present conj notes

Subject Pronouns

You need to determine the subject of your sentence (who or what is doing the action) to conjugate a verb. Often times, a sentence will contain one of the subject pronouns below and it can be used to determine the correct verb conjugation.

Regular Verbs - Drop –ar, -er, or –ir, use appropriate endings.

Boot/Stem-Changing Verbs - these verbs use the regular endings, but have letter changes in some forms

Have a letter change:

The vowel closest to the ending (AR, ER, IR) is the letter that will change with the exception being i → y verbs.*

From e → ie or e → i? 

Verbs that end in –AR or –ER always change from e → ie

Verbs that end in –IR usually stem-change from e → i (Some exceptions are preferir, mentir,  sentir, divertir.)

DO NOT change in the nosotros or vosotros form – DRAW THE BOOT. 

Yo-Go Verbs – these verbs are completely regular, other than in the yo form

Poner: pongo Hacer: hago Traer: traigo Distinguir: distingo

Salir: salgo Caer: caigo

Valer: valgo

Combo Verbs – these verbs are a combo of boot and yo-go verbs

Decir, seguir: yo-go ending, letter change in entire boot

Oír, tener, venir: yo-go ending, letter change in baby boot

Yo-Exception Verbs –these verbs are completely regular, other than in the yo form

Ver: veo Saber: sé Dar: doy Caber: quepo

Conocer: conozco – “zco” is a common ending for verbs ending in –cer or –cir

Escoger: escojo – “jo” is a common ending for verbs ending in –ger or -gir

Straight-Up Irregular Verbs – these verbs have no reliable pattern, memorize them!