Verbs in the Present Tense (Los verbos en el tiempo presente) First conjugation: -ar

The fundamental parts of the Spanish verb The infinitive: The basic, unconjugated form, the one that corresponds to the English “to do” (something). For example, to speak, to work, to sing, etc. The Spanish infinitive always ends in r

hablar comer escribir cantar aprender leer salir conocer costar correr finalizar freír The fundamental parts of the Spanish verb

The ending: The last two letters of the infinitive. The ending always consists of two letters. The fundamental parts of the Spanish verb

hablar comer escribir cantar aprender leer hablar comer escribir cantar aprender leer The ending always consists of two letters salir conocer costar correr finalizar freír salir conocer costar correr finalizar freír There are three types or categories of verbs in Spanish: those that end in ar,those that end in er,and those that end in ir The fundamental parts of the Spanish verb

The stem or root: Whatever is left after removing the ending from the infinitive. The stem can consist of a variable number of letters, depending on the length of the verb in question. The fundamental parts of the Spanish verb

The infinitive – the ending = the stem salir conocer costar correr finalizar freír hablar comer escribir cantar aprender leer The fundamental parts of the Spanish verb

The infinitive: The basic, unconjugated form of the verb. estudiar The fundamental parts of the verb The ending: The last two letters of the infinitive. The stem: What is left after taking the ending from the infinitive. ar estudi

When we conjugate any verb we always begin with its stem. To conjugate: To put a verb in its correct person and number so that we know who is doing the action. Verb Conjugation

The following verbs are regular -ar verbs and are conjugated according to the pattern in the following slides. hablar to speak ayudarto help bailar to dance buscar to look for caminar to walk comprar to buy Verbs of the 1 st conjugation (-ar) conversar to converse enseñar to teach escuchar to listen estudiarto study llegarto arrive mirar to look at nadarto swim necesitarto need preparar to prepare regresarto return tomar to take trabajarto work viajarto travel reservar to reserve

a hablar ahbloa ah asa ahblaa hablmosa áhablisá ahblana Verbs of the 1 st conjugation (-ar) All persons and numbers are based on the stem. Notice which vowel gets the emphasis! yo tú Ud. él ella nosotros/as vosotros/as ellos ellas Uds.

trabajar aatrabjoa a jasa atrabjaa trabajmosa átrabajisá atrabjana Verbs of the 1 st conjugation (-ar) Its stem? The emphasis?

a estudiar uestdiou uestdiasu uestdiau estudimosa áestudiisá uestdianu Verbs of the 1 st conjugation (-ar) Its stem? The emphasis?

Verb usage The Spanish present indicative tense has several equivalents in English. As in English, it can express present habitual actions: Estudiamos español en la universidad. We study Spanish at the university. But, unlike English, it can also express ongoing actions: En este momento estudiamos en la biblioteca. Right now we’re studying in the library. It can even express future actions: Esta noche estudiamos para el examen. Tonight we will study for the exam.

estudioestudiamos estudiasestudiáis estudiaestudian La biblioteca es un buen lugar para estudiar. Verb forms that refer to people that are within the conversation flip to their “opposite” form. ¿Qué estudias? Estudio matemáticas. ¿Qué estudias tú?

estudioestudiamos estudiasestudiáis estudiaestudian La biblioteca es un buen lugar para estudiar. Verb forms that refer to people that are outside the conversation do not change. ¿Qué estudia Juan? Estudia filosofía.

Some verbs work in pairs Here are some common verbs that are followed by an infinitive: Gustarlike Quererwant Irgo Poderbe able Tener que have to Debermust Necesitarneed

Here is how they work in the ‘yo’ form Gustarlikeme gusta (lit. ‘it pleases me’) Quererwantquiero Ir (a)go (to)voy (a) Poderbe ablepuedo Tener que have totengo que Debermustdebo Necesitarneednecesito Esperarhopeespero Notice that some verbs are IRREGULAR

Now put them together with any infinitive! Translate the following sentences: 1.I want to reserves 2 double rooms. 2.I have to go to the bakers. 3.I need to study Spanish. 4.I am going to travel to Spain in July. 5.I can speak Spanish in Valencia. 6.I must work on Monday (el lunes) 7.I hope to go to university. 8.I like to east Spanish food. 9.Make up some more sentences of your own. Use other persons – e.g. we want, he has to etc.