Italian regular verbs in the present tense [with audio]

Learn how to conjugate regular -are, -ere, and -ire verbs in the present tense and practice forming simple Italian sentences.

📌 Three groups of regular verbs

In Italian, regular verbs follow predictable patterns depending on their infinitive endings:

• -ARE (e.g., parlare – to speak)
• -ERE (e.g., leggere – to read)
• -IRE (e.g., dormire – to sleep)

🧍 Subject pronouns in Italian

• io = I
• tu = you (informal)
• lui / lei = he / she
• noi = we
• voi = you all
• loro = they

🔤 Present tense conjugation patterns

1. Verbs ending in -ARE (example: parlare)

• io parlo – I speak
• tu parli – you speak
• lui / lei parla – he / she speaks
• noi parliamo – we speak
• voi parlate – you all speak
• loro parlano – they speak

2. Verbs ending in -ERE (example: leggere)

• io leggo – I read
• tu leggi – you read
• lui / lei legge – he / she reads
• noi leggiamo – we read
• voi leggete – you all read
• loro leggono – they read

3. Verbs ending in -IRE (example: dormire)

• io dormo – I sleep
• tu dormi – you sleep
• lui / lei dorme – he / she sleeps
• noi dormiamo – we sleep
• voi dormite – you all sleep
• loro dormono – they sleep

👉 Note: Some -ire verbs (like capire, preferire, finire) insert -isc- in most forms:

• io capisco – I understand
• tu capisci – you understand
• lui / lei capisce – he / she understands
• noi capiamo – we understand
• voi capite – you all understand
• loro capiscono – they understand

✏️ Practice: simple sentences

With parlare (to speak):

• Io parlo italiano. – I speak Italian.
• Noi parliamo inglese. – We speak English.

With leggere (to read):

• Tu leggi un libro. – You read a book.
• Loro leggono il giornale. – They read the newspaper.

With dormire (to sleep):

• Lui dorme molto. – He sleeps a lot.
• Voi dormite bene? – Do you all sleep well?

🧠 Try it yourself!

Complete the sentences with the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses:

1. Io __________ italiano. (parlare)
2. Maria __________ un romanzo. (leggere)
3. Noi __________ otto ore ogni notte. (dormire)
4. Tu __________ bene lo spagnolo? (parlare)
5. I bambini __________ presto. (dormire)

You can write your answers in the comments. I’ll check and correct them for you! ✅