Present Tense: Regular Verbs
Il Presente Indicativo
The present tense is used to express current actions, habits, and general truths. To conjugate a regular verb, you remove the infinitive ending (-are, -ere, -ire) and add the specific ending for the subject.
The Three Conjugations
Every regular verb falls into one of these three buckets. While the endings for 'io', 'tu', and 'noi' are similar across all groups, the others vary.
| Subject | -ARE (Parlare) | -ERE (Prendere) | -IRE (Partire) |
|---|---|---|---|
| io (I) | parl-o | prend-o | part-o |
| tu (you) | parl-i | prend-i | part-i |
| lui/lei (he/she) | parl-a | prend-e | part-e |
| noi (we) | parl-iamo | prend-iamo | part-iamo |
| voi (you all) | parl-ate | prend-ete | part-ite |
| loro (they) | parl-ano | prend-ono | part-ono |
Group 1: -ARE Verbs
This is the largest group of verbs in Italian. Most new verbs added to the language (like 'formattare') follow this pattern.
- The 'Lei' (formal you) uses the same form as 'lui/lei' (parla).
- The 'noi' ending (-iamo) is identical for all three groups.
- For verbs ending in -care or -gare (like 'giocare'), add an 'h' in the 'tu' and 'noi' forms to keep the hard sound (giochi).
Group 3 Special Case: -ISC Verbs
Many -ire verbs (like 'capire' or 'pulire') require the suffix '-isc-' between the stem and the ending for certain subjects.
| Subject | Normal -IRE (Sentire) | ISC -IRE (Capire) |
|---|---|---|
| io | sent-o | cap-isc-o |
| tu | sent-i | cap-isc-i |
| lui/lei | sent-e | cap-isc-e |
| noi | sent-iamo | cap-iamo (No ISC!) |
| voi | sent-ite | cap-ite (No ISC!) |
| loro | sent-ono | cap-isc-ono |
When to use the Present Tense
In Italian, the simple present can often cover meanings that require 'am/is/are + -ing' in English.
| Context | Italian Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Current Action | Io mangio una mela. | I eat / I am eating an apple. |
| Habit | Lavoro ogni giorno. | I work every day. |
| Future Intent | Il treno parte domani. | The train leaves tomorrow. |
Checklist for Conjugation
When you see a verb, follow these steps:
- 1. Identify the infinitive ending (-are, -ere, or -ire).
- 2. Drop the ending to find the 'stem'.
- 3. Match the subject to the correct ending suffix.
- 4. Check if it's an -ire verb that requires 'isc'.
Spelling & Pronunciation Tips
Italian values consistent sounds. Watch out for these spelling adjustments in -ARE verbs:
| Verb Type | Subject | Correct Form |
|---|---|---|
| -care (cercare) | tu | cerchi (add 'h') |
| -gare (pagare) | noi | paghiamo (add 'h') |
| -ciare (cominciare) | tu | cominci (drop extra 'i') |
| -giare (mangiare) | noi | mangiamo (drop extra 'i') |
Practice Sentences
Common Regular Verbs
Build your vocabulary with these high-frequency regular verbs: