Spanish Verbs

Lets take a step back into what we did in elementary school and understand what verbs are. Simply put a verb is a doing word and is important in every sentence in every language in any part of the world. Words like eat, study, drink, sleep, talk are all verbs, but they are not in their conjugated form. For them to make sense in a sentence, they need to be conjugated properly in the right tense. A verb is conjugated when it takes a more definitive form from its infinitive form, which means it will make more sense in a sentence.

In the Spanish language most verbs are in their infinitive form and are classified as ‘ar’ verbs, ‘er’ verbs and ‘ir’ verbs. The reason for this classification is that it helps in simplifying their conjugation. And each set has their own pattern of conjugation (with exceptions in each set). Spanish is a difficult language and this is because of the grammar and verb conjugation.

Basic Spanish Verbs
Here is a list of some of the most common Spanish verbs:

• Aceptar – accept.
• Permitir/Dejar – allow.
• Preguntar – ask.
• Creer – believe.
• Prestar – borrow.
• Romper – break.
• Traer – bring.
• Comprar – buy.
• Poder – Can/ be able.
• Cancelar – cancel.
• Cambiar – change.
• Limpiar – clean.
• Peinar – comb.
• Quejarse – complain.
• Toser – cough.
• Contar – count.
• Cortar – cut.
• Bailar – dance.
• Dibujar – draw.
• Beber – drink.
• Conducir – drive.
• Comer – eat.
• Explicar – explain.
• Caerse – fall.
• Llenar – fill.
• Encontrar – find.
• Terminar – finish.
• Caber – fit.
• Reparar – fix.
• Volar – fly.
• Olividar – forget.
• Dar – give.
• Ir – go.
• Tener – have.
• Oir – hear.
• Danar, herir – hurt.
• Saber, conocer – know.
• Aprender – learn.
• Salir, marcharse – leave.
• Escuchar – listen.
• Vivir – life.
• Mirar – look.
• Perder – lose.
• Hacer – make, do.
• Necesitar – need.
• Abrir – open.
• Cerrar – close, shut.
• Organizar – organize.
• Pagar – pay.
• Jugar – play.
• Poner – put.
• Llover – rain.
• Leer – read.
• Responder – reply.
• Corer – run.
• Decir – say.
• Ver – see.
• Vender – sell.
• Enviar – send.
• Firmar – sign.
• Cantar – sing.
• Dormir – sleep.
• Fumar – smoke.
• Hablar – speak.
• Deletrear – spell.
• Gastar – spend.
• Ponerse de pie – stand.
• Comenzar – start, begin.
• Esturdiar – study.
• Tener exito – succeed.
• Nadar – swim.
• Tomar – take.
• Hablar – talk.
• Ensenar – teach.
• Decir – tell.
• Pensar – think.
• Traducir – translate.
• Viajar – travel.
• Intentar – try.
• Apagar – turn off.
• Encender – turn on.
• Escribir a maquina – type.
• Entender – understand.
• Usar, utilizar – use.
• Esperar – wait.
• Despertar – wake up.
• Querer, desear – want.
• Mirar – watch.
• Trabajar – work.
• Preocuparse – worry.
• Escribir – write.

Conjugating Spanish verbs is not easy because the verb system in Spanish is differentiated into 14 distinct tenses, which are 7 simple tenses and 7 compound tenses. The conjugation of Spanish verbs is categorized into 4 categories called moods; these are indicative, subjunctive, imperative and infinitive mood. It is complex, it is hard, but overall it is a wonderful language to learn.