Spanish Grammar: Present Indicative Tense with [-ER] Verbs

Spanish Grammar: Present Indicative Tense with [-ER] Verbs

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Identify

Spanish Grammar: Present Indicative Tense with [-ER] Verbs
la gramática española: presente indicativo con verbos [-ER]

  • There are three classes of verbs: [-AR], [-ER], [-IR].
  • Know what is acting or being acted upon.

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60-Second Spanish Grammar Lesson

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Infinitive verbs are verbs that are unchanged. They are in their most basic form, and can be adapted in many different ways. (An infinite number of ways, so to speak.)

Infinitive verbs in Spanish will always end with [-AR], [-ER], or [-IR].

Infinitive verbs, in English, always mean to do … (action).
For example: to run, to read, to speak, to live, to eat, to see, to hear, to work, to study …

Verb tenses and moods help identify when (timeframe) or how (intent) an action is occurring.

Present tense – Occurring now
Past tense – Occurred in the past (already happened)
Future tense – Will occur in the future.

Each one of tenses or moods have their own verb endings. We can change the timeframe of an action just by replacing the endings on each verb.

When we work with verbs, it’s easiest to start with the Present Indicative tense. This will help us discuss what is happening right now.

[-ER] verbs are all infinitive verbs that end with the letters [-ER]. Besides the [-ER] ending, there really is no kind of pattern to why certain verbs are [-ER] verbs.

APRENDER : To learn

BEBER : To drink

COMER : To eat

CORRER : To run

ESCONDER : To hide

 LEER : To read

PROCEDER : To proceed

ROMPER : To break

SORPRENDER : To surprise

TEJER : To knit

TOSER : To cough

The system of adapting infinitive verbs to different people, places, and things is called verb conjugation.

When we conjugate verbs, we team them up with different Subject Pronouns to attach actions to people, places or things. Like from TO SPEAK to HE SPEAKS.

When we conjugate verbs, we DROP the [-ER] ending, and then reattach a NEW ENDING that lets us know who or what is acting or being acted upon.

Subject Pronoun + New Ending = Correctly Conjugated Verb!

[-ER] Verb Endings (Present Tense, Indicative Mood)
yo -o
-es
él / ella / usted -e
nosotros(as) -emos
vosotros(as) -éis
ellos / ellas / ustedes -en

Adapt

¿Aprende usted español?
Are you learning Spanish?

Si, yo aprendo español.
Yes, I am learning Spanish.

¿Ellos leen mucho?
Do they read a lot?

No, ellos no leen mucho.
No, they do not read a lot.

Nosotros corremos al gimnasio cada día.
We run to the gym every day.

Mi perrito esconde mis pantuflas cada noche.
My puppy hides my slippers every night.

Para descansar, yo tejo.
To relax, I knit.

¿Bebes agua?
Do you drink water?

Si, yo bebo mucha agua.
Yes, I drink a lot of water.

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Quizlet Activities – Present Indicative Tense – Verb Conjugation Endings for [-ER] Verbs

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Quizlet Activities – Present Indicative Tense with [-ER] Verbs – Examples

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