Ser, Estar, AR, ER, IR

[laepelba]

You don't change the ending of the word. Start with the word in its infinitive form. For example, "work" is "trabajar". It's always going to be an "-ar" verb. Then you conjugate it based on that fact.

Take a look at what Rusty wrote about the verbs HABLAR, COMER, and VIVIR. Regular "-ar" verbs will conjugate like hablar does. Regular "-er" verbs will conjugate like comer. Regular "-ir" verbs will conjugate like vivir.

If you use Tomisimo's dictionary (see the menu bar at the top of this page), and type in any infinitive Spanish verb (like trabajar, hablar, comer, or vivir), you will see a link next to that word that says "conjugate". When you click through that link, it will show you the conjugation for that verb.

[ElDanés]

Yes, -ar, -er and -ir are three groups, each having their own conjugation table. The -a-, -e- and -i- are called the thematic vowels, as they are reflected somewhat in the different conjugation tables (notice that the conjugation tables of -er and -ir are much alike).

hablar

• hablo
• hablas
• habla
• hablamos
• habláis
• hablan

comer

• como
• comes
• come
• comemos
• coméis
• comen

vivir

• vivo
• vives
• vive
• vivimos
• vivís
• viven

[DaveG]

Ahhhh... I got it now. Depending on what the verb ends with in it original form. If ending in ar use whatever ending for I,You,We,them... Same for IR and ER. I guess I got confused learning this first since I just started and do not know many Spanish verbs/words, if any at all.

[laepelba]

RIGHT! In the lists for the conjugations, the order is:
- first person singular (I - "yo")
- second person singular (you - "tu")
- third person singular (him/her - "el/ella/usted")
- first person plural (we - "nosotros")
- second person plural (you - "vosotros")
- third person plural (they - "ellos/ellas/ustedes")

So you would say:
yo trabajo - I work
tu trabajas - you work
el/ella trabaja - he/she works
nosotros trabajamos - we work
vosotros trabajáis - ya'll work
ellos/ellas trabajan - they work

Does that answer your question?

[DaveG]

Yes it does!! Thanks!!!!! I guess I will be asking more stupid questions before to long

Now on to studying!!! or should I say

ahora tengo que estudio

[laepelba]

No such thing as a stupid question. I'm only about three months ahead of you in my own study. This is a GREAT place to ask ALL of the questions you want. Take a look through my previous posts - especially the early ones.

[tacuba]

Escrito originalmente por DaveG

Yes it does!! Thanks!!!!! I guess I will be asking more stupid questions before to long

Now on to studying!!! or should I say

ahora tengo que estudio

Ahora tengo que estudiar.

Good luck with your studies

[DaveG]

Another quick question. Can you use just the verb Ser or estar? If you say "I am" can you just say "soy" or do you have to say "Yo Soy" or "son" for "you are"? I know you can use just "soy" for I'm

thanks

[laepelba]

You've got it! "Soy una profesora." = "I am a teacher."

BUT ... be careful. "Son" is "they are". So you could say "Son de China." = "They are from China."

[Rusty]

The personal pronouns can always be omitted in 1st- and 2nd-person conjugations, singular or plural. To avoid ambiguity, the 3rd-person personal pronoun should be stated at least once.

1st person singular/plural: Soy chino. / Somos chinos.
2nd person singular/plural: Eres chino. / Sois chinos.
3rd person singular: Él es chino. Ella es china. Usted es chino. (Es chino can be said only when the person is already known.)
3rd person plural: Ellos son chinos. Ellas son chinas. Ustedes son chinos. (Son chinos can be said only when the person is already known.)