Formation of verbs: present
simple tense
1. Introduction
In Spanish all verbs belong to
one of the following three groups: -AR, -ER or -IR
(e.g. cantar, comer, vivir). The different
verb tenses are normally formed by adding different set of endings to the
stem of the verb.
2. Present
simple tense formation: -AR verbs
The present simple tense of verbs
belonging to the -AR group is formed in the following way:
Cantar
(to sing)
|
Stem
|
Ending
|
Present
|
| cant- |
-o |
cant-o |
| cant- |
-as |
cant-as |
| cant- |
-a |
cant-as |
| cant- |
-amos |
cant-amos |
| cant- |
-áis |
cant-áis |
| cant- |
-an |
cant-an |
Regular present simple tenses of
verbs belonging to this group such as estudiar (to
study), nadar (to swim),
etc. are formed as above.
3. Present
simple tense formation: -ER verbs
Endings for the regular present
simple tense of verbs belonging to the -ER group are as follows:
Comer
(to eat)
|
Stem
|
Endings
|
Present
|
| com- |
-o |
com-o |
| com- |
-es |
com-es |
| com- |
-e |
com-e |
| com- |
-emos |
com-emos |
| com- |
-éis |
com-éis |
| com- |
-en |
com-en |
Regular present simples tenses
of verbs belonging to this group such as beber (to
drink), vender (to sell),
etc. are formed as above.
4. Present
Simple Tense Formation: -IR verbs
The present simple tense of verbs
belonging to the -IR is formed in the following way:
Vivir (to
live)
|
Stem
|
Endings
|
Present
|
| viv- |
-o |
viv-o |
| viv- |
-es |
viv-es |
| viv- |
-e |
viv-e |
| viv- |
-imos |
viv-imos |
| viv- |
-ís |
viv-ís |
| viv- |
-en |
viv-en |
Regular present simple tenses of
verbs belonging to this group such as partir (to set
off), agredir (to attack),
etc. are formed as above.