-o/-as/-a/-amos/-áis/-an

Present Tense -AR Verbs

Level 1

Regular -AR verbs follow a common conjugation pattern. To use them in the present indicative, you remove the -ar ending from the infinitive (the dictionary form of the verb) and add a new ending that matches the subject’s grammatical person and number.

How It Works

In Spanish, verbs must be changed, or 'conjugated', to match the subject. This lesson covers regular -ar verbs; not every verb ending in -ar is regular. Here are the standard endings you'll add to the verb's stem.

Let's conjugate the verb hablar (to speak):

  • yo (I) → -o → hablo (I speak)
  • tú (you, informal) → -as → hablas (you speak)
  • él/ella/usted (he/she/you, formal) → -a → habla (he/she/you speak)
  • nosotros/nosotras (we) → -amos → hablamos (we speak)
  • vosotros/vosotras (you all, informal, Spain) → -áis → habláis (you all speak)
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes (they/you all, formal/LatAm) → -an → hablan (they/you all speak)

Remember that subject pronouns like 'yo' or 'tú' are often omitted in Spanish because the verb ending already tells you who is performing the action. For example, 'Hablo español' clearly means 'I speak Spanish'.

Usage And Regional Forms
The present indicative can describe a habit as well as something happening now. In much of Latin America, vos hablás is the familiar singular form; this is a different regional pattern from tú hablas. Ustedes hablan addresses a group, both formally and informally in Latin America. Endings show grammatical person and number, but context may still be needed: habla can refer to él, ella or usted. Other moods and tenses have different endings.

Examples (6)

  1. Yo hablo español.

    I speak Spanish.

    Word by Word: I speak Spanish.

  2. ¿Tú trabajas mucho?

    Do you work a lot?

    Word by Word: You work much?

  3. Ella canta muy bien.

    She sings very well.

    Word by Word: She sings very well.

  4. Nosotros estudiamos para el examen.

    We study for the exam.

    Word by Word: We study for the exam.

  5. Ellos necesitan ayuda.

    They need help.

    Word by Word: They need help.

  6. ¿Ustedes compran el pan aquí?

    Do you all buy bread here?

    Word by Word: You all buy the bread here?

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to remove the -ar ending before adding the new ending.

    Yo hablaro con mi amigo.
    Yo hablo con mi amigo.

    You must remove the original -ar from the infinitive (hablar) to get the stem (habl-), and then add the correct ending (-o for 'yo').

  • Using the wrong ending for the subject, especially mixing up 'tú' and 'él/ella/usted'.

    Tú necesita un lápiz.
    Tú necesitas un lápiz.

    The ending for 'tú' (you, informal) is -as. The ending -a is for 'él', 'ella', or 'usted'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-o/-as/-a/-amos/-áis/-anLevel 1Present Tense -AR Verbs

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

And 4 more in the full list.

Words in This Pattern

-ar-o-as-a-amos-áis