Regular verb
Conjugate trabajar for nosotros.
trabajamos.
Spanish Present Tense
The present tense is the first Spanish conjugation you need. Learn the regular endings first, then the stem changes and the six irregular verbs that appear constantly.
Regular endings
| Pronoun | -ar (hablar) | -er (comer) | -ir (vivir) |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | hablo | como | vivo |
| tú | hablas | comes | vives |
| él / ella / usted | habla | come | vive |
| nosotros | hablamos | comemos | vivimos |
| vosotros | habláis | coméis | vivís |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | hablan | comen | viven |
Stem-changing verbs
| Change | Verb | yo form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| e → ie | pensar | pienso | to think |
| e → ie | querer | quiero | to want |
| o → ue | poder | puedo | to be able to |
| o → ue | dormir | duermo | to sleep |
| e → i | pedir | pido | to ask for |
| u → ue | jugar | juego | to play |
Stem changes and the boot
Stem changes happen in all forms except nosotros and vosotros. Picture a boot around the other four forms.
pensar → pienso, piensas, piensa, pensamos, pensáis, piensan
Common irregular verbs
| Pronoun | ser | estar | ir | tener | hacer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | soy | estoy | voy | tengo | hago |
| tú | eres | estás | vas | tienes | haces |
| él / ella / usted | es | está | va | tiene | hace |
| nosotros | somos | estamos | vamos | tenemos | hacemos |
| vosotros | sois | estáis | vais | tenéis | hacéis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | son | están | van | tienen | hacen |
Worked examples
Stem change
Conjugate poder for ella.
puede. The o changes to ue in the boot forms.
Ser vs estar
Choose the correct verb: “Ella ___ profesora” and “Ella ___ en Madrid”.
es profesora (identity/profession) and está en Madrid (location).
FAQ
What is the difference between ser and estar?
Ser is used for identity, origin, and permanent characteristics; estar is used for location, temporary states, and ongoing actions.
Why does vosotros have a different ending?
Vosotros is used mainly in Spain. Latin America generally uses ustedes, which takes the ellos/ellas ending.
Last updated November 1, 2026. Formulas are checked against standard references. Read the editorial policy.