A verb is an action word. Spanish verbs change their ending to show who is doing the action. -ir verbs are verbs whose name ends in -ir, like vivir (to live), salir (to leave, to go out) and escribir (to write). Below: the endings, the one odd verb form, real sentences, and practice you can quiz yourself on.
a quick plain English check before we start
Subject pronouns are small words that replace a name. Here are the ones you will see in the tables:
the "gotchas" worth memorizing early
Step 1. Take off the -ir. What is left is the stem.
Step 2. Add the ending that matches the subject.
✓ vivir → viv- + o = vivo
✓ escribir → escrib- + imos = escribimos
-o, -es, -e, -imos, -ís, -en
The same six endings work for every regular -ir verb. Learn them once and you can use them on any new -ir verb.
Heads up: -ís has an accent mark. It is only for vosotros (Spain).
Only the yo form of salir breaks the pattern. It is salgo, not "salo." Every other form follows the normal endings.
Yo salgo con mis primos.
I go out with my cousins.
Mi hermano sale con sus amigos.
My brother goes out with his friends.
-er verbs (you will meet them soon) use the same endings, except in two spots.
nosotros: -ir uses -imos. -er uses -emos.
vosotros: -ir uses -ís. -er uses -éis.
If you have not seen -er verbs yet, just learn the -ir endings above.
You can often leave out the pronoun. Vivimos can only mean "we live."
But vive could be he, she or you (polite). Add a name or a pronoun to make it clear.
Mi tía vive en una casa bonita.
who does it · the ending you add to the stem
the stem stays the same. Only the ending changes
the same verbs at work, using vocabulary from our unit on la familia
The verbs and the family and memory words we use in the examples. Cover the right side and quiz yourself.
Tap a card to reveal it. For typed practice, type your answer and press Check. You do not need to type accents.
Say the ending out loud first, then tap to check.
Drop the -ir. Type what is left.
The stem is already there. Type the ending.
The stem is already there. Type the ending.
Type the whole verb. Watch out for yo.
Write the sentence in Spanish. Type the whole sentence.
Tap the choice that completes the sentence. A wrong tap lets you try again.
Fill each blank with a verb form from the bank. Words can repeat, and some will not be used.
Read the sentence. Find the mistake in your head, then tap to see the fix and why.
Tap a Spanish word, then tap its English meaning.
Say the sentence in Spanish out loud. Then tap to see a model answer.