Conjugating "-er" Verbs in Spanish: The Verb "Comer"
Verb conjugation is essential in Spanish, as it helps speakers form correct sentences based on the subject performing the action. In this lesson, we’ll focus on "-er" verbs using comer (to eat) as an example, and break down how to apply the correct endings.
1. Understanding "-er" Verb Conjugation
Regular Spanish verbs fall into three main categories based on their endings:
"-ar" verbs (hablar – to speak)
"-er" verbs (comer – to eat)
"-ir" verbs (vivir – to live)
Each group follows specific conjugation rules. Let’s look at "-er" verbs in the present tense.
Present Tense Endings for ''-er'' Verbs
To conjugate comer correctly, follow these steps:
Remove the "-er" ending from comer, leaving the verb stem: com-.
Add the appropriate present tense ending for each subject pronoun.
2. Present Tense Conjugation of "Comer"
Yo como........I eat
Tú comes.......You eat (informal)
Usted come..You eat (formal)
Él/Ella/come..He/She eats;
Nosotros/Nosotras comemos...We eat
Vosotros/tras coméis.You all eat (Spain)
Ustedes comen............you all eat
(Most used in Latin America)
Ellos/Ellas comen.............They eat
Example Sentences:
- Yo como frutas.........(I eat fruit.)
- Ella come arroz........(She eats rice.)
- Tú comes pizza........(You eat pizza.)
- Nosotros comemos en el restaurante.(We eat at the restaurant.)
- Ustedes comen pan con mantequilla en la mañana.(You all eat bread with butter in the morning.)
- Él come hamburguesas..(He eats hamburgers.)
- Yo como chocolate.........(I eat chocolate.)
- ¿Tú comes verduras?......(Do you eat vegetables?)
- Mi abuelo come sopa caliente..(My grandfather eats hot soup.)
- Nosotros comemos mucho......(We eat a lot.)
- Ella come pescado los viernes..(She eats fish on Fridays.)
- ¿Usted come carne?...............(Do you eat meat?)
Juan y Marta comen tacos en México. (Juan and Marta eat tacos in Mexico.)
Exercise, complete with the correct form of the verb comer
- Yo.......... ensaladas. (I eat salads.)
- Mi perro........ su comida. (My dog eats his food.)
- Nosotros........ temprano los domingos. (We eat early on Sundays.)
- Ellas........ postre después de la cena. (They eat dessert after dinner.)
- ¿Ustedes........ en casa o en el trabajo? (Do you all eat at home or at work?)
- Tú........ cereal con leche en el desayuno. (You eat cereal with milk for breakfast.)
- ¿Qué comida ........ cuando estás en Nueva York? (What food do you eat when you are in New York?)
- Nosotros ....... juntos en el restaurante. (We eat together at the restaurant.
Answers
1 como
2 come
3 comemos
4 comen
5 comen
6 comes
7 comes
8 comemos
Diálogo, una pareja comiendo en el restaurante
Restaurante "El Sabor Latino"
👤 Carlos: Como aquí cada vez que quiero disfrutar comida auténtica.
👩 Laura: Sí, la comida es increíble. Yo usualmente como pasta, pero hoy quiero comer algo diferente.
👤 Carlos: ¿comes carne a menudo?
👩 Laura: No mucho, pero hoy quiero disfrutar la ocasión. Nosotros comemos en casa casi siempre, así que salir es especial.
👤 Carlos: Totalmente de acuerdo.
👩 Laura: Después de esto, comemos un postre, ¿te parece?
3. Practicing with Other "-er" Verbs
Now that you know how to conjugate comer, try practicing with other common "-er" verbs:
beber (to drink) → Yo bebo agua. (I drink water.)
leer (to read) → Ellos leen un libro. (They read a book.)
correr (to run) → Nosotros corremos en el parque. (We run in the park.)
Conclusion
Conjugating "-er" verbs in Spanish follows a predictable pattern that makes it easy to learn. By mastering these endings, students can create sentences confidently and expand their ability to express themselves in Spanish!
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