Master Spanish Verbs: Complete Conjugation Chart for All Tenses

Key takeaways: 

• Spanish verbs change depending on when something happens (tense) and the speaker’s intent (mood). To become fluent, you need to understand both.
• Regular verbs follow easy patterns. Irregular verbs are different and must be memorized individually because they don’t follow the usual rules.
• Verb charts can help you see the right endings for each tense and subject (like “yo” or “nosotros”). They’re a great visual tool for learning.
• Repetition, real-life use, and speaking practice will help you remember Spanish conjugations better.
• Promova makes it easier to master Spanish conjugation with step-by-step Spanish lessons, AI role-play, and clear charts to guide your learning at your own speed.

Spanish verbs can be tricky, but mastering them is key to becoming fluent, and having a solid Spanish conjugation chart can make a big difference. 

In this guide, you'll find clear explanations and verb charts for all major tenses and moods, plus helpful tips to learn faster and speak more confidently. ¡Vamos! Let’s begin!

Spanish Tenses: How to Conjugate Spanish Verbs

Conjugating verbs in Spanish means changing their endings to match the subject, tense, and mood. 

For example, "hablar" (to speak) becomes "yo hablo" (I speak) in the present tense or "yo hablé" (I spoke) in the past. To conjugate verbs correctly, you need to know:

• The verb's infinitive form (-ar, -er, or -ir ending)
• The tense (present, past, future, etc.)
• The subject pronoun (yo, tú, él, nosotros...)
• Whether the verb is regular or irregular.

Learning how to conjugate Spanish verbs takes time and practice, but knowing the patterns makes it easier. When you understand how to change verbs based on the tense, subject, and mood, you’ll be able to speak more clearly in daily conversations.

Keep practicing, and it will soon start to feel natural!

What is a Spanish Tenses Chart?

A Spanish tenses chart is a visual guide that shows how verbs change depending on time (past, present, future) and mood (like facts, wishes, or commands). It helps us see the patterns of how to conjugate verbs for different subjects like yo (I), tú (you), or ellos (they).

These charts usually show:

• Different types of verbs: -ar, -er, and -ir.
• Common tenses: present, past, future, and more.
• Endings for regular and irregular verbs.

It’s a helpful tool to spot patterns, remember endings, and understand exceptions, all in one place!

Now, without further ado, let’s check out our basic Spanish conjugation charts below.

Basic Spanish Conjugation Chart

Present Tense Conjugations

In Spanish, verbs change their endings based on who is doing the action (the subject) and the type of verb (-AR, -ER, or -IR). To conjugate a verb in the present tense:

1. Start with the infinitive (e.g., hablar, comer, vivir).
2. Remove the ending (-ar, -er, or -ir).
3. Add the correct ending based on the subject (yo, tú, él, etc.).

Each verb type has its own set of endings, and they are regular unless stated otherwise.

5

Regular verb: Hablar (to speak)

Notes:

• “Hablar” is a regular -AR verb, so it follows standard conjugation rules.
• While they both mean “you,” it's best to use "tú" with friends and family, and "usted" in formal situations.
• "Vosotros/as" is mainly used in Spain. In Latin America, "ustedes" is used for both formal and informal plural.

Past Tense Forms (Preterite and Imperfect)

Spanish has two main past tenses: preterite and imperfect. Both describe past actions, but they’re used differently.

Preterite tense (completed actions)

Use the preterite to talk about actions that happened once or were completed in the past. For example, “yo comí” (I ate) or “tú hablaste” (you spoke).

Each verb type (-AR, -ER, -IR) has specific endings, which are different from the present tense.

Imperfect tense (ongoing or repeated actions)

On the other hand, we use the imperfect to describe ongoing, repeated, or background actions in the past. For example, “ella vivía” (she was living / she used to live) or “nosotros hablábamos” (we were speaking / we used to speak).

Imperfect endings are more regular and often have accents. Only three verbs are irregular: ir (to go), ser (to be), and ver (to see).

Preterite (simple past): Comer (to eat)

Notes:

• Comer is a regular -ER verb, so it follows standard preterite endings.
• Don’t forget to use accents: comí and comió.

Imperfect (ongoing past): Vivir (to live)

Notes:

• All regular -IR verbs follow the same -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían endings.
• Accents are used on all the conjugated forms.

Future and Conditional Tenses

Both the future and conditional tenses use the full infinitive form of the verb (no need to remove -ar, -er, or -ir). Then, you simply add the correct endings.

• Future tense (will do something)

Use the future tense to talk about actions that will happen. For example, “yo hablaré” (I will speak) or “nosotros comeremos” (we will eat).

Future endings (same for all verb types): -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án

• Conditional tense (would do something)

Use the conditional tense to express what someone would do or to make polite requests. For example, “yo viviría” (I would live) or “ellos comerían” (they would eat).

Conditional endings (also the same for all verb types): -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían.

Future: Hablar

Notes:

• All forms have accents except for nosotros/as.
• This pattern works the same for -AR, -ER, and -IR verbs.

Conditional: Comer

Note:

• All forms have accents on the -í.

Spanish Tenses Chart for All Moods

Indicative Mood Conjugations

The indicative mood is used when you're talking about real actions, facts, or things that actually happen.

• Present: Yo estudio (I study.)
• Preterite (Simple Past): Yo estudié (I studied.)
• Future: Yo estudiaré (I will study.)

These forms are often used to describe daily habits, completed past actions, and plans.

Subjunctive Mood Patterns

The subjunctive mood is used for situations that are uncertain, emotional, or not real—like wishes, doubts, or possibilities.

• Present Subjunctive: Que yo hable, que tú hables (That I speak, that you speak)
• Imperfect Subjunctive: Que yo hablara, que tú hablaras (That I spoke, that you spoke [in hypothetical or past situations])
• Present Perfect Subjunctive: Que yo haya hablado (That I have spoken)

This mood is common after phrases like quiero que... (I want that...), es posible que... (it’s possible that...), or ojalá que... (I hope that...).

Imperative Mood Commands

The imperative mood is used when you want to tell someone what to do or to give a direct order or request.

• (Tú) Habla! (Speak! - informal singular.)
• (Usted) Hable! (Speak! - formal singular.)
• (Vosotros) Hablad! (Speak! – informal plural, used in Spain.)
• (Ustedes) Hablen! (Speak! – formal plural.)

This form is useful in everyday life, like giving directions, asking someone to help, or telling someone to listen.

Conjugation Chart Spanish: Regular vs. Irregular Verbs

-AR/-ER/-IR Verb Regular Endings

Spanish verbs fall into three regular categories, based on their infinitive endings: -ar, -er, and -ir. Each group follows predictable conjugation patterns in the present tense:

• -ar: o, as, a, amos, áis, an.
• -er: o, es, e, emos, éis, en.
• -ir: o, es, e, imos, ís, en.

Present tense endings:

Once you learn the endings for each group, you can apply them to hundreds of regular verbs!

Top 10 Common Irregular Verbs in Spanish

These verbs have unique forms in several tenses:

1. Ser – to be (when referring to essential/permanent qualities)
2. Estar – to be (when referring to temporary/emotional states, locations)
3. Ir – to go
4. Tener – to have
5. Hacer – to do / to make
6. Decir – to say / to tell
7. Poder – to be able to / can
8. Saber – to know (facts, information)
9. Querer – to want / to love
10. Venir – to come

Each of these verbs requires memorization, as their forms deviate from regular endings.

Practice Tips for Mastering Spanish Tenses

Learning Spanish verb tenses can feel overwhelming at first, but with the right techniques, you’ll build confidence step by step. Here are simple tips to help you practice more effectively:

Use flashcards to practice daily

Write the verb on one side and its full conjugation on the other. For example:

• Front: hablar (to speak)
• Back: yo hablo, tú hablas, él habla…

You can also use apps like Promova that use spaced repetition to help you remember better over time.

Group similar verbs 
Focus on one group at a time. For example:

• Start with -ar verbs (hablar, trabajar, estudiar)
• Then move to -er verbs (comer, leer, correr)
• Finally, learn -ir verbs (vivir, escribir, abrir)

Seeing patterns within each group makes it easier to remember the endings.

Write short sentences 
Try to use each verb you learn in a simple sentence to see it in action. Try things like:

• Ella come un sándwich todos los días (She eats a sandwich every day.)
• Yo estudio español (I study Spanish.)
• Nosotros visitaremos México este verano (We will visit Mexico this summer)

Writing helps reinforce meaning and context. And if you can later read them and practice your pronunciation of the words out loud, even better!

Watch Spanish-language media 
Watch TV shows, YouTube videos, or movies in Spanish with subtitles. Listen for verbs you know and pay attention to how they’re used. This builds your ear for rhythm, pronunciation, and correct tense usage.

After a while, you might find that you don’t even need the subtitles anymore, and you can turn them off and enjoy your favorite content in Spanish with no issues.

Play language games 
Many apps and websites offer fun quizzes, matching games, and challenges to test your verb knowledge. These are perfect for short daily practice sessions and help make learning feel like play.

Final tip 
Try to practice a little every day. Even 10 minutes of focused practice is more effective than a long session once a week. With regular effort, Spanish tenses will become part of your natural speaking habits. ¡Tú puedes! (You can do it!)

Learn Spanish Effectively with Promova

Promova is a user-friendly language learning platform designed to help learners of all levels improve their Spanish step by step, whether they’re just starting out or brushing up on grammar. Promova offers tools to make learning easier and more effective.

With Promova, you can:

• Learn regular and irregular verbs in context: See how verbs are used in real sentences, so you don’t just memorize each form; you understand how to actually use them in different useful contexts.
• Practice your pronunciation and writing skills with native-like models: You can record your voice or write a message, and the AI will give you helpful feedback. This way, you’ll sound more natural and feel more confident when speaking and writing.
• Track your conjugation progress over time: Stay motivated by seeing your improvements with easy-to-read progress reports.

Promova offers you a practical and supportive way to build strong Spanish grammar and communication skills. Start today and make Spanish feel natural and fun! It’s a practical, supportive way to build confidence in Spanish grammar and communication.

Final Thoughts

Understanding Spanish verbs is key to speaking fluently. A Spanish conjugation chart can make learning much easier. When you learn the basic tenses, understand how moods work, and practice often, you’ll notice big improvements in your Spanish.

Helpful tools like Promova can guide you step by step; just remember to keep practicing a little each day and don’t give up. 

¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)