Spanish Verb Conjugation: Present Tense: Regular AR Verbs


	English	Deutsch
bailar	to dance	tanzen
cantar	to sing, chant	singen
contestar	to respond, answer	antworten, melden
escuchar	to listen, heed	hören
estudiar	to study, learn	studieren, lernen
hablar	to speak	sprechen
practicar	to practice	üben
preguntar	to ask (a question)	fragen
trabajar	to work, labor	arbeiten

What makes them -AR verbs ?

What do they have in common ?

Now we want to take those verbs and conjugate them ... so we can use them!

To see the present tense conjugated forms of these verbs, click on a pronoun below:

(You've seen 'em before, right yonder in the upper right column, ... I know you have!)

If you don't know what they mean yet, you will soon enough.

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: -AR verb conjugation

Yo form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -o to the stem.


Infinitive	Yo form	English equivalents			Deutsch
bailar	bailo	I dance	I do dance	I am dancing	ich tanze
cantar	canto	I sing, chant	I do sing, do chant	I'm singing, chanting	ich singe
contestar	contesto	I respond, answer	I do respond, do answer	I'm responding, answering	ich antworte
escuchar	escucho	I listen, heed	I do listen, do heed	I'm listening, heeding	ich höre
estudiar	estudio	I study	I do study	I am studying	ich studiere
hablar	hablo	I speak	I do speak	I am speaking	ich spreche
practicar	practico	I practice	I do practice	I am practicing	ich übe
preguntar	pregunto	I ask (questions)	I do ask (questions)	I am asking (questions)	ich frage
trabajar	trabajo	I work, labor	I do work, do labor	I'm working, laboring	ich arbeite

What do they have in common now ?

The stem (verb minus AR) tells you the action - and they all end in o now.

Using the o ending says I am doing this action, and it's going on NOW.

Each verb form in Spanish matches a specific pronoun, so Spanish doesn't always need to use the pronoun.

That means: each of the conjugated forms you see says ALL of the given "meaning."

The YO is understood, because of the ending of the conjugated form.

You don't need to say YO.

If you do add the YO, it usually adds emphasis, saying I dooo ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: -AR verb conjugation

Tú form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -as to it.


Infinitive	Tú form	English equivalents			Deutsch
bailar	bailas	you dance	you do dance	you're dancing	du tanzt
cantar	cantas	you sing, chant	you do sing, chant	you're singing, chanting	du singst
contestar	contestas	you respond, answer	you do respond, answer	you're responding, answering	du antwortest
escuchar	escuchas	you listen, heed	you do listen, heed	you're listening, heeding	du hörst
estudiar	estudias	you study	you do study	you're studying	du studierst
hablar	hablas	you speak	you do speak	you're speaking	du sprichst
practicar	practicas	you practice	you do practice	you're practicing	du übst
preguntar	preguntas	you ask (questions)	you do ask (questions)	you're asking (questions)	du fragst
trabajar	trabajas	you work, labor	you do work, labor	you're working, laboring	du arbeitest

What do they have in common now ?

The stem (verb minus AR) tells you the action.

The as ending says: you are doing it, and you're doing it NOW.

Since each verb form follows a specific pronoun, Spanish doesn't always need to use the pronoun.

That means: each of the conjugated forms you see says ALL of the given "meaning."

The TÚ is understood, because of the ending.

You don't need to say TÚ.

If you do add the TÚ, it usually adds emphasis, saying YOU dooo ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: -AR verb conjugation

Él form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -a to it.


Infinitive	Él form	English equivalents			Deutsch
bailar	baila	he dances	he does dance	he is dancing	er tanzt
cantar	canta	he sings, chants	he does sing, chant	he is singing, chanting	er singt
contestar	contesta	he responds, answers	he does respond, answer	he is responding, answering	er antwortet
escuchar	escucha	he listens, heeds	he does listen, heed	he is listening, heeding	er hört
estudiar	estudia	he studies	he does study	he is studying	er studiert
hablar	habla	he speaks	he does speak	he is speaking	er spricht
practicar	practica	he practices	he does practice	he is practicing	er übt
preguntar	pregunta	he asks (questions)	he does ask (questions)	he is asking (questions)	er fragt
trabajar	trabaja	he works, labors	he does work, labor	he is working, laboring	er arbeitet

What do they have in common now ?

The stem (verb minus AR) tells you the action.

The a ending can tell you that he is doing it, and he's doing it NOW.

Since these forms are used for 3 different pronouns, the subject MUST be defined.

That means: you have to provide the ÉL, ELLA or USTED just the first time through.

Once it has been clarified WHO is doing the action, then you don't need the pronoun any more.

You don't need to say ÉL every time you use this verb form.

If you do, it usually adds emphasis, saying HE doooes ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: -AR verb conjugation

Ella form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -a to it.


Infinitive	Ella form	English equivalents			Deutsch
bailar	baila	she dances	she does dance	she is dancing	sie tanzt
cantar	canta	she sings, chants	she does sing, chant	she is singing, chanting	sie singt
contestar	contesta	she responds, answers	she does respond, answer	she is responding, answering	sie antwortet
escuchar	escucha	she listens, heeds	she does listen, heed	she is listening, heeding	sie hört
estudiar	estudia	she studies	she does study	she is studying	sie studiert
hablar	habla	she speaks	she does speak	she is speaking	sie spricht
practicar	practica	she practices	she does practice	she is practicing	sie übt
preguntar	pregunta	she asks (questions)	she does ask (questions)	she is asking (questions)	sie fragt
trabajar	trabaja	she works, labors	she does work, labor	she is working, laboring	sie arbeitet

What do they have in common now ?

The stem (verb minus AR) tells you the action.

The a ending can tell you that she is doing it, and she's doing it NOW.

Since these forms are used for 3 different pronouns, the subject MUST be defined.

That means: you have to provide the ÉL, ELLA or USTED just the first time through.

Once it has been clarified WHO is doing the action, then you don't need the pronoun any more.

You don't need to say ELLA every time you use this verb form.

If you do, it usually adds emphasis, saying SHE doooes ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: -AR verb conjugation

Usted form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -a to it.


Infinitive	Usted form	English equivalents			Deutsch
bailar	baila	You dance	You do dance	You are dancing	Sie tanzen
cantar	canta	You sing, chant	You do sing, chant	You are singing, chanting	Sie singen
contestar	contesta	You respond, answer	You do respond, answer	You are responding, answering	Sie antworten
escuchar	escucha	You listen, heed	You do listen, heed	You are listening, heeding	Sie hören
estudiar	estudia	You study	You do study	You are studying	Sie studieren
hablar	habla	You speak	You do speak	You are speaking	Sie sprechen
practicar	practica	You practice	You do practice	You are practicing	Sie üben
preguntar	pregunta	You ask (questions)	You do ask (questions)	You are asking (questions)	Sie fragen
trabajar	trabaja	You work, labor	You do work, labor	You are working, laboring	Sie arbeiten

What do they have in common now ?

The stem (verb minus AR) tells you the action.

The a ending can tell you that a formal You is doing it, and NOW.

Since these forms are used for 3 different pronouns, the subject MUST be defined.

That means: you have to provide the ÉL, ELLA or USTED just the first time through.

Once it has been clarified WHO is doing the action, then you don't need the pronoun any more.

You don't need to say USTED every time you use this verb form.

If you do, it usually adds emphasis, saying YOU dooo ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: -AR verb conjugation

Nosotros & Nosotras form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -amos to it.


Infinitive	Nosotros form	English equivalents			Deutsch
bailar	bailamos	we dance	we do dance	we are dancing	wir tanzen
cantar	cantamos	we sing, chant	we do sing, chant	we are singing, chanting	wir singen
contestar	contestamos	we respond, answer	we do respond, answer	we are responding, answering	wir antworten
escuchar	escuchamos	we listen, heed	we do listen, heed	we are listening, heeding	wir hören
estudiar	estudiamos	we study	we do study	we are studying	wir studieren
hablar	hablamos	we speak	we do speak	we are speaking	wir sprechen
practicar	practicamos	we practice	we do practice	we are practicing	wir üben
preguntar	preguntamos	we ask (questions)	we do ask (questions)	we are asking (questions)	wir fragen
trabajar	trabajamos	we work, labor	we do work, labor	we are working, laboring	wir arbeiten

What do they have in common now ?

The stem (verb minus AR) tells you the action.

The amos ending can tell you that a We is doing it, and it's being done NOW.

Since this ending has 2 specific pronouns, you do need to clarify if it´s NOSOTROS or NOSOTRAS at first.

After that the continued use of amos still applies to the same group of WE.

The NOSOTROS / NOSOTRAS are understood, once you´ve defined who you´re talking about.

You don't need to keep saying NOSOTROS / NOSOTRAS.

It would mean WE dooo ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: -AR verb conjugation

Vosotros & Vosotras form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -áis to it.


Infinitive	Vosotros form	English equivalents			Deutsch
bailar	bailáis	y'all dance	y'all do dance	y'all are dancing	ihr tanzt
cantar	cantáis	y'all sing, chant	y'all do sing, chant	y'all are singing, chanting	ihr singt
contestar	contestáis	y'all respond, answer	y'all do respond, answer	y'all are responding, answering	ihr antwortet
escuchar	escucháis	y'all listen, heed	y'all do listen, heed	y'all are listening, heeding	ihr hört
estudiar	estudiáis	y'all study	y'all do study	y'all are studying	ihr studiert
hablar	habláis	y'all speak	y'all do speak	y'all are speaking	ihr sprecht
practicar	practicáis	y'all practice	y'all do practice	y'all are practicing	ihr übt
preguntar	preguntáis	y'all ask (questions)	y'all do ask (questions)	y'all are asking (questions)	ihr fragt
trabajar	trabajáis	y'all work, labor	y'all do work, labor	y'all are working, laboring	ihr arbeitet

What do they have in common now ?

The stem (verb minus AR) tells you the action.

The áis ending can tell you that y'all is doing it, and it's being done NOW.

Since this ending has 2 specific pronouns, you do need to clarify if it´s VOSOTROS or VOSOTRAS at first.

After that the continued use of áis still applies to the same group of Y'ALL.

The VOSOTROS / VOSOTRAS are understood, once you´ve defined who you´re talking about.

You don't need to keep saying VOSOTROS / VOSOTRAS.

It would mean Y'ALL dooo ...

Uh, --- I know that some people out there (especially linguists, grammarians, grammaticians, etc.) don´t like the word "y'all."

Yes, yes, --- it's good that you "know better." But you might "get over yourself" for practicality's sake sometimes.

As a matter of fact, you might want to avoid this page. You would probably never use the "vosotros" form anyway.

If it's a good teaching tool, there's no sense in going to war or getting your blood pressure up over it.

Go have some fun, call a few people "y'all," and get over it !!!

... and that pucker doesn't look pretty on you either !!!

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: -AR verb conjugation

Ellos form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -an to it.


Infinitive	Ellos form	English equivalents			Deutsch
bailar	bailan	they dance	they do dance	they're dancing	sie tanzen
cantar	cantan	they sing, chant	they do sing, chant	they're singing, chanting	sie singen
contestar	contestan	they respond, answer	they do respond, answer	they're responding, answering	sie antworten
escuchar	escuchan	they listen, heed	they do listen, heed	they're listening, heeding	sie hören
estudiar	estudian	they study	they do study	they're studying	sie studieren
hablar	hablan	they speak	they do speak	they're speaking	sie sprechen
practicar	practican	they practice	they do practice	they're practicing	sie üben
preguntar	preguntan	they ask (questions)	they do ask (questions)	they're asking (questions)	sie fragen
trabajar	trabajan	they work, labor	they do work, labor	they're working, laboring	sie arbeiten

What do they have in common now ?

The stem (verb minus AR) tells you the action.

The an ending can tell you that a they is doing it, and it's being done NOW.

Since these forms are used for 3 different pronouns, you have to identify the subject.

That means: you have to provide the ELLOS, ELLAS, or USTEDES just the first time through.

Once it has been clarified WHO is doing the action, then you don't need the pronoun any more.

You don't need to say ellos in every sentence.

If you do, it usually adds emphasis, saying THEY dooo ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: -AR verb conjugation

Ellas form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -an to it.


Infinitive	Ellas form	English equivalents			Deutsch
bailar	bailan	they dance	they do dance	they're dancing	sie tanzen
cantar	cantan	they sing, chant	they do sing, chant	they're singing, chanting	sie singen
contestar	contestan	they respond, answer	they do respond, answer	they're responding, answering	sie antworten
escuchar	escuchan	they listen, heed	they do listen, heed	they're listening, heeding	sie hören
estudiar	estudian	they study	they do study	they're studying	sie studieren
hablar	hablan	they speak	they do speak	they're speaking	sie sprechen
practicar	practican	they practice	they do practice	they're practicing	sie üben
preguntar	preguntan	they ask (questions)	they do ask (questions)	they're asking (questions)	sie fragen
trabajar	trabajan	they work, labor	they do work, labor	they're working, laboring	sie arbeiten

What do they have in common now ?

The stem (verb minus AR) tells you the action.

The an ending can tell you that a they is doing it, and it's being done NOW.

Since these forms are used for 3 different pronouns, you have to identify the subject.

That means: you have to provide the ELLOS, ELLAS, or USTEDES just the first time through.

Once it has been clarified WHO is doing the action, then you don't need the pronoun any more.

You don't need to say ellas in every sentence.

If you do, it usually adds emphasis, saying THEY dooo ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: -AR verb conjugation

Ustedes form

To make this form, drop the -ar from the end of the infinitive and add -an to it.


Infinitive	Ustedes form	English equivalents			Deutsch
bailar	bailan	y'all dance	y'all do dance	y'all are dancing	Sie tanzen
cantar	cantan	y'all sing, chant	y'all do sing, chant	y'all are singing, chanting	Sie singen
contestar	contestan	y'all respond, answer	y'all do respond, answer	y'all are responding, answering	Sie antworten
escuchar	escuchan	y'all listen, heed	y'all do listen, heed	y'all are listening, heeding	Sie hören
estudiar	estudian	y'all study	y'all do study	y'all are studying	Sie studieren
hablar	hablan	y'all speak	y'all do speak	y'all are speaking	Sie sprechen
practicar	practican	y'all practice	y'all do practice	y'all are practicing	Sie üben
preguntar	preguntan	y'all ask (questions)	y'all do ask (questions)	y'all are asking (questions)	Sie fragen
trabajar	trabajan	y'all work, labor	y'all do work, labor	y'all are working, laboring	Sie arbeiten

What do they have in common now ?

The stem (verb minus AR) tells you the action.

The an ending can tell you that y'all is doing it, and it's being done NOW.

Since these forms are used for 3 different pronouns, you have to identify the subject.

That means: you have to provide the ELLOS, ELLAS, or USTEDES just the first time through.

Once it has been clarified WHO is doing the action, then you don't need the pronoun any more.

You don't need to say ustedes in every sentence.

If you do, it usually adds emphasis, saying Y'ALL dooo ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES