In our previous unit we learned all about regular -AR verbs (-AR Verbs Module) and how to conjugate them. Spanish –er verbs are an essential part of learning Spanish. -Er verbs share the same construction, so you can easily link them in your mind. Learning these words together will make all of the words easier to remember.
From our last lesson, we remember that there are three steps to conjugating verbs. They are:
STEPS TO CONJUGATING REGULAR PRESENT TENSE VERBS IN SPANISH
- Chop off your -AR, -ER or -IR ending (viaj
ar, beber, abrir) so that you are left with just the stem. - Determine the subject of the sentence (yo, tú, él, etc.).
- Add your new ending based on the subject of the sentence. (yo viajo, tú bebes, nosotros abrimos)
Now for step 3, here are the new endings you will add to -ER verbs only (we will talk about -IR verbs in our next lesson!).
| -O | -EMOS |
| -ES | -ÉIS |
| -E | -EN |
Are you noticing a pattern? All of the A’s from our -AR endings have now changed to E’s (yo still ends in -o)! So, once you memorize the -AR verb endings, these will be a breeze if you simply remember to change your A’s to E’s!
Here is the verb RESPONDER (to respond) conjugated in each form. Look closely at the new ending in each form.
| Yo respondo | Nosotros(as) respondemos |
| Tú respondes | Vosotros(as) respondéis |
| Él/Ella/Usted responde | Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes responden |