréis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Hablarán | Comerán | Vivirán |
| Example 1 | Yo hablaré con mi jefe mañana. (I will speak with my boss tomorrow.) | Yo comeré en un restaurante nuevo. (I will eat at a new restaurant.) | Yo viviré en otra ciudad algún día. (I will live in another city someday.) |
| Example 2 | Tú hablarás español con fluidez. (You will speak Spanish fluently.) | Tú comerás sano. (You will eat healthily.) | Tú vivirás una vida feliz. (You will live a happy life.) |
| Example 3 | Él hablará en la reunión. (He will speak at the meeting.) | Ella comerá pastel en su cumpleaños. (She will eat cake on her birthday.) | Usted vivirá muchos años. (You will live many years.) |
| Example 4 | Nosotros hablaremos sobre el plan. (We will speak about the plan.) | Nosotros comeremos juntos el domingo. (We will eat together on Sunday.) | Nosotros viviremos cerca de la playa. (We will live near the beach.) |
| Example 5 | Vosotros hablaréis con vuestros amigos. (You (plural) will speak with your friends.) | Vosotros comeréis paella en Valencia. (You (plural) will eat paella in Valencia.) | Vosotros viviréis en una casa grande. (You (plural) will live in a big house.) |
| Example 6 | Ellos hablarán de sus logros. (They will speak about their achievements.) | Ellas comerán helado en el parque. (They will eat ice cream in the park.) | Ustedes vivirán aventuras emocionantes. (You (plural) will live exciting adventures.) |
| Example 7 | Hablaré sobre mis planes futuros. (I will speak about my future plans.) | Comeré algo delicioso. (I will eat something delicious.) | Viviré una vida plena. (I will live a full life.) |
| Example 8 | Hablarás con confianza. (You will speak with confidence.) | Comerás todo lo que quieras. (You will eat everything you want.) | Vivirás donde quieras. (You will live wherever you want.) |
| Example 9 | Él hablará sobre su experiencia. (He will speak about his experience.) | Ella comerá en silencio. (She will eat in silence.) | Usted vivirá en paz. (You will live in peace.) |
| Example 10 | Nosotros hablaremos sobre la película. (We will speak about the movie.) | Nosotros comeremos en casa. (We will eat at home.) | Nosotros viviremos juntos. (We will live together.) |
| Example 11 | Vosotros hablaréis sobre vuestro viaje. (You (plural) will speak about your trip.) | Vosotros comeréis en la playa. (You (plural) will eat on the beach.) | Vosotros viviréis en un país diferente. (You (plural) will live in a different country.) |
| Example 12 | Ellos hablarán sobre sus problemas. (They will speak about their problems.) | Ellas comerán en el jardín. (They will eat in the garden.) | Ustedes vivirán cerca del mar. (You (plural) will live near the sea.) |
| Example 13 | Hablaré con mis padres. (I will speak with my parents.) | Comeré con mi familia. (I will eat with my family.) | Viviré con mis amigos. (I will live with my friends.) |
| Example 14 | Hablarás con el profesor. (You will speak with the professor.) | Comerás con tus compañeros. (You will eat with your classmates.) | Vivirás con tu pareja. (You will live with your partner.) |
| Example 15 | Hablará sobre su libro. (He will speak about his book.) | Comerá un postre delicioso. (He will eat a delicious dessert.) | Vivirá una vida tranquila. (He will live a quiet life.) |
| Example 16 | Hablaremos sobre nuestras vacaciones. (We will speak about our vacation.) | Comeremos en un restaurante famoso. (We will eat at a famous restaurant.) | Viviremos en una casa nueva. (We will live in a new house.) |
| Example 17 | Hablaréis sobre vuestro trabajo. (You (plural) will speak about your work.) | Comeréis en un picnic. (You (plural) will eat at a picnic.) | Viviréis en una ciudad pequeña. (You (plural) will live in a small city.) |
| Example 18 | Hablarán sobre sus logros. (They will speak about their achievements.) | Comerán palomitas en el cine. (They will eat popcorn at the cinema.) | Vivirán juntos para siempre. (They will live together forever.) |
| Example 19 | Hablaré sobre mis sueños. (I will speak about my dreams.) | Comeré algo ligero. (I will eat something light.) | Viviré solo. (I will live alone.) |
| Example 20 | Hablarás con claridad. (You will speak clearly.) | Comerás con moderación. (You will eat in moderation.) | Vivirás con pasión. (You will live with passion.) |
The following table shows the conjugation of irregular verbs ser (to be), estar (to be), and tener (to have) in the simple future tense.
| Pronoun | Ser (to be) | Estar (to be) | Tener (to have) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | Seré | Estaré | Tendré |
| Tú | Serás | Estarás | Tendrás |
| Él/Ella/Usted | Será | Estará | Tendrá |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | Seremos | Estaremos | Tendremos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | Seréis | Estaréis | Tendréis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Serán | Estarán | Tendrán |
| Example 1 | Yo seré médico. (I will be a doctor.) | Yo estaré en casa mañana. (I will be at home tomorrow.) | Yo tendré un coche nuevo. (I will have a new car.) |
| Example 2 | Tú serás feliz. (You will be happy.) | Tú estarás ocupado. (You will be busy.) | Tú tendrás éxito. (You will have success.) |
| Example 3 | Él será alto. (He will be tall.) | Ella estará enferma. (She will be sick.) | Usted tendrá razón. (You will be right.) |
| Example 4 | Nosotros seremos amigos. (We will be friends.) | Nosotros estaremos juntos. (We will be together.) | Nosotros tendremos tiempo. (We will have time.) |
| Example 5 | Vosotros seréis jóvenes. (You (plural) will be young.) | Vosotros estaréis contentos. (You (plural) will be happy.) | Vosotros tendréis dinero. (You (plural) will have money.) |
| Example 6 | Ellos serán simpáticos. (They will be nice.) | Ellas estarán listas. (They will be ready.) | Ustedes tendrán hambre. (You (plural) will be hungry.) |
| Example 7 | Seré de España. (I will be from Spain.) | Estaré en la playa. (I will be at the beach.) | Tendré que estudiar. (I will have to study.) |
| Example 8 | Serás muy amable. (You will be very kind.) | Estarás muy guapa. (You will be very beautiful.) | Tendrás mucho trabajo. (You will have a lot of work.) |
| Example 9 | Él será mi hermano. (He will be my brother.) | Ella estará trabajando. (She will be working.) | Usted tendrá una pregunta. (You will have a question.) |
| Example 10 | Seremos estudiantes de español. (We will be Spanish students.) | Estaremos aprendiendo mucho. (We will be learning a lot.) | Tendremos un examen mañana. (We will have an exam tomorrow.) |
| Example 11 | Seréis muy divertidos. (You (plural) will be very funny.) | Estaréis de vacaciones. (You (plural) will be on vacation.) | Tendréis mucha suerte. (You (plural) will be very lucky.) |
| Example 12 | Serán mis padres. (They will be my parents.) | Estarán esperando. (They will be waiting.) | Tendrán una casa grande. (They will have a big house.) |
| Example 13 | Seré alto y delgado. (I will be tall and slim.) | Estaré listo para salir. (I will be ready to go out.) | Tendré ganas de verte. (I will want to see you.) |
| Example 14 | Serás mi mejor amigo. (You will be my best friend.) | Estarás en el parque. (You will be in the park.) | Tendrás una sonrisa hermosa. (You will have a beautiful smile.) |
| Example 15 | Será importante estudiar. (It will be important to study.) | Estará lloviendo. (It will be raining.) | Tendrá sentido. (It will make sense.) |
| Example 16 | Seremos de la misma clase. (We will be from the same class.) | Estaremos muy emocionados. (We will be very excited.) | Tendremos muchos planes. (We will have many plans.) |
| Example 17 | Seréis muy amables. (You (plural) will be very kind.) | Estaréis muy lejos. (You (plural) will be very far.) | Tendréis que venir. (You (plural) will have to come.) |
| Example 18 | Serán muy interesantes. (They will be very interesting.) | Estarán muy cansados. (They will be very tired.) | Tendrán muchos amigos. (They will have many friends.) |
| Example 19 | Seré feliz aquí. (I will be happy here.) | Estaré bien, gracias. (I will be fine, thank you.) | Tendré un coche nuevo. (I will have a new car.) |
| Example 20 | Serás muy especial. (You will be very special.) | Estarás muy cerca. (You will be very close.) | Tendrás todo lo que necesitas. (You will have everything you need.) |
Conditional Tense Conjugation
The conditional tense is used to express what would happen under certain conditions, to make polite requests, or to speculate about the past. The conditional tense endings are the same for -ar, -er, and -ir verbs.
| Pronoun | Hablar (to speak) | Comer (to eat) | Vivir (to live) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | Hablaría | Comería | Viviría |
| Tú | Hablarías | Comerías | Vivirías |
| Él/Ella/Usted | Hablaría | Comería | Viviría |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | Hablaríamos | Comeríamos | Viviríamos |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | Hablaríais | Comeríais | Viviríais |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | Hablarían | Comerían | Vivirían |
| Example 1 | Yo hablaría con él si tuviera la oportunidad. (I would speak with him if I had the opportunity.) | Yo comería pizza todos los días si pudiera. (I would eat pizza every day if I could.) | Yo viviría en una isla si tuviera dinero. (I would live on an island if I had money.) |
| Example 2 | Tú hablarías inglés si estudiaras más. (You would speak English if you studied more.) | Tú comerías más sano si tuvieras tiempo. (You would eat healthier if you had time.) | Tú vivirías más feliz si fueras más optimista. (You would live happier if you were more optimistic.) |
| Example 3 | Él hablaría más si fuera más extrovertido. (He would speak more if he were more outgoing.) | Ella comería menos si no estuviera estresada. (She would eat less if she weren’t stressed.) | Usted viviría mejor si descansara más. (You would live better if you rested more.) |
| Example 4 | Nosotros hablaríamos francés si viviéramos en Francia. (We would speak French if we lived in France.) | Nosotros comeríamos juntos si tuviéramos tiempo. (We would eat together if we had time.) | Nosotros viviríamos en paz si no hubiera guerras. (We would live in peace if there were no wars.) |
| Example 5 | Vosotros hablaríais con el director si fuera necesario. (You (plural) would speak with the director if necessary.) | Vosotros comeríais en un restaurante caro si tuvierais dinero. (You (plural) would eat at an expensive restaurant if you had money.) | Vosotros viviríais en una mansión si ganarais la lotería. (You (plural) would live in a mansion if you won the lottery.) |
| Example 6 | Ellos hablarían de sus problemas si alguien los escuchara |