If you’re learning Spanish, you’ve likely come across -IR ending verbs. These verbs are an essential part of the Spanish language and are used frequently in everyday conversation. In this section, we’ll cover the basics of -IR ending verbs in Spanish, including what they are, how to conjugate them, and some common examples.
What are -IR Ending Verbs?
In Spanish, verbs are classified into three categories based on their infinitive endings: -ar, -er, and -ir. -IR ending verbs are a type of Spanish verb that end in “-ir” in their infinitive form. There are many -IR ending verbs in Spanish, including regular verbs and irregular verbs. Some common examples of -IR ending verbs in Spanish include “vivir” (to live), “abrir” (to open), and “escribir” (to write).
Conjugating -IR Ending Verbs
Conjugating -IR ending verbs in Spanish is similar to conjugating other types of Spanish verbs. To conjugate an -IR ending verb, you need to remove the “-ir” from the end of the infinitive and add the appropriate endings based on the tense and subject.
Here’s an example of how to conjugate the regular -IR ending verb “escribir” in the present tense:
Subject | ESCRIBIR |
---|---|
Yo (I) | escribo |
Tú (You) | escribes |
Él/Ella/Usted (He/She/You formal) | escribe |
Vos* | escribís |
Nosotros/Nosotras (We) | escribimos |
Vosotros/Vosotras (You all) | escribís |
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes (They/You all formal) | escriben |
Examples of -IR Ending Verbs
There are many -IR ending verbs in Spanish, and they are used frequently in everyday conversation. Some common examples of -IR ending verbs include:
- Vivir (to live)
- Abrir (to open)
- Escribir (to write)
- Compartir (to share)
- Decidir (to decide)
- Recibir (to receive)
- Partir (to leave)
-IR ending verbs are an essential part of the Spanish language, and learning how to conjugate them is crucial for anyone learning Spanish. With practice and patience, you’ll be able to use -IR ending verbs confidently and effectively in your conversations.
Regular vs. Irregular -IR Verbs
In Spanish, verbs ending in -IR can be categorized into two groups: regular and irregular verbs. Regular verbs follow a predictable conjugation pattern, while irregular verbs have unique conjugation patterns that do not follow the regular conjugation rules. Understanding the differences between regular and irregular -IR verbs is essential for mastering the Spanish language.
Characteristics of Regular -IR Verbs
Regular -IR verbs follow a predictable conjugation pattern in the present simple indicative tense. To conjugate a regular -IR verb, simply remove the -IR ending and replace it with the appropriate ending based on the subject pronoun.
Common Irregular -IR Verbs
Some -IR verbs are irregular and do not follow the regular conjugation pattern. Here are a few common irregular -IR verbs:
- Oír (to hear)
- Salir (to go out)
- Venir (to come)
- Ir (to go)
Understanding the differences between regular and irregular -IR verbs is essential for mastering the Spanish language. Regular -IR verbs follow a predictable conjugation pattern, while irregular -IR verbs have unique conjugation patterns that do not follow the regular conjugation rules. By memorizing the conjugation patterns of both regular and irregular -IR verbs, you will be able to communicate effectively in Spanish.
Conjugation of -IR Verbs
If you’re learning Spanish, it’s important to understand how to conjugate verbs ending in -IR. These verbs can be regular or irregular, and their endings change depending on the tense and subject. Here’s a breakdown of how to conjugate -IR verbs in the six main tenses in Spanish.
Present Tense Conjugations
To conjugate an -IR verb in the present tense, you need to take the stem of the verb (the part before the -IR ending) and add the appropriate ending. Here’s a table to help you understand:
Subject Pronoun | Regular Verb Endings | VIVIR |
---|---|---|
Yo | -o | vivo |
Tú | -es | vives |
Él / Ella / Usted | -e | vive |
Vos* | -ís | vivís |
Nosotros / -as | -imos | vivimos |
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | -en | viven |
Vosotros / -as | -ís | vivís |
Preterite Tense Conjugations
To conjugate an -IR verb in the preterite tense, you need to take the stem of the verb and add the appropriate ending. Here’s a table to help you understand:
Subject Pronoun | Regular Verb Endings | VIVIR |
---|---|---|
Yo | -í | viví |
Tú | -iste | viviste |
Él / Ella / Usted | -ió | vivió |
Vos* | -iste | viviste |
Nosotros / -as | -imos | vivimos |
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | -ieron | vivieron |
Vosotros / -as | -isteis | vivisteis |
For example, let’s take the verb “traducir” (to translate). In the preterite tense, “yo traduje” means “I translated”, “tú tradujiste” means “you translated”, and so on.
Imperfect Tense Conjugations
To conjugate an -IR verb in the imperfect tense, you need to take the stem of the verb and add the appropriate ending. Here’s a table to help you understand:
Subject Pronoun | Regular Verb Endings | VIVIR |
---|---|---|
Yo | -ía | vivía |
Tú | -ías | vivías |
Él / Ella / Usted | -ía | vivía |
Vos | -iste | viviste |
Nosotros / -as | -íamos | vivíamos |
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | -ían | vivían |
Vosotros / -as | -íais | vivíais |
For example, let’s take the verb “tener” (to have). In the imperfect tense, “yo tenía” means “I had”, “tú tenías” means “you had”, and so on.
Future Tense Conjugations
To conjugate an -IR verb in the future tense, you need to take the entire verb and add the appropriate ending. Here’s a table to help you understand:
Subject Pronoun | Verb Endings | VIVIR |
---|---|---|
Yo | -é | viviré |
Tú | -ás | vivirás |
Él / Ella / Usted | -á | vivirá |
Vos* | -ás | vivirás |
Nosotros / -as | -emos | viviremos |
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | -án | vivirán |
Vosotros / -as | -éis | viviréis |
For example, let’s take the verb “ser” (to be). In the future tense, “yo seré” means “I will be”, “tú serás” means “you will be”, and so on.
Conditional Tense Conjugations
To conjugate an -IR verb in the conditional tense, you need to take the entire verb and add the appropriate ending. Here’s a table to help you understand:
Subject Pronoun | Verb Endings | VIVIR |
---|---|---|
Yo | -ía | viviría |
Tú | -ías | vivirías |
Él / Ella / Usted | -ía | viviría |
Vos* | -ías | vivirías |
Nosotros / -as | -íamos | viviríamos |
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | -ían | vivirían |
Vosotros / -as | -íais | viviríais |
For example, let’s take the verb “vivir” (to live). In the conditional tense, “yo viviría” means “I would live”, “tú vivirías” means “you would live”, and so on.
Subjunctive Mood Conjugations
To conjugate an -IR verb in the subjunctive mood, you need to take the stem of the verb and add the appropriate ending. Here’s a table to help you understand:
Subject Pronoun | Verb Endings | VIVIR |
---|---|---|
Yo | -a | viva |
Tú | -as | vivas |
Él / Ella / Usted | -a | viva |
Vos* | -as | vivas |
Nosotros / -as | -amos | vivamos |
Ellos / Ellas / | -an | vivan |
Vosotros / -as | -áis | viváis |
Irregular -IR Verb Conjugation
When it comes to conjugating -IR ending verbs in Spanish, there are some common patterns that you can follow. By understanding these patterns, you can quickly and easily conjugate many different -IR verbs.
Subject Pronoun | IR Indicative | IR Subjunctive |
---|---|---|
Yo | voy | vaya |
Tú | vas | vayas |
Él / Ella / Usted | va | vaya |
Vos* | vas | vayas |
Nosotros / -as | vamos | vayamos |
Ellos / Ellas / | van | vayan |
Vosotros / -as | vais | vayáis |
By understanding these common -IR verb conjugation patterns, you can quickly and easily conjugate many different -IR verbs in Spanish.
-IR Verbs in Sentences
When using -IR verbs in Spanish, it is important to understand how they are conjugated in different tenses and how they are used in sentences. Here are some examples of how to use -IR verbs in different types of sentences.
Sentence Examples of Affirmative Sentences
When using -IR verbs in affirmative sentences, the most common tense used is the present tense. For example, “Yo vivo en Madrid” means “I live in Madrid.” Here are some more examples:
- Tú escribes muy bien en español . (You write in Spanish very well.)
- Él decide estudiar medicina. (He decides to study medicine.)
- Nosotros abrimos la ventana. (We open the window.)
- Ellos dijeron que vendrán a visitarnos. (They said they will come visit us.)
Negative Sentences Examples
When using -IR verbs in negative sentences, the word “no” is placed before the verb. For example, “No vivo en Madrid” means “I do not live in Madrid.” Here are some more examples:
- Tú no escribes muy bien en español . (You don’t write in Spanish very well.)
- Él no decide estudiar medicina. (He does not decide to study medicine.)
- Nosotros no abrimos la ventana. (We do not open the window.)
- Ellos no dijeron que vendrán a visitarnos. (They didn’t say that they will come visit us.)
Sentence Examples of Questions
When using -IR verbs in questions, the verb comes before the subject. For example, “¿Vives en Madrid?” means “Do you live in Madrid?” Here are some more examples:
- ¿Escribes bien en español? (Do you write in Spanish well?)
- ¿Él decidió estudiar medicina? (Did he decide to study medicine?)
- ¿Abrimos la ventana? (Do we open the window?)
- ¿Ellos dijeron que vendrán a visitarnos? (Did they say they will come visit us?)
It is important to note that -IR verbs can have different meanings depending on the context in which they are used. For example, “querer” means “to want” and “deber” means “to have to” or “must.” It is also important to remember that not all verbs translate directly from Spanish to English, so it is important to understand the meaning of the verb in context.
Stem-Changing -IR Verbs
If you’re studying Spanish, you’ve probably noticed that there are certain verbs that change their stem in the present tense. These verbs are commonly referred to as “stem-changing” verbs. In this section, we’ll focus on -IR ending verbs that undergo stem changes, and how to conjugate them in different tenses.
The stem-changing -IR verbs are a group of verbs that follow a similar pattern of vowel changes in the present tense. The stem of the verb changes in all forms except for nosotros and vosotros. The changes occur in the last syllable of the stem, and there are three main types of stem changes: e to ie, o to ue, and e to i.
Let’s take a look at some examples of stem-changing -IR verbs and how they are conjugated in the present tense:

- Decir (to say)
- Dormir (to sleep)
- Pedir (to ask for)
- Sentir (to feel)
- Venir (to come)
- Salir (to go out / leave)
As you can see, the stem of the verb changes in the second and third person singular forms, but not in the other forms. It’s important to note that these stem changes only occur in the present tense, and not in other tenses.
How to learn -IR Verb Conjugations – Tips!
If you’re learning Spanish, you’ll quickly realize that learning verb conjugations is essential. In this section, we’ll provide you with some tips on how to learn -IR verb conjugations in Spanish.
Conjugation Chart
One of the best ways to learn -IR verb conjugations is by using a conjugation chart. These charts provide you with a clear and concise breakdown of how each verb is conjugated in different tenses and moods. You can find many conjugation charts online or in Spanish textbooks.
Spanish Infinitives
To learn -IR verb conjugations, you need to know the infinitive form of the verb. The infinitive form of -IR verbs always ends in -ir, such as “vivir” (to live) and “partir” (to leave). Knowing the infinitive form is essential because it helps you identify the verb stem, which is the part of the verb that remains constant throughout the conjugation.
Learning Spanish
Learning Spanish is a process that requires practice and dedication. To improve your -IR verb conjugation skills, you need to practice regularly. You can practice by reading Spanish texts, listening to Spanish music, and watching Spanish movies. The more you practice, the better you’ll get.
Tips
Here are some tips that can help you learn -IR verb conjugations more effectively:
- Focus on one tense at a time. Don’t try to learn all the tenses at once. Start with the present tense and move on to the past and future tenses.
- Use flashcards to memorize verb conjugations. Write the verb infinitive on one side and the conjugated form on the other side.
- Practice with a native Spanish speaker. Speaking with a native speaker can help you improve your pronunciation and grammar.
- Use apps and online resources. There are many apps and online resources that can help you practice Spanish verb conjugations.
List of Resources for Practising -IR Verbs
Here are some resources that you can use to practice -IR verb conjugations:
- Conjuguemos.com: This website offers a variety of conjugation exercises for -IR verbs.
- Spanishdict.com: This website provides conjugation charts, quizzes, and other resources for -IR verbs.
- Duolingo: This app offers a fun and interactive way to practice Spanish verb conjugations.
- Anki: This flashcard app can help you memorize -IR verb conjugations.
By following these tips and using these resources, you’ll be able to improve your -IR verb conjugation skills in no time.
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