Present tense of -ar verbs

  • Verbs express actions or states of being in Spanish

  • The base verb of every verb is an infinitive

    • In English, the word “to” comes before the infinitive (Examples: to study, to be)

  • In Spanish, infinitives are ONE word and are divided by THREE groups by their endings:

    • -ar - estudiar (to study) // note: will be focused on for this chapter

    • -er - comer (to eat)

    • -ir - escribir (to write)

Singular Verb Forms

  • yo estudio = I study

  • tú estudias = you (fam.) study

  • usted / él / ella estudia = you (form.) study; he/she studies

Plural Verb Forms

  • nosotros/as estudiamos = we study

  • vosotros/as estudiáis = you (fam.) study

  • ustedes / ellos / ellas estudian = you (form.) study; they study

Examples

  • Juan Carlos estudia ciencias ambientales.

    • Juan Carlos is studying environmental science.

  • Y tú ¿qué estudias, Miguel?

    • And you, what are you studying, Miguel?

  • When replacing the ending of an infinitive with one that matches the noun, it becomes the conjugated form

Vocabulario

  • bailar = to dance

  • buscar* = to look for

  • caminar = to walk

  • cantar = to sing

  • cenar = to have dinner

  • comprar = to buy

  • contestar = to answer

  • conversar = to converse, to chat

  • desayunar = to have breakfast

  • descansar = to rest

  • desear (+ inf.) = to desire; to wish

  • dibujar = to draw

  • enseñar = to teach

  • escuchar* = to listen (to)

  • esperar* (+ inf.) = to wait (for); to hope

  • estudiar = to study

  • explicar = to explain

  • hablar = to talk; to speak

  • llegar = to arrive

  • llevar = to carry

  • mirar* = to look (at); to watch

  • necesitar (+ inf.)= to need

  • practicar = to practice

  • preguntar = to ask (a question)

  • preparar = to prepare

  • regresar = to return

  • terminar = to end; to finish

  • tomar = to take; to drink

  • trabajar = to work

  • viajar = to travel

Note: For the highlighted verb, unless they’re referring to a person, they are not followed by a preposition, as their English equivalent can be

More Examples

  • Busco la tarea.

    • I’m looking for the homework.

  • Escucho la música.

    • I’m listening to music.

  • Espero el autobús.

    • I’m waiting for the bus.

  • Miro la pizarra.

    • I’m looking at the blackboard

Using the Present Tense

  • In Spanish, the present tense can be used to express the English (1) simple present, (2) present progressive, or (3) emphatic present

    • Paco trabaja en la cafetería

      • 1. Paco works in the cafeteria

      • 2. Paco is working in the cafeteria

      • 3. Paco does work in the cafeteria

  • In Spanish and English, the present tense is also sometimes used to talk about the future

    • Marina viaja a Madrid mañana.

      • 1. Marina travels to Madrid tomorrow.

      • 2. Marina will travel to Madrid tomorrow.

      • 3. Marina is traveling to Madrid tomorrow.

  • When two verbs are used TOGETHER with no change of subject, the second verb is usually in the infinitive

    • Example: Deseo hablar con el señor Díaz.

      • I want to speak with Mr. Díaz

  • To make a sentence negative, add “NO” to the conjugated verb

    • Alicia no desea bailar ahora.

      • Alicia doesn’t want to dance now.

  • Spanish speakers often leave out subject pronouns because the verb ending indicates who the subject is

    • Subject pronouns are used for emphasis, clarification, or contrast

    • Ejemplo (example): ¿Qué enseñan? → Ella enseña arte y él enseña física.

      • What do they teach? → She teaches art, and he teaches physics

    • Ejemplo (example): ¿Quién desea trabajar hoy? → Yo no deseo trabajar hoy.

      • Who wants to work today? → I don’t want to work today.

Gustar

  • A verb that allows you to talk about your likes and dislikes

  • It doesn’t behave like other -ar verbs

  • me gusta + el/la + singular noun

  • me gustan + los/las + plural noun

“Gustar Examples”

  • Me gusta la música clásica.

    • I like classical music.

  • Me gustan las clases de español y biología.

    • I like Spanish and biology classes.

Note: Add “no” before “me” to make the sentence negative

  • No me gusta la música rap.

    • I don’t like rap music.

  • No me gustan las clases de ciencias.

    • I don’t like science classes.

Note: For emphasis, add the pronoun “a mi;” NEVER use the subject pronoun “yo” with gustar

  • A mí me gustan las artes.

    • I like the arts.

  • A mí no me gusta el programa.

    • I don’t like the program.

To talk about what you like/don’t like to do, use “(no) me gusta + infinitive(s)”

  • No me gusta viajar en autobús.

    • I don’t like to travel by bus

  • Me gusta cantar y bailar.

    • I like to sing and dance

To ask a FRIEND about like/dislikes, use “te” instead of “me;” NEVER use the subject pronoun “tú”

  • ¿Te gusta la geografía?

    • Do you like geography?

  • Sí, me gusta. Y a ti, ¿te gusta el inglés?

    • Yes, I like it. And you, do you like English?