Conjugation of Regular -er Verbs in the Present Tense

Introduction

Learning to conjugate regular -er verbs in the present tense is a fundamental step in mastering Spanish. Regular -er verbs follow a consistent pattern, making them relatively straightforward to learn. This article will guide you through the conjugation process, providing clear examples and explanations.

Understanding Regular -er Verbs

In Spanish, verbs are classified into three categories based on their infinitive endings: -ar, -er, and -ir. Regular verbs within each category follow specific conjugation patterns. For regular -er verbs, the infinitive form ends in -er, such as "comer" (to eat) or "beber" (to drink).

The Conjugation Pattern

To conjugate a regular -er verb in the present tense, simply drop the infinitive ending (-er) and add the appropriate endings to the stem.
The endings for regular -er verbs in the present tense are:

Let's apply these rules to conjugate the verb "aprender" (to learn).

Common Regular -er Verbs

Here are a few more regular -er ending verbs in Spanish:

barrer - to sweep
beber - to drink
comer - to eat
comprender - to understand
correr - to run
creer - to believe
depender - to depend
leer - to read
vender - to sell

Examples

Now that you know the pattern of a regular -er verb, you could form the present tense of any other regular -er verb:

Yo aprendo las palabras. - I am learning the words.
Tú vendes la moto. - You sell the bike.
La muchacha lee el libro. - The girl reads the book.
Nosotros no bebemos leche. - We don't drink milk.
Vosotros corréis rápido. - You guys run fast.
Los niños comen espinacas. - The kids eat spinach.

Note that because the verb endings show the person being referred to, it is most common to omit the subject pronouns. For example:
¿Por qué aprendes chino? - Why are you learning Chinese?

Conclusion

Conjugating regular -er ending verbs in the present tense is an essential skill for Spanish learners. By understanding and applying the consistent conjugation pattern, you can effectively communicate in various contexts. Regular practice and exposure will help solidify your grasp of these conjugations, paving the way for more advanced Spanish language proficiency.