-AR Verbs
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Explanation
All Spanish infinitives end in either -ar, -er, or -ir, as in hablar, leer, and escribir.
Verbs that end in -ar are more common than -er and -ir verbs, and there are fewer irregulars.
Regular -ar Verbs
Most -ar verbs follow the same conjugation pattern. To conjugate a regular -ar verb, follow these steps:
- First, decide your tense. Every tense in Spanish has a different set of endings.
- Next, remove the infinitive ending (-ar).
- Lastly, add the ending that matches the subject of the sentence.
Click here for a comprehensive conjugation chart for the regular Spanish verb bailar. You can follow the same pattern to conjugate all other -ar verbs, unless they are irregular.
Here is a list of the most common regular -ar verbs. These verbs are regular in all forms and tenses.
Let’s take a look at some examples using these regular -ar verbs.
| examples |
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Irregular -ar Verbs
-ar Stem Changers
Many common -ar verbs have a stem change when conjugated in the present tense. These verbs use the same endings as regular -ar verbs, but undergo a vowel change in the last syllable of the stem.
e > ie
For verbs in this group, the e in the last syllable of the stem changes to ie. Some common -ar verbs that undergo this change are:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| cerrar | to close |
| comenzar | to begin/start |
| empezar | to begin/start |
| pensar | to think |
| recomendar | to recommend |
| sentarse | to sit |
o > ue
For verbs in this group, the o in the last syllable of the stem changes to ue. Some common -ar verbs that undergo this change are:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| almorzar | to have lunch |
| contar | to count |
| costar | to cost |
| encontrar | to find |
| probar | to try |
| recordar | to remember |
| soñar | to dream |
u > ue
For verbs in this group, the u in the last syllable of the stem changes to ue. Jugaris the only verb with this change.
Take a look at the conjugations of three stem-changing -ar verbs.
Click here to learn more about irregular present tense verbs.
-car, -gar, and -zar Verbs
The first person singular (yo) form of verbs ending in -car, -gar, and -zar undergo the following changes in the preterite tense:
| Verb Type | Change | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -car | c changes to qu | busqué |
| -gar | g changes to gu | pagué |
| -zar | z changes to c | almorcé |
Common -car, -gar, and -zar Verbs
Here is a list of some common -car, -gar, and -zar verbs you're likely to come across.
Click here to learn more about irregular verbs in the preterite tense.
Estar and Dar
The Spanish verbs estarand darare irregular verbs in many forms and tenses.
To review estar in all tenses, click here. Click here to review the forms of dar.
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