-IR Verbs

Big Idea

-IR Verbs is about turning a grammar rule into one small, usable habit.

Verbs are the engine of a sentence. Start with the moment in time, then choose the form that carries that moment.

Examples

Example 1

yo vivo
I live

Notice vivo: Present -ir ending.

Example 2

tú vives
you live

Notice vives: Many forms look like -er verbs.

Example 3

nosotros vivimos
we live

Notice vivimos: The nosotros form keeps -imos.

1. Step 1: Read the Spanish example out loud.
2. Step 2: Name the job of the grammar pattern in one phrase.
3. Step 3: Change one noun, verb, or person and say the sentence again.

Watch for this: The trap is trying to master the whole topic at once. Learn the center first; the exceptions make more sense after that.

With -IR Verbs, begin with meaning and time. The ending is there to serve the sentence.