Each sentence must have a subject and a verb:

1. the subject is usually a noun or pronoun

remember that a noun is a person, place, thing or idea and that a pronoun takes the place of a noun.

2. the subject causes the action in the sentence which means that the subject and the verb are connected.
3. verbs are the action in a sentence.

Verbs:

There are two types of verbs in English and Spanish:

1. the infinitive-

does not agree with the subject

always begins with "to" plus an action-- to walk, to eat

Spanish verb infinitives will always end with one of the following letter combinations:

"ar", "er", or "ir"

cantar-to sing

comer-to eat

vivir-to live

2. a conjugated verb

Verb Trees

Verb trees help you conjugate verbs by knowing which square the subject of the sentence is in and then, using the verb or verb ending from the same square.

Memorize the English and Spanish subject pronoun verb trees. Know which subject pronoun in English and Spanish is in which square.

English Subject Pronoun Spanish Subject Pronoun Verb Tree Verb Tree

Notice that every subject pronoun in squares 1, 2, and 3 is singular and every subject pronoun in squares 4, 5, and 6 is plural. Also that the plural of the singular is straight across from it. For example, the plural of he is they and the plural of I is we.

The subject of any sentence can be placed in the subject pronoun verb tree.

Spanish subject pronouns are the translations of the English words. I = yo, you = tú, etc.

Note that the English subject pronoun "it" has no equivalent in Spanish.

Notice that there are four different squares with the word "you". This is because Spanish has formal and informal.

1. Tú is informal singular and is used when you are talking to a close relative, a friend, or a child--someone young or with whom you are familiar.
2. Vosotros is informal plural and is used when you are talking to two or more close relatives, friends, or children--someone young or with whom you are familiar.
3. Usted (Ud.) is used when you are speaking to a stranger, a grown-up, or a person with whom you are or should be formal.
4. Ustedes (Uds.) is used when you are speaking to two or more persons who are strangers, grown-ups, or people with who you are or should be formal.

Regular verbs always follow the verb conjugation rules:

1. Find the subject of the sentence and place it in the correct square of the verb tree.
2. Remove the "ar", "er", or "ir" from the Spanish verb infinitive that you have memorized to form the verb stem or root.
3. Add the verb ending to the verb stem from the square where you place the subject.

Any regular "ar" verb can be conjugated with these endings by following the verb conjugation rules.

Example: John sings.

1. John is in square 3
2. Remove the "ar" from the verb infinitive cantar to form cant
3. Add the verb ending to the verb stem from the subject square. Cant + a = canta
4. Finished sentence: Juan canta = John sings.

Specific Spanish verbs are called irregular because they do not follow the verb conjugation rules in one or both of two ways:

1. they do not form the expected stem or root.
2. They do not use the expected "ar", "er", or "ir" verb endings.

Irregular verbs must be memorized.

Example: ser-to be

To conjugate an irregular verb:

1. Find the subject of the sentence and place it in the correct square of the verb tree.
2. Use the verb form from the subject square.