A1Lesson 3: Present Indicative & Modal Verbs
Regular –IR verbs in the present indicative describe actions happening now or habitually, just like –AR and –ER verbs, but with their own ending pattern.
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The -IR conjugation is the fraternal twin of -ER conjugation – almost identical except for one crucial difference in the "nós" form. This similarity makes -IR verbs easy to learn if you already know -ER patterns.
Let's use PARTIR (to leave/depart) as our model:
TU → -ES (rarely used in Brazil)
NÓS → -IMOS (this is the unique -IR ending!)
A GENTE → -E (same as ele/ela)
| Pronoun | Ending | Example (ABRIR) | Example (PARTIR) | Example (DIVIDIR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eu | -o | abro | parto | divido |
| tu | -es | abres | partes | divides |
| você | -e | abre | parte | divide |
| ele/ela | -e | abre | parte | divide |
| nós | -imos | abrimos | partimos | dividimos |
| a gente | -e | abre | parte | divide |
| vocês | -em | abrem | partem | dividem |
| eles/elas | -em | abrem | partem | dividem |
Now you can see the complete pattern:
The only unique -IR ending is -imos for "nós"!
Though fewer in number, these -IR verbs are indispensable:
Some -IR verbs change their stem vowel in certain forms:
DORMIR (to sleep): o → u in 1st person
Just like other present tense forms:
