Spanish Verb Conjugation Basics for Speaking
The Spanish verb conjugation you need to start speaking: present tense endings, the 10 most useful irregular verbs and shortcuts for conversation.
By Ayoub Farid · · 2 min read
Conjugation tables look scary, but to start speaking you only need the present tense, a few key irregular verbs and some shortcuts that let you talk about the past and future.
Regular present tense
| -ar: hablar | -er: comer | -ir: vivir | |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | hablo | como | vivo |
| tú | hablas | comes | vives |
| él/ella/usted | habla | come | vive |
| nosotros | hablamos | comemos | vivimos |
| ellos/ustedes | hablan | comen | viven |
The 10 most useful irregular verbs
| Verb | yo | tú | él/ella |
|---|---|---|---|
| ser (to be) | soy | eres | es |
| estar (to be) | estoy | estás | está |
| tener (to have) | tengo | tienes | tiene |
| ir (to go) | voy | vas | va |
| hacer (to do/make) | hago | haces | hace |
| poder (can) | puedo | puedes | puede |
| querer (to want) | quiero | quieres | quiere |
| decir (to say) | digo | dices | dice |
| saber (to know) | sé | sabes | sabe |
| venir (to come) | vengo | vienes | viene |
Shortcuts for speaking
Future with ir a
Voy a + infinitive = I'm going to…
- Voy a llamar a mi abuela. See the future with ir a.
Wants and abilities
Quiero / Puedo / Tengo que + infinitive
- Quiero aprender. — I want to learn.
- ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card?
- Tengo que trabajar. — I have to work.
Recent past with acabar de
- Acabo de llegar. — I just arrived.
These let you talk about the future, wishes and obligations using only the present tense plus an infinitive.
Stem-changing verbs
Some verbs change their stem in most forms:
- e → ie: querer → quiero, pensar → pienso
- o → ue: poder → puedo, dormir → duermo
- e → i: pedir → pido
The nosotros form keeps the original: queremos, podemos.
How to learn conjugations
- Learn verbs in sentences, not tables.
- Focus on yo and tú first: they're what you use most in conversation.
- Speak daily so the forms become automatic.
Practice
Conjugations stick when you use them in real conversation. In Lolo's calls, you'll use quiero, tengo, puedo and voy a constantly. See preterite vs imperfect and dropping subject pronouns.
Frequently asked questions
How many verb tenses do I need to speak Spanish?
Present, preterite, imperfect and the ir a future cover most conversations.
What are the most important Spanish verbs?
Ser, estar, tener, ir, hacer, poder, querer, decir, saber and venir.
How do I memorize conjugations?
Use them out loud in real sentences every day.