Unit 1 - Present Tense - Regular Forms
Lesson 1.2 - Present Tense: Regular -er Verbs
Exercises 1.2 Quiz 1.2
Topic:

How to conjugate regular -er verbs in the Present Tense.

Normal -er Conjugation

The next group of present tense regular verbs are those that end in -er.

As an example, we will use the verb comer Play Audio which means to eat. Drop the -er ending, and the root is "com".

As we did with the -ar verbs, we add a different ending to the root for each of the desired subject pronouns. You will notice that the endings use a familiar pattern.

Conjugation of comer

Subject
Ending
Verb Form
Subject
Ending
Verb Form
Yo
-o
Play Audio
como
Nosotros
-emos
Play Audio
comemos
-es
Play Audio
comes
Vosotros
-éis
Play Audio
coméis
Él/Ella
-e
Play Audio
come
Ellos
-en
Play Audio
comen

So the sentence Como pan Play Audio means I eat bread.

Comes pan Play Audio means You eat bread.

Conjugation Details

Note that the 1st person singular Yo conjugation is identical to the one for -ar verbs. You add -o to the root.

Each of the other endings is also similar to the -ar version, except that each begins with the letter "e" instead of "a".

Another Example

Let's look at another regular present tense -er conjugation.

The verb is comprender Play Audio which means to understand.

Conjugation of comprender

Subject
Ending
Verb Form
Subject
Ending
Verb Form
Yo
-o
Play Audio
comprendo
Nosotros
-emos
Play Audio
comprendemos
-es
Play Audio
comprendes
Vosotros
-éis
Play Audio
comprendéis
Él/Ella
-e
Play Audio
comprende
Ellos
-en
Play Audio
comprenden

For example, Ellos comprenden Play Audio means They understand.

Practice in the exercises, and head to the quiz when you're ready.


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Additional Study Resources

Videos:
Short video explains regular present tense -er verbs in Spanish. (5:00)
Dr Evans again, covering both -er and -ir verbs with full explanations of regular conjugation. (13:17)
Covers all three verb types: -ar, -er, -ir. (9:17)
Websites:
See the section titled "Verbs that End in -er".
Explanation of -er verb conjugation with short quiz.
Short explanation of -er verbs, with a quiz.
Books:
Chapter 1 "Conjugation of Regular Verbs", the section "Regular -er Verbs". (4th edition, page 9)
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