In Spanish, verbs are conjugated according to the person performing the action. There are three types of regular verbs in Spanish: -ar verbs, -er verbs, and -ir verbs. In this post, we will learn how to conjugate er and ir verbs.
We will learn the following:
- The basic rules for conjugating ar verbs
- The different endings for ar verbs
- Examples of how to conjugate ar verbs in sentences
By the end of this post, you will be able to conjugate ar verbs confidently and accurately in your Spanish conversations and writing.
To Conjugate ar Verbs you have to Remove the Ar and add a new ending. and there are 5 easy steps to follow
- find the Infinitives: Infinitives are verbs that end in -ar, -er & -ir. They are verbs that have not been conjugated. In English they are what we call “to verbs”. To run, to talk, to eat, etc. Examples: hablar, comer, escribir
- Make sure its a Ar verb: -ar verbs are simply verbs that end in -ar. For example: cantar, hablar, bailar, dibujar, etc.
- Find the ending: with ar verbs it should be ar
- Follow the rules to Conjugate ar verbs: Remove the ar and add a new ending
- Add new ending depending on who is performing the action. See ar verb Chart Below
| yo | o |
| tú | as |
| él/ella/usted | a |
| nosotros(as) | amos |
| vosotros(as) | áis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | an |
Spanish ar verbs video lesson
Rules to Conjugate ar Verbs
- Get rid of the ending (-ar)
- Add a new ending.
Remember conjugating is simply changing the verb to match the person that is performing the action. I am sure you already know some -ar Verbs. For example cantar, hablar, bailar, dibujar, etc. Before we go any deeper, let’s review the concept of verbs in the infinitive.
What are infinitives
Infinitives are verbs that have not been conjugated. They are the “to verbs” in English. For example: to speak, to draw, to dance. In Spanish verbs in the infinitive end in -ar, -er, & -ir.
Let’s focus on those infinitives that end in -ar.
Disclaimer: Not all -ar verbs are regular. Not all of them follow the same set of rules. For example, gustar is NOT a regular verb. It does not follow the rules as regular -ar verbs. If you want to conjugate gustar you must follow the rules we learned during that lesson.
Here is a list of regular -ar
verbs that you may have seen or that I think will be useful to learn at this stage. We will learn to conjugate some of them together. The rest you will be able to conjugate on your own by following the rules that we learn today.
Example of a ar verb conjugation
It’s the verb estudiar.
Do you see how it ends in -ar? That’s what we call an -ar verb.
In order for us to conjugate it, basically, we are going to change it to match the person that is performing the action, we have to start by knowing the two parts of a verb.
All verbs have two parts. In this case, the -ar is what we call the ending. Whatever is left over is what we call the stem. One more time, the -ar is the ending and whatever is left over is what we call the stem.
Here is another verb. The verb hablar.
Remember that the h is silent. Hablar = to speak. Again, -ar is the ending and whatever is leftover is the stem.
That’s how you conjugate a verb.
So now, I want to show you how to apply those rules. In order to do that, I am going to use some scissors. It will help you see things clearly.
Remember the verb estudiar? To study? Well, let’s go ahead and apply the rules together.
We may receive a small commission if you purchase something through the links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my Dreams.
Immersion learning is the most effective way to learn a new language. That’s why Rosetta Stone uses this method to immerse learners in the Spanish language from the very beginning.
Rosetta Stone uses a variety of techniques to help learners master Spanish, including:
- Pictures: Learners are shown pictures of objects and actions, and then asked to identify them in Spanish. This helps learners to associate words with real-world concepts.
- Audio: Learners listen to native speakers pronouncing words and phrases in Spanish. This helps learners to develop their listening comprehension skills.
- Interactive activities: Learners complete various interactive activities, such as matching words to pictures, filling in blanks, and translating sentences. These activities help learners to practice their speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.
I believe that these techniques are essential for students to master Spanish. I use them in my lessons, and I have seen their effectiveness.
Right now, Rosetta Stone is offering a special deal on their Spanish language program. You can get a lifetime subscription for just $179! That’s a savings of over 60%!Don’t miss this opportunity to learn Spanish like a native with Rosetta Stone! Click here to learn more and claim your discount today.
Rules to Conjugate ar Verbs
- Get rid of the ending (-ar)
- Add a new ending.
Remember conjugating is simply changing the verb to match the person that is performing the action.
This is where we are going to use our tijeras (our scissors).
Rule 2 says to add a new ending. So how do I know which endings to add?
What ar verb ending do i use
Since the new endings are based on who is performing the action, let’s bring back our subject pronouns. In one of our previous lessons, I told you that it was important to memorize the subject pronouns in this order and this is why. If by now you know your subject pronouns then all you have to memorize are the new endings.
Let’s go over the endings.
The ending for yo is o. Estudio means I study.
The ending for tú is as. Estudias means you study.
The ending for él/ella/Ud. is a. Estudia means he studies, she studies or You formal study.
The ending for nosotros(as) is amos. Estudiamos means we study.
The ending for vosotros(as) is áis. Estudiáis means You guys study.
The ending for ellos/ellas/Uds. is an. Estudian means they study or you guys study.
So now we have all of the endings for -ar verbs.
Let’s put Complete Sentences Together
So now that you know how to conjugate -ar verbs you can put a few sentences together.
Remember all you need is your subject or your subject pronoun and then the correct conjugation of the -ar verb.
Let’s do this together. If I want to say we study a lot …
Nosotros estudiamos mucho. That’s a complete sentence.
Now let’s look at hablar. We said it means I speak.
I could say:
Yo hablo mucho. That’s a complete sentence.
Asking and Answering Questions
Let’s discuss something important.
What if I ask YOU a question?
Who would you answer about?
That’s right you are answering about yourself. So I may ask ..
¿Tú hablas mucho?
You would answer in the yo form since you are talking about yourself. You may say:
Sí, yo hablo mucho
or
No, no hablo mucho.
The same thing applies if I ask you a question about Uds. I am asking you guys … therefore you need to answer in the nosotros (we) form. Think about it. Hey do you guys study a lot? Yes, WE study a lot
¿Uds. estudian mucho?
Sí, nosotros estudiamos mucho
or
No, no estudiamos mucho.
How to say you Don’t do some of these things
To say you don’t do something we are going to put the NO in front of the verb. Just like we did with gustar.
¿Tú hablas mucho?
No, no hablo mucho.
So now you are an expert and you know how to conjugate -ar verbs.
Free handouts (Click to download from Google drive)
