Mastering Spanish: Top Verbs For Fluency

Understanding the most frequently used verbs in Spanish is crucial for anyone looking to achieve fluency. These verbs form the backbone of everyday conversations, allowing you to express a wide range of actions, states, and experiences.

This article will delve into the most popular Spanish verbs, providing detailed explanations, examples, and practice exercises to help you master their usage. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will enhance your comprehension and fluency in Spanish.

By focusing on these essential verbs, you’ll be able to construct sentences, understand spoken Spanish, and communicate effectively in various contexts. This comprehensive guide will break down the intricacies of each verb, offering practical tips and strategies to improve your overall command of the Spanish language.

Let’s embark on this journey to unlock the power of Spanish verbs!

Introduction
Defining Popular Spanish Verbs
Structural Breakdown of Spanish Verbs
Types and Categories of Spanish Verbs
Examples of Popular Spanish Verbs
Usage Rules for Spanish Verbs
Common Mistakes with Spanish Verbs
Practice Exercises
Advanced Topics in Spanish Verbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion

Defining Popular Spanish Verbs

Popular Spanish verbs are those that appear most frequently in spoken and written Spanish. They are essential for building a strong foundation in the language and understanding a wide range of contexts.

These verbs cover basic actions, states of being, and essential interactions. Mastering these verbs allows learners to express themselves more effectively and comprehend native speakers with greater ease.

Understanding their nuances and proper usage is paramount for fluency.

These verbs can be classified based on their function: action verbs (hacer, ir), linking verbs (ser, estar), and auxiliary verbs (haber). They can also be categorized by their regularity in conjugation: regular, irregular, stem-changing, and reflexive verbs. Each category has its own set of rules and patterns that must be learned to use the verbs correctly. Furthermore, the context in which a verb is used greatly affects its meaning and interpretation. Therefore, it is critical to understand the various contexts and idiomatic expressions associated with each verb.

Structural Breakdown of Spanish Verbs

Spanish verbs are composed of two main parts: the stem and the ending. The stem carries the core meaning of the verb, while the ending indicates the tense, mood, and person/number (who is performing the action). For example, in the verb hablar (to speak), habl- is the stem, and -ar is the infinitive ending. To conjugate the verb, you remove the infinitive ending and add the appropriate ending for the tense and person.

The endings vary depending on the verb conjugation pattern. There are three main conjugation patterns in Spanish, based on the infinitive ending: -ar, -er, and -ir. Each pattern has a different set of endings for each tense. Additionally, the person/number indicates who is performing the action (yo, tú, él/ella/usted, nosotros, vosotros, ellos/ellas/ustedes). Understanding these components is crucial for accurate verb conjugation and sentence construction. Pay close attention to the stem and the endings to build a strong understanding of verb structures.

Types and Categories of Spanish Verbs

Spanish verbs are categorized based on their conjugation patterns and behavior. Understanding these categories is essential for accurate verb usage.

The main categories are regular verbs, irregular verbs, reflexive verbs, and stem-changing verbs. Each category follows different rules and patterns, requiring specific attention during learning.

Regular Verbs

Regular verbs follow predictable conjugation patterns. They maintain their stem throughout the conjugation process, and their endings are consistent within each tense. These verbs are the easiest to learn and serve as a foundation for understanding more complex verb forms. The three types of regular verbs are -ar, -er, and -ir verbs.

For example, the regular -ar verb hablar (to speak) follows a consistent pattern. The stem habl- remains unchanged, and the endings are added according to the tense and person. Similarly, regular -er and -ir verbs like comer (to eat) and vivir (to live) follow their respective predictable patterns. Mastering these regular verbs is a crucial first step in learning Spanish conjugation.

Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs do not follow the standard conjugation patterns. Their stems or endings change unpredictably in certain tenses or persons. These verbs require memorization and practice to use correctly. Some of the most common irregular verbs include ser, estar, tener, and ir.

For example, the verb ser (to be) is highly irregular. Its conjugation changes significantly in the present tense: soy, eres, es, somos, sois, son. Similarly, tener (to have) changes its stem in some forms: tengo, tienes, tiene, tenemos, tenéis, tienen. Understanding and memorizing these irregularities is essential for accurate and fluent Spanish.

Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs indicate that the subject is performing an action on themselves. These verbs are always accompanied by a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se). The infinitive form of reflexive verbs ends in -se, such as lavarse (to wash oneself).

For example, to say “I wash myself,” you would use the reflexive verb lavarse: Me lavo. The reflexive pronoun me indicates that the action of washing is being done to the subject (I). Similarly, “He washes himself” would be Se lava. Understanding the use of reflexive pronouns is essential for correctly using reflexive verbs and expressing actions performed on oneself.

Stem-Changing Verbs

Stem-changing verbs undergo a change in the stem vowel in certain conjugations. These changes typically occur in the present tense and sometimes in the preterite tense. The most common stem changes are e → ie, o → ue, and e → i.

For example, the verb pensar (to think) undergoes an e → ie stem change: pienso, piensas, piensa, pensamos, pensáis, piensan. Notice that the stem changes in all forms except nosotros and vosotros. Similarly, poder (to be able to) changes from o → ue: puedo, puedes, puede, podemos, podéis, pueden. Understanding these stem changes is crucial for correct conjugation of these verbs.

Examples of Popular Spanish Verbs

Let’s explore some of the most popular Spanish verbs with examples that illustrate their usage in various contexts. These examples will help you understand how to use these verbs correctly and effectively.

We will cover verbs such as: Ser, Estar, Tener, Hacer, Poder, Decir, Ir, Ver, Dar, Saber, Querer, Llegar, Pasar, Deber, Poner, Parecer, Quedar, Creer, Hablar, Llevar and Dejar.

Ser and Estar

Both ser and estar mean “to be,” but they are used in different contexts. Ser is used to describe permanent or inherent characteristics, while estar is used for temporary states or conditions.

The table below illustrates the differences between ser and estar with examples:

Verb	Usage	Examples	Translation
Ser	Permanent characteristics, origin, identity	Soy estudiante.	I am a student.
Ser	Permanent characteristics, origin, identity	Ella es de España.	She is from Spain.
Ser	Permanent characteristics, origin, identity	El libro es interesante.	The book is interesting.
Estar	Temporary states, location, feelings	Estoy cansado.	I am tired.
Estar	Temporary states, location, feelings	Estamos en casa.	We are at home.
Estar	Temporary states, location, feelings	Ella está feliz.	She is happy.
Ser	Description	La casa es grande.	The house is big.
Estar	Condition	La puerta está abierta.	The door is open.
Ser	Time	Son las tres de la tarde.	It’s three in the afternoon.
Estar	Position	Estoy sentado.	I am sitting.
Ser	Occupation	Soy profesor.	I am a teacher.
Estar	Health	Estoy enfermo.	I am sick.
Ser	Relationship	Ella es mi hermana.	She is my sister.
Estar	Progressive Tense	Estoy comiendo.	I am eating.
Ser	Material	La mesa es de madera.	The table is made of wood.
Estar	Emotional State	Estoy triste.	I am sad.
Ser	Event Location	La fiesta es en mi casa.	The party is at my house.
Estar	Result of an action	La ventana está rota.	The window is broken.
Ser	Characteristic	Él es alto y delgado.	He is tall and thin.
Estar	Taste	La sopa está deliciosa.	The soup is delicious.

Tener (To Have)

Tener means “to have” and is used to express possession, age, and certain feelings or sensations. It’s an irregular verb with a stem change in the first person singular (yo).

The table below illustrates the usage of tener with examples:

Usage	Examples	Translation
Possession	Tengo un coche nuevo.	I have a new car.
Age	Ella tiene veinte años.	She is twenty years old.
Feelings/Sensations	Tengo hambre.	I am hungry.
Obligation	Tenemos que estudiar.	We have to study.
Physical sensation	Tengo frío.	I am cold.
Expressing necessity	Tengo que irme.	I have to leave.
Expressing fear	Tengo miedo.	I am scared.
Expressing luck	Tengo suerte.	I am lucky.
Describing physical appearance	Tengo el pelo castaño.	I have brown hair.
Expressing a need	Tengo sed.	I am thirsty.
Talking about family	Tengo dos hermanos.	I have two brothers.
Expressing success	Tengo éxito.	I am successful.
Expressing doubt	Tengo dudas.	I have doubts.
Talking about responsibilities	Tengo trabajo.	I have work.
Expressing caution	Tengo cuidado.	I am careful.
Expressing a wish	Tengo ganas de viajar.	I feel like traveling.
Expressing a reason	Tengo razón.	I am right.
Talking about an illness	Tengo gripe.	I have the flu.
Expressing patience	Tengo paciencia.	I am patient.
Describing a situation	Tengo un problema.	I have a problem.

Hacer (To Do/Make)

Hacer means “to do” or “to make.” It is used for a wide range of actions and activities. It is also an irregular verb.

The table below illustrates the usage of hacer with examples:

Usage	Examples	Translation
To do	¿Qué haces?	What are you doing?
To make	Voy a hacer la cena.	I am going to make dinner.
Weather	Hace frío.	It is cold.
Time	Hace dos años.	Two years ago.
To pretend	Hago como si no supiera nada.	I pretend I don’t know anything.
To cause	Hacer daño.	To cause harm.
To pack	Hacer la maleta.	To pack the suitcase.
To ask a question	Hacer una pregunta.	To ask a question.
To take a trip	Hacer un viaje.	To take a trip.
To fulfill a dream	Hacer un sueño realidad.	To make a dream come true.
To do exercise	Hacer ejercicio.	To do exercise.
To make a mistake	Hacer un error.	To make a mistake.
To be useful	Hacer falta.	To be necessary.
To do the shopping	Hacer la compra.	To do the shopping.
To play a role	Hacer el papel de.	To play the role of.
To clean	Hacer la limpieza.	To do the cleaning.
To be sunny	Hacer sol.	To be sunny.
To make progress	Hacer progresos.	To make progress.
To tell jokes	Hacer bromas.	To tell jokes.
To develop	Hacer crecer.	To make grow.

Poder (To Be Able To)

Poder means “to be able to” or “can.” It is used to express ability, permission, or possibility. It is also a stem-changing verb (o → ue).

The table below illustrates the usage of poder with examples:

Usage	Examples	Translation
Ability	Puedo hablar español.	I can speak Spanish.
Permission	¿Puedo ir al baño?	Can I go to the bathroom?
Possibility	Puede ser verdad.	It could be true.
Expressing doubt	No puedo creerlo.	I can’t believe it.
Expressing potential	Podemos ganar.	We can win.
Seeking help	¿Me puedes ayudar?	Can you help me?
Indicating capacity	Aquí no pueden entrar más personas.	No more people can enter here.
Asking for a favor	¿Puedes traerme un vaso de agua?	Can you bring me a glass of water?
Expressing a wish	Ojalá pudiera viajar.	I wish I could travel.
Expressing a regret	No pude ir a la fiesta.	I couldn’t go to the party.
Asking for clarification	¿Puedes repetir, por favor?	Can you repeat, please?
Expressing an impossibility	No puedo hacerlo.	I cannot do it.
Expressing a possibility in the past	Pude haberlo hecho.	I could have done it.
Giving an option	Puedes elegir.	You can choose.
Expressing the power to do something	Tengo el poder de cambiar.	I have the power to change.
Expressing a condition	Si pudiera, lo haría.	If I could, I would do it.
Expressing what one is allowed to do	Aquí se puede fumar.	You can smoke here.
Expressing what one can expect	Se puede esperar cualquier cosa.	You can expect anything.
Expressing physical ability	Ya no puedo correr.	I can no longer run.
Expressing mental ability	Puedo entender.	I can understand.

Decir (To Say/Tell)

Decir means “to say” or “to tell.” It is an irregular verb with a stem change in the first person singular (yo) and in the preterite tense.

The table below illustrates the usage of decir with examples:

Usage	Examples	Translation
To say	¿Qué dijiste?	What did you say?
To tell	Dime la verdad.	Tell me the truth.
To express an opinion	Yo digo que es buena idea.	I say it’s a good idea.
To give instructions	Dile que venga.	Tell him to come.
To make a statement	Dijo que estaba cansado.	He said he was tired.
To predict	Me dicen que lloverá mañana.	They tell me it will rain tomorrow.
To express irony	¡Dices!	You don’t say!
To mention	No me dijo nada.	He didn’t tell me anything.
To suggest	¿Qué dirías tú?	What would you say?
To express an order	¡Díselo ahora!	Tell him now!
To express an excuse	No tengo nada que decir.	I have nothing to say.
To express surprise	¡No me digas!	You don’t say!
To express a rumor	Dicen que se casaron.	They say they got married.
To make a promise	Te digo que sí.	I tell you yes.
To express a warning	Te digo que tengas cuidado.	I tell you to be careful.
To ask for advice	¿Qué me dices?	What do you say?
To express disagreement	No digo eso.	I don’t say that.
To tell a story	Voy a decirte un cuento.	I’m going to tell you a story.
To express a command	Dile que se calle.	Tell him to be quiet.
To express agreement	Digo que sí.	I say yes.

Ir (To Go)

Ir means “to go.” It is an irregular verb and is often used with the preposition “a” to indicate destination.

The table below illustrates the usage of ir with examples:

Usage	Examples	Translation
To go to a place	Voy al cine.	I am going to the cinema.
To express future action	Voy a estudiar español.	I am going to study Spanish.
To leave	Me voy ahora.	I am leaving now.
To travel	Vamos a Europa el próximo año.	We are going to Europe next year.
To attend	¿Vas a la fiesta?	Are you going to the party?
To accompany	¿Puedo ir contigo?	Can I go with you?
To visit	Voy a visitar a mi abuela.	I am going to visit my grandmother.
To move	Nos vamos a otra ciudad.	We are moving to another city.
To proceed	Vamos a empezar la reunión.	Let’s start the meeting.
To send	Voy a mandar un correo electrónico.	I am going to send an e-mail.
To try	Voy a probar suerte.	I am going to try my luck.
To start	Vamos a cocinar.	We are going to cook.
To walk	Voy a dar un paseo.	I am going for a walk.
To run	Voy a correr.	I am going to run.
To learn	Voy a aprender.	I am going to learn.
To live	Voy a vivir.	I am going to live.
To work	Voy a trabajar.	I am going to work.
To sleep	Voy a dormir.	I am going to sleep.
To eat	Voy a comer.	I am going to eat.
To drink	Voy a beber.	I am going to drink.

Ver (To See)

Ver means “to see.” It is an irregular verb with an irregular “yo” form in the present tense.

The table below illustrates the usage of ver with examples:

Usage	Examples	Translation
To perceive with the eyes	Veo un pájaro en el árbol.	I see a bird in the tree.
To watch	Veo la televisión todos los días.	I watch television every day.
To understand	Ya veo lo que quieres decir.	I see what you mean.
To meet	Voy a ver a mis amigos mañana.	I am going to see my friends tomorrow.
To find out	Vamos a ver qué pasa.	Let’s see what happens.
To imagine	Me veo viajando por el mundo.	I see myself traveling the world.
To check	¿Puedes ver si está lloviendo?	Can you see if it’s raining?
To experience	He visto muchas cosas en mi vida.	I have seen many things in my life.
To foresee	No veo un futuro claro.	I don’t see a clear future.
To visit	Voy a ver a mi familia.	I’m going to visit my family.
To discover	Vamos a ver qué encontramos.	Let’s see what we find.
To inspect	Voy a ver el coche.	I am going to inspect the car.
To witness	Vi el accidente.	I witnessed the accident.
To look at	Mira, mira el cielo.	Look, look at the sky.
To review	Voy a ver mis apuntes.	I’m going to review my notes.
To consider	Vamos a ver qué hacemos.	Let’s consider what we do.
To examine	El doctor va a verme.	The doctor is going to examine me.
To face	Tengo que ver la realidad.	I have to face reality.
To realize	Ahora veo que tenía razón.	Now I realize that I was right.
To perceive	No veo bien sin mis gafas.	I don’t see well without my glasses.

Dar (To Give)

Dar means “to give.” It is an irregular verb with an irregular “yo” form in the present tense.

The table below illustrates the usage of dar with examples:

Usage	Examples	Translation
To offer	Te doy mi ayuda.	I offer you my help.
To provide	Me da mucha alegría.	It gives me a lot of joy.
To hand over	Dame el libro, por favor.	Give me the book, please.
To donate	Doy dinero a la caridad.	I donate money to charity.
To present	Voy a dar una presentación.	I am going to give a presentation.
To organize	Vamos a dar una fiesta.	We are going to throw a party.
To teach	Doy clases de español.	I teach Spanish classes.
To express	Dar las gracias.	To give thanks.
To hit	Le di un golpe sin querer.	I accidentally hit him.
To show	Me dio su número de teléfono.	He gave me his phone number.
To cause	Dar miedo.	To scare.
To grant	Dar permiso.	To give permission.
To impart	Dar una noticia.	To give news.
To emit	Dar luz.	To give light.
To produce	Este árbol da frutos.	This tree bears fruit.
To assign	Dar una tarea.	To assign a task.
To administer	Dar una medicina.	To give medicine.
To offer an opportunity	Dar una oportunidad.	To give an opportunity.
To provide a reason	Dar una explicación.	To give an explanation.
To express an opinion	Dar mi opinión.	To give my opinion.

Saber (To Know – Facts)

Saber means “to know” (facts, information, or how to do something). It is an irregular verb with an irregular “yo” form in the present tense.

The table below illustrates the usage of saber with examples:

Usage	Examples	Translation
To know information	Sé la respuesta.	I know the answer.
To know how to do something	Sé nadar.	I know how to swim.
To know a fact	Sé que estás aquí.	I know that you are here.
To be aware	No sé nada de eso.	I don’t know anything about that.
To find out	Quiero saber la verdad.	I want to know the truth.
To have knowledge	Sabe mucho sobre historia.	He knows a lot about history.
To know where something is	¿Sabes dónde está el banco?	Do you know where the bank is?
To remember	No sé su nombre.	I don’t know his name.
To understand	Ahora sé por qué lo hiciste.	Now I know why you did it.
To be skilled	Sabe tocar el piano.	She knows how to play the piano.
To recognize	Sé que te he visto antes.	I know I’ve seen you before.
To be sure	Sé que tengo razón.	I know I’m right.
To be able to tell	Sé que estás mintiendo.	I can tell you’re lying.
To realize	Ahora sé lo importante que es.	Now I realize how important it is.
To have the ability	Sé cómo resolver este problema.	I know how to solve this problem.
To have information about	Sé todo sobre ti.	I know everything about you.
To be informed	Sé que va a llover.	I know it’s going to rain.
To be aware of a secret	Sé un secreto.	I know a secret.
To know the taste	Sé a fresa.	It tastes like strawberry.
To know the language	Sé hablar español.	I know how to speak Spanish.

Querer (To Want)

Querer means “to want” or “to love.” It is a stem-changing verb (e → ie) in the present tense.

The table below illustrates the usage of querer with examples:

Usage	Examples	Translation
To want something	Quiero un café.	I want a coffee.
To love someone	Te quiero mucho.	I love you very much.
To wish	Quiero que seas feliz.	I want you to be happy.
To desire	Quiero viajar por el mundo.	I want to travel the world.
To need	Quiero hablar contigo.	I need to talk to you.
To prefer	Quiero ir al cine en lugar de quedarme en casa.	I prefer to go to the cinema instead of staying at home.
To try	Quiero aprender a tocar la guitarra.	I want to try learning to play the guitar.
To have the intention	Quiero ayudar a los demás.	I intend to help others.
To express affection	Quiero a mis amigos.	I care about my friends.
To have a goal	Quiero tener éxito en mi carrera.	I want to be successful in my career.
To feel like	Quiero comer algo dulce.	I feel like eating something sweet.
To decide	Quiero cambiar mi vida.	I want to change my life.
To express a request	Quiero que me escuches.	I want you to listen to me.
To express a hope	Quiero que todo salga bien.	I hope everything goes well.
To have the will	Quiero superar mis miedos.	I want to overcome my fears.
To expect	Quiero que me digas la verdad.	I expect you to tell me the truth.
To express a desire for change	Quiero que las cosas mejoren.	I want things to get better.
To express a longing	Quiero volver a verte.	I want to see you again.
To express a need for comfort	Quiero un abrazo.	I want a hug.
To express a preference in relationships	Quiero estar contigo.	I want to be with you.

Llegar (To Arrive)

Llegar means “to arrive.” It is a regular verb, but its spelling changes in the “yo” form of the preterite tense to maintain the correct pronunciation.

The table below illustrates the usage of llegar with examples:

Usage	Examples	Translation
To arrive at a place	Llegué a casa tarde anoche.	I arrived home late last night.
To reach a destination	Llegaremos a Madrid mañana.	We will arrive in Madrid tomorrow.
To come to a conclusion	Llegamos a la conclusión de que es necesario cambiar.	We came to the conclusion that it is necessary to change.
To achieve a goal	Llegó a ser un gran médico.	He became a great doctor.
To attain a certain age	Llegó a los noventa años.	He reached ninety years of age.
To receive something	Llegó una carta para ti.	A letter arrived for you.
To come to an agreement	Llegamos a un acuerdo.	We reached an agreement.
To be enough	El agua no llega.	There is not enough water.
To approach a time	Llega el invierno.	Winter is coming.
To become known	La noticia llegó a mis oídos.	The news reached my ears.
To come to do something	Llegué a pensar que era imposible.	I came to think it was impossible.
To happen in time	Si llegas a tiempo, podrás ver el espectáculo.	If you arrive on time, you can see the show.
To extend to a certain point	El río llega hasta la ciudad.	The river extends to the city.
To get to a certain stage	Llegó a ser famoso.	He became famous.
To reach a certain amount	La cuenta llegó a cien euros.	The bill reached one hundred euros.
To manage to do something	Llegué a terminar el trabajo a tiempo.	I managed to finish the work on time.
To be in time for something	Llegué a tiempo para el tren.	I was in time for the train.
To come to understand	Llegué a comprender la situación.	I came to understand the situation.
To be passed on to	La información llegó a las autoridades.	The information reached the authorities.
To get to the point of	Llegué al punto de no poder más.	I got to the point of not being able to take it anymore.

Pasar (To Pass/Happen)

Pasar has multiple meanings including “to pass,” “to happen,” or “to spend time.” It is a regular verb.

The table below illustrates the usage of pasar with examples:

Usage	Examples	Translation
To pass by	Paso por tu casa a las cinco.	I’ll pass by your house at five.
To happen	¿Qué pasa?	What’s happening?
To spend time	Pasé el verano en la playa.	I spent the summer at the beach.
To go through	Pasé por momentos difíciles.	I went through difficult times.
To transfer	Pasa la sal, por favor.	Pass the salt, please.
To occur	¿Qué pasó ayer?	What happened yesterday?
To exceed	No te pases de la raya.	Don’t cross the line.
To penetrate	La bala pasó la pared.	The bullet went through the wall.
To hand over	Pasa el informe al jefe.	Hand over the report to the boss.
To strain	Pasa la salsa por el colador.	Strain the sauce through the strainer.
To broadcast	Pasan esa película en la tele.	They are showing that movie on TV.
To approve	Pasaron la ley en el congreso.	They passed the law in Congress.
To surpass	Pasó a su competidor en la carrera.	He surpassed his competitor in the race.
To skip	Pasé por alto algunos detalles.	I skipped over some details.
To experience	Pasé una experiencia inolvidable.	I had an unforgettable experience.
To be over	Ya pasó la tormenta.	The storm is over.
To smuggle	Pasaron contrabando por la frontera.	They smuggled contraband across the border.
To be acceptable	No pasa nada.	It’s okay.
To transmit	Pasan la información por radio.	They transmit the information by radio.
To run a film	Vamos a pasar una película.	We’re going to run a film.

Deber (Should/Ought To)

Deber means “should” or “ought to.” It is a regular verb and often expresses obligation or probability.

The table below illustrates the usage of deber with examples:

Usage	Examples	Translation
Obligation	Debo estudiar para el examen.	I should study for the exam.
Probability	Debe ser tarde.	It must be late.
Duty	Debemos respetar a nuestros padres.	We should respect our parents.
Supposition	Debe haber un error.	There must be an error.
Moral obligation	Debes ser honesto.	You should be honest.
Advice	Debes descansar más.	You should rest more.
Indebtedness	Le debo dinero a mi amigo.	I owe money to my friend.
Expectation	Deberías llegar temprano.	You should arrive early.
Logical conclusion	Si estudias, debes aprobar.	If you study, you should pass.
Promise	Te debo una.	I owe you one.
Responsibility	Debo cuidar a mi hermano.	I should take care of my brother.
Social expectation	Debes saludar al llegar.	You should greet upon arrival.
Legal obligation	Debes obedecer la ley.	You should obey the law.
Professional obligation	Debo cumplir con mi trabajo.	I should fulfill my job.
Personal advice	Debes seguir tus sueños.	You should follow your dreams.
General recommendation	Debes comer saludable.	You should eat healthy.
Suggestion	Debes intentar de nuevo.	You should try again.
Expressing a need	Debo irme ahora.	I should leave now.
Expressing a debt	Debo una explicación.	I owe an explanation.
Expressing what is fitting	Debes vestirte formal.	You should dress formally.

Poner (To Put/Place)

Poner means “to put” or “to place.” It is an irregular verb with an irregular “yo” form in the present tense.

The table below illustrates the usage of poner with examples:

Usage	Examples	Translation
To place	Pongo el libro en la mesa.	I put the book on the table.
To set	Pongo la mesa para la cena.	I set the table for dinner.
To turn on	Pongo la televisión.	I turn on the television.
To wear	Me pongo un abrigo porque hace frío.	I put on a coat because it’s cold.
To install	Pongo una alarma para despertarme.	I set an alarm to wake up.
To express a condition	Pongo una condición para ayudarte.	I set a condition to help you.
To show	Pongo un ejemplo para explicarlo.	I give an example to explain it.
To bet	Pongo diez euros a que ganamos.	I bet ten euros that we win.
To invest	Pongo mi dinero en acciones.	I invest my money in stocks.
To risk	Pongo mi vida en peligro.	I put my life in danger.
To apply	Me pongo crema solar en la playa.	I apply sunscreen at the beach.
To name	Le pongo mi nombre a mi hijo.	I name my son after myself.
To present	Pongo una queja formal.	I file a formal complaint.
To add	Pongo azúcar al café.	I add sugar to the coffee.
To write	Pongo una nota en la puerta.	I put a note on the door.
To pretend	Me pongo enfermo para no ir al trabajo.	I pretend to be sick to not go to work.
To propose	Pongo una solución al problema.	I propose a solution to the problem.
To establish	Pongo una regla para el juego.	I establish a rule for the game.
To start	Me pongo a estudiar.	I start studying.
To become	Se puso triste al oír la noticia.	He became sad upon hearing the news.

Parecer (To Seem)

Parecer means “to seem” or “to appear.” It is an irregular verb with an irregular “yo” form in the present tense.

The table below illustrates the usage of parecer with examples:

Usage	Examples	Translation
To seem	Parece que va a llover.	It seems like it’s going to rain.
To appear	Parece cansado.	He appears tired.
To resemble	Se parece a su madre.	She resembles her mother.
To give an impression	La película parece interesante.	The movie seems interesting.
To have an opinion	Me parece bien tu idea.	Your idea seems good to me.
To think	¿Qué te parece?	What do you think?
To look like	Parece un buen chico.	He seems like a good guy.
To give the impression of	Parece que no le importa.	It seems like he doesn’t care.
To be similar	Estos dos coches se parecen mucho.	These two cars are very similar.
To have the aspect of	El cielo parece despejado.	The sky seems clear.
To feel like	Me parece que tengo fiebre.	I feel like I have a fever.
To look	¿Cómo te parece mi nuevo vestido?	How does my new dress look to you?
To seem appropriate	Me parece justo.	It seems fair to me.
To appear obvious	Parece evidente que no quiere venir.	It seems obvious that he doesn’t want to come.
To give the sensation	Este tejido parece suave.	This fabric feels soft.
To look good	Te parece bien el azul.	Blue looks good on you.
To be alike	Esos gemelos se parecen mucho.	Those twins look very alike.
To give an assessment	¿Qué te parece la comida?	What do you think of the food?
To have the appearance	La casa parece abandonada.	The house looks abandoned.
To have an idea	¿Te parece si vamos al cine?	How about we go to the cinema?

Quedar (To Stay/Remain)

Quedar has multiple meanings including “to stay,” “to remain,” or “to be left.” It is a regular verb.

The table below illustrates the usage of quedar with examples:

Usage	Examples	Translation
To stay	Me quedo en casa esta noche.	I’m staying home tonight.
To remain	Quedan pocas entradas para el concierto.	There are few tickets left for the concert.
To be located	La tienda queda cerca de aquí.	The store is located near here.
To agree	Quedamos en vernos mañana.	We agreed to meet tomorrow.
To fit	Este pantalón me queda bien.	These pants fit me well.
To have remaining	Me quedan cinco euros.	I have five euros left.
To arrange	Quedamos a las ocho en el café.	We arranged to meet at eight at the cafe.
To be left over	¿Qué queda de la cena?	What’s left over from dinner?
To result	Todo quedó perfecto.	Everything turned out perfect.
To keep	Me quedo con este libro.	I’ll keep this book.
To reside	Me quedo a vivir aquí.	I’m staying to live here.
To be situated	La casa queda en la esquina.	The house is situated on the corner.
To be left behind	Me quedé atrás en la carrera.	I was left behind in the race.
To be in agreement	Quedamos de acuerdo en todo.	We were in agreement on everything.
To remain silent	Me quedé callado.	I remained silent.
To be appropriate	¿Qué te queda por hacer?	What do you have left to do?
To be outstanding	Queda mucho por hacer.	There is a lot left to do.
To be undecided	Queda por decidir quién va a ir.	It remains to be decided who will go.
To be suitable	Me queda bien el sombrero.	The hat suits me well.
To stay put	Quédate quieto.	Stay still.

Creer (To Believe)

Creer means “to believe.” It is a regular verb except for the “yo” form in the present tense.

The table below illustrates the usage of creer with examples:

Usage	Examples	Translation
To believe	Creo en ti.	I believe in you.
To think	Creo que va a llover.	I think it’s going to rain.
To suppose	Creo que tengo razón.	I suppose I’m right.
To have faith	Creo en Dios.	I believe in God.
To trust	Te creo.	I trust you.
To assume	Creo que ya lo sabes.	I assume you already know it.
To imagine	No puedo creer lo que veo.	I can’t believe what I’m seeing.
To consider	Creo que es una buena idea.	I consider it a good idea.
To be of the opinion	Creo que deberías intentarlo.	I think you should try it.
To be convinced	Creo firmemente en la justicia.	I firmly believe in justice.
To have confidence	Creo que podemos lograrlo.	I believe we can achieve it.
To have an impression	Creo que está mintiendo.	I think he’s lying.
To assume something to be true	Creo que es la mejor opción.	I believe it’s the best option.
To take for granted	Creo que siempre estarás ahí.	I take it for granted that you’ll always be there.
To accept as true	Creo todo lo que me dices.	I believe everything you tell me.
To have a feeling	Creo que algo malo va a pasar.	I have a feeling something bad is going to happen.
To be under the impression	Creo que me estás engañando.	I’m under the impression that you’re deceiving me.
To rely on	Creo en la bondad de las personas.	I rely on the goodness of people.
To have a conviction	Creo en la importancia de la educación.	I have a conviction about the importance of education

Mastering Spanish: Top Verbs for Fluency

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