Present Tense: -are Verbs
Italian verbs ending in -are follow a predictable pattern: remove the ending and add -o, -i, -a, -iamo, -ate, -ano.
How It Works
To conjugate a regular -are verb, start with the infinitive (e.g., parlare), drop the -are to find the stem (parl-), and add the following endings:
- Io (I): -o
- Tu (You): -i
- Lui/Lei/Lei (formal) (He/She/It/You formal): -a
- Noi (We): -iamo
- Voi (You all): -ate
- Loro (They): -ano
Spelling Nuances:
1. -care / -gare: Verbs like cercare (to look for) or pagare (to pay) add an 'h' before endings starting with 'i' to keep the hard sound (e.g., tu cerchi, noi paghiamo).
2. -ciare / -giare: Verbs like mangiare (to eat) drop the stem's 'i' before endings starting with 'i' (e.g., tu mangi, noi mangiamo).
3. -iare: If the 'i' is unstressed (studio), drop it for the tu form (tu studi). If stressed (scio), keep it (tu scii). For all -iare verbs, the noi form uses only one 'i' (e.g., studiamo, sciamo).
Usage:
Beyond the present moment, Italians use this tense for habits (Studio ogni giorno) and near future events (Domani iniziamo).
Examples (5)
- Io parlo un po' di italiano.
I speak a bit of Italian.
Word by Word: I speak a bit of Italian.
A standard use of the first person singular (-o) for a regular verb.
- Il treno arriva alle otto di sera.
The train arrives at eight in the evening.
Word by Word: The train arrives at the eight of evening.
This demonstrates the present tense being used for a scheduled future event.
- Perché non giochi con noi?
Why don't you play with us?
Word by Word: Why not you-play with us?
Note the 'h' added to 'giocare' to keep the hard 'c' sound in the 'tu' form: giochi.
- Loro mangiano la pizza ogni sabato.
They eat pizza every Saturday.
Word by Word: They eat the pizza every Saturday.
Shows the third person plural (-ano) and a habitual action.
- Noi studiamo in biblioteca.
We are studying in the library.
Word by Word: We study in library.
In Italian, the simple present also covers the English 'am/are doing' continuous form.
Common Mistakes
Overusing subject pronouns like 'Io' or 'Tu'.
Io parlo italiano e io studio molto.Parlo italiano e studio molto.In Italian, the verb ending already tells you who the subject is. Using subject pronouns constantly sounds unnatural unless you are emphasizing the person.
Misplacing the stress on the 3rd person plural (loro).
Loro parlÀNO.Loro PÀRLano.For regular -are verbs, the stress falls on the third-to-last syllable in the 'loro' form, not the ending.
Using 'do' support for questions.
Fai tu parli italiano?Parli italiano?Italian does not use an auxiliary verb like 'do' to form questions. You simply change your intonation or use standard question structures.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To conjugate regular -are verbs in the present tense, you must first understand Italian subject pronouns to know which person each verb ending refers to.
Related Patterns
- Present Tense: -ere Verbs
The second conjugation group, which follows a similar but distinct set of endings.
Level 1 - Present Tense: -ire Verbs
The third conjugation group, completing the basic present tense system.
Level 1 - andare / fare / dare / stareIrregular Presente: Andare, Fare, Dare, Stare
These are the four essential irregular verbs that end in -are but do not follow the regular pattern.
Level 1 - Yes/No Questions
Explains how to turn these conjugated verbs into questions.
Level 1 - nonBasic Negation with 'Non'
Shows how to make these present tense verbs negative.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Sources
Practice Present Tense: -are Verbs in Bubblegum
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