‘in’
en Nueva York
‘in New York’
[en]
‘on’
en la mesa
‘on the table’
encima de
‘on top of’
encima de la casa
‘on top of the house’
[en-thi-ma de]
enfrente de
‘in front of’
enfrente de la mesa ‘in front of the table’
[en-fren-te de]
entre
‘between’
entre la mesa y el
‘between the table and the
[en-tre]
sofá
sofa’
fuera de
‘outside of’
fuera de la casa
‘outside of the house’
[few-ra de]
hacia
‘towards’
hacia la escuela
‘towards the school’
[a-thi-ya]
hasta
‘until’
hasta las seis
‘until 6:00’
[as-ta]
para
‘for’
para usted
‘for you (formal)’
[pa-ra]
‘in order to’
para ser rico
‘in order to be rich’
por
‘for’
por la comida
‘for the meal’
[por]
‘by’
por Juan
‘by Juan’
según
‘according to’
según el periódico
‘according to the
[se-gun]
newspapers’
sin [sin]
‘without’
sin él
‘without him’
sobre
‘over’
sobre la silla.
‘over the chair’
[sob-re]
‘about’
sobre el presidente. ‘about the president’
DAY 7:
Introduction to Spanish Verbs
Spanish verbs are among the most, if not the most, complicated topics in Spanish. That is
why after finishing half the session of this training program, the next 4 days will be allotted in
studying Spanish verbs. This is the first of our 4-day training session regarding Spanish verbs.
First, you need to know that verbs in the Spanish language are divided into 3 categories.
Let’s call them the AR verbs, the ER verbs, and the IR verbs. The two-letter names of these groups are actually the ending sounds or syllables of the verbs in Spanish.
Aside from that, these verbs are conjugated for number, person, and tense. Conjugation is
the process of adding patterned suffixes on the base (original) form of the verb to show differences on certain criteria. Verbs belonging to the same group are inflected the same way –
they use the same affixes. Hence, there is no better way to make conjugations fun and easy to
learn than to simply memorize these “patterns.”
We will discuss the conjugations of these verbs on the next days ahead – conjugation of
verbs on present tense tomorrow, on past tense the day after tomorrow, and on future tense the
day after that. For now, let me introduce you to the three groups of Spanish verbs that I’m talking about.
AR Verbs
The verbs written below end in -ar. In conjugating, you will take off this ending and add
the appropriate suffixes. Meanwhile, try to familiarize yourself first with the different verbs
below. Creative thoughts ( note that they are not the actual meaning of the words and are for
memorization purposes only) are provided so you can easily associate them with their English counterparts.
Verb
Say It!
Meaning
To Easily Remember
Aceptar
[ak-sep-tar]
to accept
Aceptar is to accept arrest.
Acompañar
[a-kom-pa-
to accompany Acompañar is to accompany a rebel.
nyar]
Aconsejar
[a-kon-se-har] to advise
Aconsejar is to advise a convicted, sedated
harasser.
Arreglar
[ar-reg-lar]
to arrange
Arreglar is to arrange an array of irregular
shapes and other things.
Ayudar
[a-yu-dar]
to help
Ayudar is to help a youthful darling.
Bailar
[bay-lar]
to dance
Bailar is a dancing bailar-ina.
Bajar
[ba-har]
to go down
Bajar is bad harry going down.
Borrar
[bor-rar]
to erase
Borrar is to erase the board arrogantly.
Caminar
[ka-mi-nar]
to walk
Caminar is a walking camel in a road.
Cantar
[kan-tar]
to sing
Cantar is to sing a country and R&B song.
Celebrar
[the-leb-rar]
to celebrate
Celebrar is to celebrate and rave.
Cenar
[the-nar]
to eat dinner Cenar is to eat celery, nans, and raisin for
dinner.
Cocinar
[ko-thi-nar]
to cook
Cocinar is to cook cocoa in a red pot.
Comprar
[kom-prar]
to buy
Comprar is to buy a computer and radio
with recorder.
Contestar
[kon-tes-tar] to answer
Contestar is the answer of contestants in a
rivalry.
Cortar
[kor-tar]
to cut
Cortar is a cut corsage shaped like a star.
Dejar
[de-har]
to leave
Dejar is a leaving deaf jargonist.
Desear
[de-se-yar]
to wish
Desear is to wish upon a dazzling,
enchanted, seasonal star.
Empujar
[em-pu-khar] to push
Empujar is to push an empty puce jar.
Entrar
[en-trar]
to enter
Entrar is to enter a rocky road.
Escuchar
[es-ku-char]
to listen
Escuchar is to listen from an escalated
cubicle on what people say about your
character.
Estudiar
[es-tu-dyar]
to study
Estudiar is a (e)student in a room studying.
Firmar
[fir-mar]
to sign
Firmar is to sign firmly using a red ink.
Ganar
[ga-nar]
to win, earn
Ganar is winning anything but a gallon of
narcotics.
Gastar
[gas-tar]
to spend
Gastar is when you gasp t(e)arfully because
you realized you have spent too much.
Gritar
[gri-tar]
to shout
Gritar. When you greet a rock band
member in a concert, you shout becaue of the loud
environment.
Hablar
[ab-lar]
to speak
Hablar is to speak about large and small
topics under the sun.
Invitar
[in-vi-tar]
to invite
Invitar is to invite a rock band to a party.
Llamar
[lya-mar]
to call
Llamar is to call a close friend and say,
“Come over because I’ll make a yam with
margarine for you.’
Llevar
[lye-var]
to wear
Llevar is a lyepard wearing varbie (barbie)
clothes.
Llorar
[lyo-rar]
to cry
Llorar. When a friend comes crying to you,
say, “I’ll punish yor (your) enemy by arresting
him!”
Mandar
[man-dar]
to send
Mandar is to send a mandatory rule.
Mirar
[mi-rar]
to look at
Mirar is to look at yourself at the mirrar
(mirror).
Nadar
[na-dar]
to swim
Nadar is to swim naked in the dark.
Necesitar
[ne-the-thi-tar]to need
Necesitar. When it’s a necessity and
requirement, it’s a need.
Parar
[pa-rar]
to stop
Parar is to stop and park along the road.
Pasar
[pa-sar]
to spend time Pasar is to spend time before it passes by a
whole year round.
Patinar
[pa-ti-nar]
to skate
Patinar is a skating parrot with tiny little
arms.
Pintar
[pin-tar]
to paint
Pintar is to paint using a pint of aerosol.
Preguntar
[pre-gun-tar] to ask
Preguntar is to ask a pregnant woman how
she understands tarantism.
Preparar
[pre-pa-rar]
to prepare
Preparar is to prepare a rice bowl.
Presentar
[pre-sen-tar] to present
Presentar is to present a ribbon for the best
students.
Quitar
[ki-tar]
to take off
Quitar is to quit bumming around and take
off.
Regresar
[re-gre-sar]
to return
Regresar is to return because you regret
saying farewell to a friend.
Saludar
[sa-lu-dar]
to greet
Saludar is to greet and salute da (the)
referee.
Terminar
[ter-mi-nar]
to end
Terminar is terminating a bad routine.
Tirar
[ti-rar]
to throw
Tirar is to throw the left-over tiramisu
that’s rotten.
Tocar
[to-kar]
to play
Tocar is playing the triangle, oboe, cello,
and guitar.
Tomar
[to-mar]
to take in
Tomar is to take in a tomato and radish
juice at the same time.
Trabajar
[tra-ba-khar] to work
Trabajar is to work using a truck, bus, car.
Usar
[u-sar]
to use
Usar is to use the USA Robotics.
ER Verbs
Verbs belonging to this category have -er endings that are to be taken off when conjugated. Here are some of the ER verbs that you will soon be able to conjugate. Make use of
the creative thoughts in order to familiarize them well
Verb
Say It!
Meaning
To Easily Remember
Aprender
[a-pren-der]
to learn
Aprender is to learn how the 12 apostles
rendered services to many people.
Barrer
[bar-rer]
to sweep
Barrer is to sweep dust off the barrel and
container.
Beber
[be-ber]
to drink
Beber is to drink any kind of beberage
(beverage).
Comer
[ko-mer]
to eat
Comer is to ask someone to come here and
eat.
Comprender [kom-pren-der] to understand Comprender is a computer that renders useful information, understand?
Correr
[kor-rer]
to run
Correr is a running corpse with a red
ribbon on the head.
Deber
[de-ber]
to have to
Deber is to have to deliver beret for the
cadets.
Leer
[le-er]
to read
Leer is Bruce Lee with a newspaper,
reading.
Meter
[me-ter]
to put, insert Meter is to put a metal inside its container.
Prender
[pren-der]
to catch
Prender is a police rendering a mission by
catching thieves and criminals.
Romper
[rom-per]
to break
Romper. Ever broken a vase because you
romped around?
Temer
[te-mer]
to fear
Temer is to fear ten mermaids.
Toser
[to-ser]
to cough
Toser is a coughing toddler due to serious
illness.
Vender
[ven-der]
to sell
Vender. It’s a vendor with an e!
IR Verbs
The IR verbs below (as they end in the segment – ir) are much fewer than the previous
other groups. However, they should be given equal attention, because you will be using them as
you go along with the lesson.
Verb
Say It!
Meaning
To Easily Remember
Abrir
[ab-rir]
to open
Abrir is to open a briefcase in the room.
Añadir
[a-nya-dir]
to add
Añadir is to add shame to an honorable man
yacking about dir (deer) hunting.
Asistir
[a-sis-tir]
to attend
Asistir is the attendant who assists in the
reception.
Describir
[des-kri-bir]
to describe
Describir is to describe clearly.
Discutir
[dis-ku-tir]
to discuss
Discutir is to discuss tiring measures.
Escribir
[es-kri-bir]
to write
Escribir is to write an essay about a crib in
the room.
Interrumpir
[in-ter-rum-pir] to interrupt
Interrumpir is to interrupt a man talking
about pir (peer) pressures.
Ocurrir
[o-kur-rir]
to occur
Occurir is an event occurring in Rome.
Partir
[par-tir]
to leave
Partir is to leave a parti (party) by walking
out of the room.
Recibir
[re-thi-bir]
to receive
Recibir is to recib (receive) international
reward.
Subir
[su-bir]
to go up
Subir is to go up from the subway and into
the main road.
Sufrir
[suf-rir]
to suffer
Sufrir is to suffer from ridicule and rant.
Vivir
[vi-vir]
to live
Vivir is to live vividly in the rural and urban
areas of the world.
DAY 8:
Conjugating Verbs to Present Tense
It’s the 8th day! Were you able to familiarize yourself with the different verbs in Spanish?
The three endings of the verbs that you have learned in Day 7 are important because they will
become the basis of the conjugations you are going to learn for the next few days.
It was mentioned earlier that conjugation is actually the process of inflecting (adding
suffixes to show differences in certain criteria such as number, gender, and/or tense) verbs in a
set of patterns. In Spanish, when you conjugate verbs, you remove the endings (- ar, - er, and - ir) of the verbs and then replace them with the patterned affixes.
For this day, you will learn how to conjugate verbs to show current, general, and habitual
actions. Hence, the lesson today will include conjugation on present and present progressive
tenses.
Regular Forms
When verbs are in the regular form, it can be conjugated by:
a. Removing the endings (- ar, - er, - ir).
b. Attaching the following suffixes (written in bold letters):
In the table below, take note that even without the subject pronouns, the conjugated verbs
can stand alone since the person and number are already inherited in the suffixes they use. For
example, you can say hablo Español (without the pronoun yo) and still mean ‘I speak Spanish.’
-AR Verbs
-ER Verbs
-IR Verbs
Ex. Hablar (to speak)
Ex. Comer (to
Ex. Vivir (to
eat)
live)
Habl