In the main display, a "verb conjugation number" is shown
for each verb. This determines how a verb conjugation is
done when you click on "conjugate".

Verb conjugation numbers 1-3 are the regular verb forms.
The majority of verbs fall into one of these three forms.
The rest of the numbers are for irregular verbs.

Below are three sections:
  1. Explanation of the Tenses
  2. Verb Conjugation Memorization Tricks
  3. Verb Conjugation Charts/Explanations

We do not pretend that this document is easy reading nor
the best way to learn this material.

However, if you want to be able to add verbs to the
database so that the proper conjugation can be shown,
you have to enter the correct conjugation number, which
means digging through this info.

On the bright side, we found similar charts in various
large, expensive dictionaries to be incomplete,
sometimes contradictory of each other, and usually
without the explanation found in this file.

This file is in your Ventanas directory as VERBS.DOC.
You can load this file into Notepad (or other editor)
to read and edit it, if you wish. You may NOT
distribute edited copies of the file.

1. EXPLANATION OF THE TENSES:
============================

Infinitive:
  In Spanish, all verbs end with -ar, -er, or -ir.
     In the conjugation charts in Section 3, below, only
     the endings for each form are show. These endings
     are the same for all verbs with the same Verb
     Conjugation Number. For example, first person
     singular ending for the present tense for all
     -ar verbs is -o.

     To use the endings, remove the last two letters
     from the infinitive and add the letters shown. For
     example, 'to speak' is 'hablar'. So "I speak" is
     "hablo". (Drop the "-ar" from "hablar" and add the
     first person singular ending of "-o".)
  USES:
  1. The Infinitive is used as a verbal noun, just like
     the '-ing' (gerund) form in English:
        Parting is such sweet sorrow.  El partir es...
  2. It may be used in positive (not negative) commands:
        Write a letter.  Escribir...

Present Indicative tense ("Pres." in the charts):
  1. Action that is happening in the present.
  2. With 'desde' or 'hace' as the equivalent of 'have been':
     I have been eating since noon.
        Como desde el mediadía.
     I have eaten here for many years.
        Hace muchos años que como aquí.
  3. With 'acabar de' and 'por poco' as the equivalent of
     '...have just'
     I have just eaten.  Acabo de como.
     I almost ate here. Por poco como aquí.

Imperfect Indicative tense ("Imp" in the charts):
  1. Express action which was continual:
     I used to love to eat.  Amaba comer.
  2. Express continuing action in relation to other action:
     (He left while) I was eating.
        Partío mientras yo comaba.
  3. To give a descriptive setting for a narrative:
     It was raining and the dogs were howling...
  4. To express emotion, thought or knowledge in the past:
     We knew the story.  Sabíamos la historia.
  5. With 'acabar de' and 'por poco' for 'had just' in
        the past.

Preterite - Simple Past tense:
  1. Action completed in the past.

Future tense ("Futr."):
  1. Action that has yet to occur.

Conditional tense ("Cond."):
  1. Express desire:
     I would like to eat.  Comería
  2. State alternatives to facts:
     I would eat, but I'm on a diet.  Comería...
  3. Express probability in the past:
     The food probably wasn't that good...

Present Participle:
  For -ar verbs, add -ando to the stem:  amar -> amando
  For -er/-ir verbs, add -iendo:  comer -> comiendo
  In cases where adding -iendo would leave an 'i' between
     two vowels,
     change the 'i' to a 'y':
       caer -> cayendo
       construir -> construendo
  USES:
  1. With 'estar' to show continuing action.
     I am reading the book. Estoy leyendo el libro.
     I was reading the book.  Yo estaba leyendo el libro.
  2. Express manner, means, cause, condition, or time in
       a series of adverbial constructions:
     He came singing.  Vino cantando.
     By eating, one becomes fat.  Comiendo engorda uno.
     If you eat a lot...   Comiendo...

Past Participle:
  For -ar verbs, add -ado to the stem:  amar -> amado
  For -er/-ir verbs, add -ido:  comer -> comido
  USES:
  1. Form compound tenses with haber:
     The visitor has left his address.
       El visitante ha dejado su dirección.
  2. For the true passive with 'ser':
     Smoking is prohibited.
       Es prohibido fumar.
  3. Express completed action or results using estar,
       econtrarse, quedarse, sentirse, hallarse, etc.:
     The work is finished.
       El trabajo está terminado.
     They found themselves tired.
       Se encontraron consados.
  4. Express the time or circumstances of a state or action:
     The class being over, they left.
       Terminada la clase, se fueron.
  5. To use a verb as an adjective:
     the dead man.  el hombre muerto.

Present Perfect tense:
  1. With 'haber' to express a state/action completed prior
     to present time:
       I have eaten.  Yo he omido.
     For all regular verbs, the word 'haber' is used along
       with the past participle form of the word.

Other Perfect tenses:
  1. The uses are the same as in English and are formed with
       'haber' plus the past participle of the word:
     Pluperfect:  I had (during that time)...  yo había...
     Past pefect: I had (at a specific time)...  yo hube...
     Future perfect: I will have...   yo habré...
     Conditional perfect: I would have...   yo habría...

Imperative mood ("Impr" in the charts):
  1. The tú and vosotros forms are used only in affirmative
       commands; the subjunctive is used for the negatives.
     Usted and ustedes forms are used in both affirmative
       and negative.

Subjunctive:
  1. Express things which are not true or which are uncertain:
     If I were king...  If you can use it...
  2. Express desire or a command with 'que' present or implied:
     Don't do that.  No haga usted eso.
  3. Express hope, fear, regret in phrases starting with 'que':
     I am sorry that I cannot go.  Siento que no pueda ir.
  4. In phrases following 'es probable que', 'es necesario que':
     It is fitting that you go.  It is necessary that you go.
  5. In phrases following indefinite expressions:
     dondequiera que vaya...   quienquiera que me quite el saco
  6. In conditional phrases beginning with 'if' or equivalent:
     si el no fuera...   aunque me hubiera pagado...

Present Subjunctive ("PrSb")
  Includes both the present and future tenses of the subjunctive.

Imperfect Subjunctive ("ImSb"):
  Includes the past, definite past and conditional tenses,
    usually following principal verbs in these tenses:
  He hoped that she would study.
    Esperaba que estudiase.
  I would like you to shop now.
    Me gustaría que hiciese sus compras ahora.

Present/Past Perfect Subjunctive:
  Present Perfect includes present and future perfect tenses.
  Past Perfect includes pluperfect, past perfect, and
    conditional perfect.
  For all regular forms, use the past participle after the
    correct subjunctive form of 'haber'.

Reflexive Verbs:
  1. Express an action which is directed toward the subject,
       either directly or indirectly:
         to eat breakfast (indirectly: to feed yourself)
         to go away (to move yourself away)
  2. Express the passive:
     A lot of money is made...   The grass was cut...

  To make the reflexive in all verb forms, add the reflexive
    pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) to the verb:
    I (etc.) wash myself -  me lavo, te lavas, se lava,
      nos lavamos, os lavais, se lavan


2. VERB CONJUGATION MEMORIZATION TRICKS:
=======================================

The following point out similarities in the regular verb
tables which can make them easier to remember. The 'key
thought' is a simple thought which can help you remember
how to create a particular tense. An explanation of the
key thought follows it.

1. ** PRESENT INDICATIVE & PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE **

Key thought:
   For subjunctive, swap -ar and -er present tense endings.

Except for 1st person singular, the present subjunctive form
for -ar verbs is the same as the present indicative for -er
verbs, and the present subjunctive for -er/-ir verbs is the
same as the present indicative as the -ar verbs.

2. ** IMPERFECT INDICATIVE & IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE **

Key thought:
   Imperfect subjunctive adds an R to imperfect indicative.

For -ar verbs, the imperfect indicative ("I was ...ing") and
the imperfect subjunctive ("I might ...") have indentical
endings (-aba, -abas, -aban, -ábamos, -abais, -aban), except
that the imperfect subjunctive form has an 'r' instead of a
'b' (-ara, -aras, -aran, etc.)

For -er/-ir verbs, the imperfect indicative ends with -ía,
-ías, etc. and the imperfect subjunctive adds 'er' after the
'i': -iera, ieras, etc.

3. ** IMPERATIVE & SUBJUNCTIVE **

Key thought:  imperative copies subjunctive

The imperative and subjunctive forms are the same except for
  the 2nd person.
For negative commands, even the 2nd person is the same:
     Eat! = ¡come!
but:
     Don't eat! = ¡no comas!

4. ** -ER AND -IR VERBS **

Key thought:
   -ir verb endings copy -er endings except in present.

-ir and -er verbs are the same except for 1st & 2nd person
plural of the present tense, if you look at future and
conditional as explained next.

5. ** FUTURE & CONDITIONAL SAME FOR ALL VERBS **

Key thought:
   Future and conditional rarely change, even for irregulars

Instead of thinking of the future and conditional endings
being -aré, -eré, and -iré, as shown in the tables below,
think of them as being the infinitive forms with the endings
indicated below:

Key thought:  Future's ending pattern is 1e-2a-2e-1a

1 e, then 2 a's, then 2 e's, then 1 a:
  -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án

Key thought:  Conditional = infinitive + 'í'
  + Present except for 'I'

Note that for the Conditional, the endings after the 'í' are
the same as the Present for -ar verbs, except for the 1st
person.

     Cond.:  -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían



3. VERB CONJUGATION CHARTS/EXPLANATIONS:
=======================================

The following sections explain each of the form numbers
assigned to verbs in the database:

(1) -ar
               Pres.    Imp.     Pret.    Futr.
I              -o       -aba     -é       -aré
you (familiar) -as      -abas    -aste    -arás
he/she/it/you  -a       -aba     -ó       -ará
we             -amos    -ábamous -amos    -aremos
you (plural)   -áis     -abais   -asteis  -aréis
they           -an      -aban    -aron    -arán

               Cond.     Impr.   PrSb.    ImSb.*
I              -aría             -e       -ara
you (familiar) -arías    -a      -es      -aras
he/she/it/you  -aría     -e      -e       -ara
we             -aríamos  -emos   -emos    -áramos
you (plural)   -aríais   -ad     -éis     -arais
they           -arían    -en     -en      -aran

*Imperfect Subjunctive can use 'se' in place of the 'ra':
  -ara = -ase,
  -iera = -iese, etc.
present part.: -ando, past part: -ado


(2) -er
               Pres.    Imp.     Pret.    Futr.
I              -o       -ía      -í       -eré
you (familiar) -es      -ías     -iste    -erás
he/she/it/you  -e       -ía      -ió      -erá
we             -emos    -íamous  -imos    -eremos
you (plural)   -éis     -íais    -isteis  -eréis
they           -en      -ían     -ieron   -erán

               Cond.    Impr.    PrSb.    ImSb.*
I              -ería             -a       -iera
you (familiar) -erías   -e       -as      -ieras
he/she/it/you  -ería    -a       -a       -iera
we             -eríamos -amos    -amos    -iéramos
you (plural)   -eríais  -ed      -áis     -ierais
they           -erían   -an      -an      -ieran

present part.: -iendo, past part: -ido


(3) -ir
               Pres.    Imp.     Pret.    Futr.
I              -o       -ía      -í       -iré
you (familiar) -es      -ías     -iste    -irás
he/she/it/you  -e       -ía      -ió      -irá
we             -imos    -íamous  -imos    -iremos
you (plural)   -ís      -íais    -isteis  -iréis
they           -en      -ían     -ieron   -irán

               Cond.    Impr.    PrSb.    ImSb.*
I              -iría             -a       -iera
you (familiar) -irías   -e       -as      -ieras
he/she/it/you  -iría    -a       -a       -iera
we             -iríamos -amos    -amos    -iéramos
you (plural)   -iríais  -ed      -áis     -ierais
they           -irían   -an      -an      -ieran

present part.: -iendo, past part: -ido


IRREGULAR VERBS:
---------------
Irregular verbs are usually only irregular in certain tenses
and/or persons. The other tenses/persons follow the same rules
as in the tables above.

In the following, words shown in parenthesis are regular forms.

Not all irregularities in an entire conjugation are shown,
just enough to illustrate the rule to the irregularity.

Reminder:
  The number in parentheses is the Verb Conjugation Number.
  All verbs with the same number follow the same rules.

(4) Change the stem vowel 'e' to 'ie' when it would normally
be accented when spoken:
    Example: cerrar
      present:
       cierro, cierras, cierra, (cerramos, cerráis), cierran
    exception: errar
      a 'y' is substituted any place 'ie' would occur with
      the above change:
      present:
       yerro, yerras, yerra, (erramos, erráis), yerran

(5) Change the stem vowel 'o' to 'ue' when accented:
    Example: contar - count
      present:
       cuento, cuentas, cuenta, (contamos, contáis), cuentan
    Example: mover - move
      present: muevo, mueve, mueve, etc.
    Exceptions:
      agorar - the 'u' in the 'ue' is pronounced:
        agüero, etc.
      oler - a starting 'ue' is changed to 'hue':
        present:
          huelo, hueles, huele, (olemos, oléis), huelen, etc.

(6) Change the stem vowel 'i' to 'ie' or 'u' to 'ue' when
    accented. This includes all verbs ending in -irir, and
    others as indicated.
    example:
      jugar -> juego (not 'jugo') (also see #43)
      adquirir -> adquiero (not 'adquiro')

(7) Change the stem vowel 'e' to 'ie' when accented and to
    'i' in 3rd persons preterite and 1st & 2nd persons
    plural of the present subjunctive and all of the
    imperfect subjunctive. This form includes all verbs
    ending in -entir, -erir, and -ertir, plus others as
    indicated.
    example:  sentir - to feel
      siento, sientes, siente, (sentimos), (sentís), sienten

(8) Change the stem vowel 'o' to 'ue' when accented. When
    the stem vowel is not accented and the ending begins
    with 'a' or a dipthong, the 'o' changes to u.
    example: dormir - to sleep
      duermo, duermes, duerme, (dormimos), (dormís), duermen

(9) Change the stem vowel 'e' to 'i' when accented or when
    the suffix begins with 'a' or a dipthong. This includes
    all verbs ending in -ebir, -edir (except agredir and
    transgredir), -egir, -eguir, -emir, -enchir, -endir,
    -estir, & -etir.
    Example:  pedir - to ask
      pido, pides, pide, (pedimos), (pedís), piden

(10) Change the stem vowel 'e' to 'i' when accented or
     when the suffix starts with an 'a' or a dipthong.
     If the resulting 'i' forms a dipthong with the first
     vowel in the suffix, the 'i' is accented.
     Also, if the suffix starts with a dipthong and the
     dipthong starts with an 'i', the 'i' is dropped.
     Includes all verbs ending in -eír and -eñir.
     Example: reír - to laugh
       río, ríes, ríe, (riendimos), (riendís), ríen
     Example of dropping the 'i':  teñir - to dye
       tiño, tiñes, tiñe, (teñimos), (teñís), tiñen

(11) Change the final 'c' of the verb stem to 'zc' when
     it precedes 'a' or 'o'. Includes all verbs ending in
     -acer (except hacer, placer, yacer), -ecer
     (except mecer, remecer), -ocer (except cocer) and
     -ucir (except -ducir).
     Example: agradecer - to appreciate
       present:
         agradezco (rest of present is regular)
       subjunctive:
         agradezca, -cas, -ca, -camos, -cáis, -can

(12) Change the final 'c' of the verb stem to 'zc' before
     a or o in the present and the present subjunctive.
     The 'c' is changed to 'j' in the past, the
     imperfect subjunctive, and the future subjunctive.
     Includes all -ducir.
     Example: conducir - to lead
       present:
         conduzco (the rest is regular)
       past:
         conduje, -jiste, -jo, -jimos, -jisteis, jeron
       present subjunctive:
         conduzca, etc.
       imperfect subjunctive:
         condujera (or condujese), etc.
       future subjunctive:
         condujere, etc.
       imperative:
         conduzca usted, conduzcan ustedes

(13) Drop the 'i' of the suffix when part of a dipthong.
     Includes all verbs ending in -añer, -añir, iñir, uñir,
     -eller, and -ullir. Note that the pronuciation of -ño
     and -ñeron is about the same as -nio and -nieron
     while -ñio and ñieron would be a toungue-twister.
     Example: tañer - to toll
       (present is all regular: taño, tañes, tañe, etc.)
       past: él/usted tañó (not tañió),
             ellos/ustedes tañeron (not tañieron)
       imp.subj.: tañera, tañeras, tañera, etc.
              (or tañese, tañeses, etc.)
       fut.subj.: tañere, tañeres, tañere, etc.
       present participle: tañendo

(14) Add a 'y' after the stem vowel 'u' before 'a', 'e',
     and 'o'. Also, 'y' replaces 'i' in the gerund form.
     Includes all verbs ending in -uir except inmiscuir.
     Example: huir - to flee
       present: huyo, huyes, huye, (huimos), (huís), huyen
       past: all regular
         (huí, huiste, huió, huimos, huisteis, huieron)
       pres.subj.: huya, huyas, hua, huyamos, huyáis, huyan
       imperative: huye tú, huya, usted, huyan ustedes
       pres.part: huyendo

(15) Add a 'g' after the 'l' of the stem when it is
     followed by 'a' or 'o'. In future and conditional
     tenses, the 'd' is added to the stem and the
     'e' of the imperative singular is dropped.
     Includes valer (to be worth) and salir (to leave):
     present: salgo (not salo), (the rest is regular)
     future: saldré (not saliré), saldrás, etc.
     conditional: saldría, saldrías, etc.
     present subjunctive: salga, salgas, salga, etc.
     imperative: sal tú, salga usted, salgan ustedes

(40) 'i' or 'u' of the stem is stressed when it is the
     last letter of the stem and is part of the last
     syllable and the following letter is not accented.
     Example: enviar - to send
     present:
       envío, envías, envía, (enviamos, enviáis), envían
     present subj:
       envíe, envíes, envíe, (enviemos, enviés), envíen
     Example: situar: sitúo, sitúas, etc.

(41) Change stem 'z' to 'c' before 'e'.
     Example: cruzar - breed
     present is regular: cruzo, etc.
     pres.subj.: cruce, cruces, etc.
     preterite:
       crucé, (cruzaste, cruzó), crucemos, crucéis, crucen

(42) Change stem 'c' to 'qu' before 'e'.
     Example: picar - prick, sting
     present is regular: pico, picas, etc.
     pres.subj.: pique, piques, etc.
     preterite: piqué, (picaste, picó, etc.)

(43) Change stem 'g' to 'gu' (the 'u' is silent) before 'e'.
     Example: pagar - to pay
     present is all regular
     pres.subj.: pague, pagues, etc.
     preterite: pagué, (pagaste, pagó, etc.)

(44) Change the 'u' of the stem to 'ü' (so that it is
       pronounced) before 'e'.
     Example: averiguar
     present is regular
     pres.subj: averugüe, averigües, averigüe, averigüemos,
       averigüéis, -guen
     preterite: averigüé, (averiguaste, averiguó, etc.)

(45) Change the final 'c' of the verb stem to 'z' before
       'a' and 'o'.
     Example: vencer - beat, win
     present: venzo, (vences, etc.)
     pres.subj:
       venza, venzas, venza, venzamos, venzáis, venzan
     preterite: (vencí, etc.)

(46) Change the final 'g' of the stem to 'j' before 'a' and 'o'.
     Example: coger - catch, pluck
     present: cojo, (coges, coge, etc.)
     pres.subj: coja, cojas, etc.
     preterite: (cogí, cogiste, etc.)

(47) Unstressed 'i' between vowels is written 'y'
     Example: leer - read
       gerund: leyendo
       preterite:
         (leí, leíste), leyó, (leímos, leísteis), leyeron

(48) placer (to please) - exclusively 3rd person singular.
     pres.subj: plazca (sometimes plega or plegue)
     preterite: plació (sometimes plugo)
     imp.subj.: placiera (or -ese; sometimes plugiera/-ese)

(49) raer - scrape, erase
     present: raigo (sometimes 'rayo'), (raes, etc.) like #19,
     pres.subj: like #19, but sometimes raya, rayas, etc.

(50) roer - gnaw, nibble, corrode
     present: roo or roigo or royo
     subjunc: roa or roiga or roya
     gerund: royendo

(51) Omit the 'u' after stem 'g' before 'a' and 'o'.
     Example: distinguir - distinguish
     present: distingo, (the rest is regular)
     pres.subj: distinga, -gas, etc.
     preterite: all regular

(52) Change 'qu' to 'c' before 'a' and 'o'.
     Example: delinquir - offend
     present: delinco, (delinques, etc.)
     pres.subj: delinca, delincas, etc.

(53) Example: avergonzar

(54) Combines #41 and #4.  Example: empezar

(55) Combines #46 and #9.  Example: regir

(56) Combines #41 and #5.  Example: forzar

(57) Combines #43 and #6.  Example: jugar

(58) Combines #43 and #4.  Example: plegar

(59) Combines #13 and #9.  Example: reñir

(60) Example: seguir

(61) Combines #45 and #5.  Example: torcer

(62) Combines #42 and #5.  Example: trocar

(63) Combines #43 and #5.  Example: rogar, colgar

Discrepancies:

Various 'authoritative' references sometimes disagree
about verb forms. Following are a few of these:

coger:  verb type #2 or #46

leer:   verb type #2 or #47

licuar: the ending stem 'u' accented or not.

mullir: verb type #3 or #13

teñir:  verb type #9 or #11

vencer: verb type #2 or #11

