-o/-es/-e/-emos/-éis/-en

Present Tense -ER Verbs

Level 1

To conjugate a regular -er verb, drop the -er and add the correct ending for each subject: -o, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en.

How It Works

In Spanish, verbs are categorized into three groups based on their infinitive endings: -ar, -er, and -ir. This pattern covers the second group: regular -er verbs.

To conjugate them in the present tense, you follow two simple steps:
1. Remove the -er ending from the infinitive to get the verb's stem.
2. Add the ending that corresponds to the subject pronoun.

Let's see this with the verb comer (to eat). The stem is com-.

Present Tense Endings for -ER Verbs:

  • yo: -o  (yo como)
  • tú: -es  (tú comes)
  • él/ella/usted: -e  (él come)
  • nosotros/as: -emos  (nosotros comemos)
  • vosotros/as: -éis  (vosotros coméis)
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes: -en  (ellos comen)

Notice how the endings for -er verbs are very similar to -ar verbs, but most vowels change from 'a' to 'e'. The 'yo' form (-o) is the same for both.

The present tense is used to talk about:
1. Actions happening now: ¿Qué comes? (What are you eating?)
2. Habits and routines: Bebo café por la mañana. (I drink coffee in the morning.)
3. General truths: Los leones comen carne. (Lions eat meat.)

Examples (6)

  1. Yo como una manzana.

    I eat an apple.

    Word by Word: I eat an apple.

    The verb 'comer' ends in '-o' to match the subject 'yo'.

  2. Tú bebes mucha agua.

    You drink a lot of water.

    Word by Word: You drink much water.

    The verb 'beber' ends in '-es' for the informal 'you' (tú).

  3. Ella aprende español.

    She learns Spanish.

    Word by Word: She learns Spanish.

    The verb 'aprender' ends in '-e' for 'ella' (she).

  4. Nosotros vendemos fruta.

    We sell fruit.

    Word by Word: We sell fruit.

    The verb 'vender' ends in '-emos' to match 'nosotros' (we).

  5. Vosotros bebéis limonada.

    You all (informal) drink lemonade.

    Word by Word: You all drink lemonade.

    The verb 'beber' ends in '-éis' for 'vosotros' (you all, informal), a pronoun primarily used in Spain.

  6. Ustedes venden coches.

    You (all) sell cars.

    Word by Word: You (plural) sell cars.

    The verb 'vender' ends in '-en' for 'ustedes' (you all).

Common Mistakes

  • Using -ar verb endings for -er verbs, especially for the 'tú' form.

    Tú comas muy rápido.
    Tú comes muy rápido.

    The ending for 'tú' with -er verbs is '-es', not '-as'. The '-as' ending is for -ar verbs (e.g., 'tú hablas').

How It Connects

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

-o/-es/-e/-emos/-éis/-enLevel 1Present Tense -ER Verbs

Learn This First

To conjugate -er verbs in the present tense, you must first understand subject pronouns to know who is performing the action. Additionally, having already learned -ar verb conjugation provides the conceptual framework for how Spanish verb endings change based on the subject.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

And 5 more in the full list.

Words in This Pattern

-er-o-es-e-emos-éis