Now that you know how to use pronouns and verbs, it is time for you to start building your verb repertoire. The verbs in this section will be most helpful in your profession. You will learn what they mean in English and you will see the Spanish infinitive (ending in "ar," "er," or "ir"), the first person singular (conjugated for "yo" and ending in "o"), and the third person singular (conjugated for "él," "ella," "usted," and ending in "a" or "e").
Irregular forms are noted with an asterisk. You will simply have to memorize these forms since they do not follow the patterns you've learned. Also, some of the verbs appear in bold; this is because we will discuss them in the next lesson.
English Verb | Spanish Infinitive | First Person | Third Person |
---|---|---|---|
to ask | preguntar | pregunto | pregunta |
to ask for | pedir | pido* | pide* |
to be | estar | estoy* | está* |
to be | ser | soy* | es* |
to be able to | poder | puedo* | puede* |
to breathe | respirar | respiro | respira |
to bring | traer | traigo* | trae |
to buy | comprar | compro | compra |
to call | llamar | llamo | llama |
to close | cerrar | cierro* | cierra* |
to come | venir | vengo* | viene* |
to do | hacer | hago* | hace* |
to drink | beber | bebo | bebe |
to eat | comer | como | come |
to explain | explicar | explico | explica |
to fill | surtir | surto | surte |
to fill out | llenar | lleno | llena |
to follow | seguir | sigo* | sigue* |
to give | dar | doy* | da |
to go | ir | voy* | va* |
to have | tener | tengo* | tiene* |
to hear | oír | oigo* | oye* |
to know | conocer | conozco* | conoce |
to know | saber | sé* | sabe |
to leave | salir | salgo* | sale |
to listen to | escuchar | escucho | escucha |
to live | vivir | vivo | vive |
to look at/watch | mirar | miro | mira |
to mix | mezclar | mezclo | mezcla |
to need | necesitar | necesito | necesita |
to open | abrir | abro | abre |
to ought to | deber | debo | debe |
to pay | pagar | pago | paga |
to pick up | recoger | recojo* | recoge |
to prefer | preferir | prefiero* | prefiere* |
to prepare | preparar | preparo | prepara |
to prescribe | recetar | receto | receta |
to put/place | poner | pongo* | pone |
to read | leer | leo | lee |
to refill | surtir | surto | surte |
to repeat | repetir | repito* | repite* |
to require | requerir | requiero* | requiere* |
to rest | descansar | descanso | descansa |
to return | devolver | devuelvo* | devuelve* |
to return | regresar | regreso | regresa |
to return | volver | vuelvo* | vuelve* |
to say/tell | decir | digo* | dice* |
to see | ver | veo* | ve* |
to sell | vender | vendo | vende |
to sign | firmar | firmo | firma |
to sleep | dormir | duermo* | duerme* |
to take | tomar | tomo | toma |
to talk/speak | hablar | hablo | habla |
to understand | comprender | comprendo | comprende |
to use | usar | uso | usa |
to wait | esperar | espero | espera |
to walk | caminar | camino | camina |
to want to | querer | quiero* | quiere* |
to work | trabajar | trabajo | trabaja |
to write | escribir | escribo | escribe |
[MUSIC PLAYING] There are a couple of other important verbs for you to learn that do not follow the patterns that you've just learned. The first one is the verb [SPEAKING SPANISH]. You've probably heard me use it. [SPEAKING SPANISH] means "there is" or "there are." It's spelled H-A-Y. The H is silent, so it's pronounced "eye."
Since it means both "there is" and "there are," you just need one form. [SPEAKING SPANISH] There is a pencil. [SPEAKING SPANISH] There are two pencils.
Also, [SPEAKING SPANISH] is used a lot, and it means "I like." Literally, it means "it is pleasing to me." [SPEAKING SPANISH] The book is pleasing to me. You can put anything after [SPEAKING SPANISH] to say what pleases you, or what pleases him or her or you, [SPEAKING SPANISH] as in "it pleases him," "it pleases her," or "it pleases you."
[MUSIC PLAYING]
There are a couple of other important verbs for you to learn that do not follow the patterns in the verb list.
The verb hay means there is/there are. "Hay" only has one form.
EXAMPLE
"Hay un lápiz" means "There is one pencil." "Hay dos lápices" means "There are two pencils."Also, you should know that me gusta... means I like... (literally, it means "...is pleasing to me").
EXAMPLE
"Me gusta el libro" means "The book is pleasing to me."The other form, le gusta..., means he/she/you like(s)... (again, literally, it means "...is pleasing to him/her/you").
EXAMPLE
"A Juan le gusta el libro" means "Juan likes the book."If you are struggling with a concept or terminology in the course, you may contact SpanishforNursesSupport@capella.edu for assistance.
If you are having technical issues, please contact learningcoach@sophia.org.
Source: This content has been adapted from "Spanish for Nurses" by Stephanie Langston.