Spanish Verb Conjugation: Tenses and Regular vs Irregular Verbs

Learning to use verbs correctly is perhaps the most important part of studying and, ultimately, mastering Spanish. Whether you take Spanish courses in Madrid or learn Spanish online, it can be one of the trickier elements to grasp. However, with the guidance of your Spanish teacher, you will eventually master any Spanish verb conjugation chart.

In this introductory guide to conjugating Spanish verbs and using a Spanish verb conjugation chart, we’ll cover the basics of Spanish sentence structure, the differences between regular and irregular verbs, and much more.

Conjugate Spanish Verbs: Where to place the subject and verb in a sentence

Let’s begin by discussing Spanish sentence structure and the placement of verbs. Spanish allows for a slightly more flexible word order than English, but the usual structure is: subject, verb, and then object. In other words, the subject (the person or thing performing the action) comes before the verb (the action itself) and before the object (the receiver of the action). If you’ve taken English certification exams, this structure may be familiar, as it often appears there too.

Let’s start with a simple example: 

• Tú comes una naranja  = You eat an orange

In this example, the subject (tú / you) is followed by the verb (comes / eat) and then the object (naranja / orange).

This is a basic example, but it is possible, and even common, for this to change when it comes to Spanish verb conjugation. Here are a few examples where the structure might be different: 

• Comes una naranja  = You eat an orange
• ¿Comes tú una naranja? = Are you eating an orange?
• Una naranja comes tú = An orange you eat

The sentence structure changes in each example for different reasons:

• In the first example, the subject is dropped because Spanish verb conjugation often makes it clear who the subject is. Here, we know the subject is “tú” due to the verb form “comes.”
• In the question, the order shifts to verb-subject-object, a common structure for questions in Spanish.
• The final example, with object-verb-subject, is less common but is sometimes used in Spanish for emphasis.

Spanish Verb Conjugation Examples: Master these basic Spanish verb conjugation charts

Now that we understand the word order in Spanish sentences, let’s explore how to use Spanish verb conjugation charts to determine the correct verb endings across different Spanish tenses.

Spanish verbs are grouped into three main categories based on their infinitive endings: -ar, -er, and -ir. Each group generally follows a pattern for tense endings. Below, we’ll examine an example of each verb type, focusing on just two tenses per verb for simplicity: the present and the past.

Present tense Spanish verb conjugations for -ar verbs (Eg, hablar = to speak):

Past tense Spanish verb conjugations for -ar verbs (Eg, hablar = to speak):

Present tense Spanish verb conjugations for -er verbs (Eg, comer = to eat):

Past tense Spanish verb conjugations for -er verbs (Eg, comer = to eat):

Present tense Spanish verb conjugations for -ir verbs (Eg, vivir = to live):

Past tense Spanish verb conjugations for -ir verbs (Eg, vivir = to live):

These Spanish verb conjugation charts may seem confusing at first, but as you practise and get more familiar with verbs and their uses, these Spanish tense charts will become invaluable tools in your language learning journey.

Spanish Verbs: The difference between regular and irregular verbs in Spanish

Not all Spanish verbs follow the regular, straightforward conjugation patterns we covered above. For example, “hablar,” “comer,” and “vivir” are regular verbs in both the present and past tense, which is why they fit those patterns. However, some Spanish verbs are irregular, meaning they might be irregular in just one tense or across several.

Irregular verbs don’t follow the standard conjugation endings in Spanish. So, how do they differ? Their roots or endings often change in certain tenses, making it necessary to study and memorise each one individually. Fortunately, a good Spanish teacher can help you master both regular and irregular verbs in no time!