Italian Regular Present Tense Verbs
In this lesson we’re going to learn how to conjugate the simple present tense of Italian regular verbs. Similar to the English simple present, presente Italian verbs express what is happening at this exact moment time.
Conjugating the Present Tense
The infinitives of regular Italian verbs end in either –ARE, –ERE, or –IRE. These are referred to as first, second, and third conjugation verbs, respectively. To conjugate the present tense, remove the infinitive ending and replace it with the appropriate subject pronoun ending.
First Conjugation: –ARE Verbs
Subject Pronoun | Ending
|
Lavorare
to work |
Translation | Prestare
to lend |
Translation |
io | -o | lavoro | I work | Presto | I lend |
tu | -i | lavori | you work | Presti | you lend |
lui/lei | -a | lavora | he/she/it works | Presta | he/she/it lends |
noi | -iamo | lavoriamo | we work | prestiamo | we lend |
voi | -ate | lavorate | all of you work | Prestate | all of you lend |
loro | -ano | lavorano | they work | Prestano | they lend |
Second Conjugation: –ERE Verbs
Subject Pronoun | Ending
|
Credere
to believe |
Translation | Precedere
to precede |
Translation |
io | -o | Credo | I believe | precedo | I precede |
tu | -i | Credi | you believe | precedi | you precede |
lui/lei | -e | Crede | he/she/it believes | precede | he/she/it precedes |
noi | -iamo | crediamo | we believe | precediamo | we precede |
voi | -ete | Credete | all of you believe | precedete | all of you precede |
loro | -eno | credeno | they believe | precedeno | they precede |
Third Conjugation: –IRE Verb Conjugations
Subject Pronoun | Ending*
|
Partire
to leave |
Translation | Capire
to understand |
Translation |
io | -o/-isco | parto | I leave | capisco | I understand |
tu | -i/-isci | parti | you leave | capisci | you understand |
lui/lei | -e/-isce | parte | he/she/it leaves | capisce | he/she/it understands |
noi | -iamo | partiamo | we leave | capiamo | we understand |
voi | -ite | partite | all of you leave | capite | all of you understand |
loro | -ono/
-iscono |
partono | they leave | capiscono | they understand |
*Certain regular –IRE verbs require an alternate conjugation in the io, tu, lui/lei, and loro forms in the present tense. These verbs, which include capire (to understand), preferire (to prefer), and gioire (to rejoice), require the insertion of –isc between the infinitive stem and the present tense ending.