Present Tense of Present Tense of –AR Verbs–AR Verbs

The present tense of regular –ar verbs is formed by dropping infinitive ending –ar and adding the personal endings –o, -as, -a, -amos, -an.

The present tense has the following meanings in English:

Usted canta you sing, you’re singing, you do sing

él canta He sings, he’s singing, he does sing

Let’s use the word Let’s use the word “caminar”“caminar”

“caminar” means “to walk”

You would remove the “ar” and replace it with “o, as, a, amos, an” as appropriate.

yo camino

tú caminas

él/ella/ud.

camina

nosotros caminamosellos/ellas/

uds.caminan

Let’s use the word Let’s use the word “decorar”“decorar”

“decorar” means “to decorate”

You would remove the “ar” and replace it with “o, as, a, amos, an” as appropriate.

yo decoro

tú decoras

él/ella/ud.

decora

nosotros decoramosellos/ellas/

uds.decoran

NOTE:NOTE:1.1. The subject pronouns usted (Ud.) and ustedes (Uds.) The subject pronouns usted (Ud.) and ustedes (Uds.)

are usually expressed in Spanish. The other subject are usually expressed in Spanish. The other subject pronouns (yo, tú, él ella, nosotros, ellos, ellas) are pronouns (yo, tú, él ella, nosotros, ellos, ellas) are usually omitted, unless they are required for clarity usually omitted, unless they are required for clarity or emphasis.or emphasis.

Canto bien.Canto bien. I sing well.I sing well.Cantan bien. Cantan bien. They sing well.They sing well.

BUTBUTUd. Canta bien.Ud. Canta bien. You sing well.You sing well.Ella canta bien pero él canta mal.Ella canta bien pero él canta mal. She sings well, She sings well, but he sings but he sings badly.badly.Ella y yo cantamos bien.Ella y yo cantamos bien. She and I sing She and I sing well.well.

2.2. Tú (the familiar form) is used when addressing close Tú (the familiar form) is used when addressing close relatives, intimate friends, or small children. In relatives, intimate friends, or small children. In many Spanish-American countries, the ustedes form many Spanish-American countries, the ustedes form is used.is used.