Present tense: -ER and -IR verbs
-ER and -IR verbs share almost every ending. Only “we” and “you all” are different.
PART01
Theory
Take off -er or -ir, then add the ending. Compare the two columns.
comer and vivir
| Who | comer | vivir |
|---|---|---|
| yo | como | vivo |
| tú | comes | vives |
| él / ella / usted | come | vive |
| nosotros/as | comemos | vivimos |
| vosotros/as | coméis | vivís |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | comen | viven |
Common verbs
| -ER | -IR |
|---|---|
| comer to eat | vivir to live |
| beber to drink | escribir to write |
| leer to read | abrir to open |
| aprender to learn | recibir to receive |
Only two forms differ
comemos / vivimos = we eat / we live
coméis / vivís = you all eat / you all live
Everything else is the same.
Compare with -AR
The -a- becomes -e-:
hablas → comes, vives = you speak → you eat, you live
vivir en + place
Vivo en Sevilla. = I live in Seville.
¿Dónde vives? = Where do you live?
Accents on vosotros
coméis, bebéis, vivís, escribís = you all eat, drink, live, write
leer: double e
leo, lees, lee, leemos, leéis, leen = I read, you read, he / she reads…
Present for plans
Mañana como con mis padres.
= Tomorrow I’m having lunch with my parents.