Learn How to Conjugate Regular -AR Verbs in Spanish

To master Spanish, first we have to master the most basic topics.

Many learners want to dive straight into advanced Spanish, skipping the basics. But the truth is, you need a strong foundation in basic grammar to speak naturally and confidently. One of the most essential building blocks is learning how to conjugate regular -AR verbs in the present tense. Today, we’ll cover exactly that.

What Are Regular -AR Verbs?

In Spanish, verbs in their base form are called infinitives. Infinitives end in -AR, -ER, or -IR, like hablar (to speak), comer (to eat), or dormir (to sleep). Today, we’ll focus only on regular -AR verbs.

Why start with regular verbs? Because they follow a consistent pattern, unlike irregular verbs that change unpredictably. Once you learn the pattern for -AR verbs, you can conjugate hundreds of verbs effortlessly.

Some common regular -AR verbs include:

• hablar – to speak 
• estudiar – to study 
• trabajar – to work 
• cocinar – to cook 
• escuchar – to listen 
• grabar – to record 

Step 1: Find the Stem

Conjugation starts by removing the infinitive ending -AR. This leaves you with the stem of the verb.

• hablar → habl 
• trabajar → trabaj 
• estudiar → estudi 

This stem will remain the same for all conjugations in the present tense.

Step 2: Learn the Pronouns

Pronouns in Spanish tell us who is performing the action. They are important because each pronoun uses a specific ending. Here’s a quick refresher:

• yo – I 
• tú – you (informal) 
• él / ella / usted – he / she / you (formal) 
• nosotros / nosotras – we 
• ellos / ellas / ustedes – they / you all 

Step 3: Add the Present Tense Endings

Now we attach the correct endings to the stem, depending on the pronoun:

Notice the pattern is consistent. Once you remember it, you can conjugate any regular -AR verb in the present tense.

Step 4: Examples

Here are some examples using different verbs:

• hablar – to speak 
  • yo hablo – I speak 
  • tú hablas – you speak 
  • ella habla – she speaks 
  • nosotros hablamos – we speak 
  • ellos hablan – they speak 
• estudiar – to study 
  • yo estudio – I study 
  • tú estudias – you study 
  • ella estudia – she studies 
  • nosotras estudiamos – we study 
  • ellos estudian – they study 
• trabajar – to work 
  • yo trabajo – I work 
  • tú trabajas – you work 
  • usted trabaja – you (formal) work 
  • nosotros trabajamos – we work 
  • ellas trabajan – they work 

As you can see, the stem never changes; only the endings change depending on the pronoun.

Step 5: Make Complete Sentences

Learning conjugation is more useful when applied in real sentences. Here are some examples:

• yo hablo español – I speak Spanish 
• tú trabajas en una oficina – you work in an office 
• ella cocina muy bien – she cooks very well 
• nosotros bailamos los fines de semana – we dance on weekends 
• ellos escuchan música latina – they listen to Latin music 

In Spanish, it is common to omit the pronoun because the verb ending shows who is performing the action. For now, we include the pronouns until you feel confident.

Step 6: Practice With a Quick Exercise

Let’s do a mini exercise together. I’ll give the verb and you can try conjugating it before reading the answer.

1. Verb: hablar, pronoun: tú → tú hablas 
2. Verb: estudiar, pronoun: yo → yo estudio 
3. Verb: trabajar, pronoun: ella → ella trabaja 
4. Verb: cocinar, pronoun: nosotros → nosotros cocinamos 
5. Verb: escuchar, pronoun: ellos → ellos escuchan 

Try saying these sentences aloud to practice. Speaking regularly helps you remember patterns faster.

Tips to Master -AR Verbs

1. Focus on the pattern: The endings are always the same for regular -AR verbs. 
2. Group pronouns: Notice that some pronouns share the same ending. This reduces what you need to memorize. 
3. Practice in context: Make full sentences instead of only conjugating verbs. 
4. Repeat often: Daily practice is the key to fluency. 

Remember, mastering regular -AR verbs is one of the most basic but important steps in learning Spanish. Once you are confident, you can move on to -ER and -IR verbs, and eventually tackle irregular verbs.

By internalizing these conjugations, you’ll speak more naturally, make fewer mistakes, and feel much more confident using Spanish in real conversations.

That’s all for today. Keep practicing, and I’ll see you next time. ¡Chao!