Using Common Spanish Verbs

This lesson covers some of the common Spanish verbs. You have already been introduced to the rules for conjugating verbs in a previous lesson (if not, refer to the list of lessons on the homepage), but we look at that again here, along with examples in sentences, so you can get comfortable using Spanish verbs quickly.

Aquí vamos! (Here we go):

Common Spanish verbs expressing desire or necessity
followed by an infinitive

One way to express a desire or necessity, is to conjugate verbs like querer (to want), desear (to want, to wish), necesitar (to need), preferir (to prefer), and follow them with an infinitive verb. This is a common way to say things in Spanish speaking countries. Some examples:

Querer = to want
Yo quiero comer pescado/pollo/carne. (I want to eat fish/chicken/beef.)
Tú quieres ir a un bar. (You want to go to a bar.)
El quiere conocer la ciudad. (He wants to know the city.)
Nosotros queremos encontrar un cyber-café. (We want to find a cyber-cafe.)
Ellos quieren beber cerveza. (They want to drink beer.)

Desear = to want, to desire, to wish for
Yo deseo descansar mucho. (I want to rest a lot.)
Tú deseas visitar los museos. ( You want to visit the museums.)
El desea encontrar un buen restaurante. (He wishes to find a good restaurant.)
Nosotros deseamos visitar los lugares turísticos. (We desire to visit touristic places.)
Ellos desean leer el periódico. (They want to read the newspaper.)

Necesitar = to need, to require
Yo necesito viajar a la capital. (I need to travel to the capital.)
Tú necesitas comprar una botella con agua. (You need to buy a bottle of water.)
El necesita encontrar un mapa de la ciudad. (He needs to find a map of the city).
Nosotros necesitamos llevar las mochilas. (We need to carry the backpacks.)
Ellos necesitan buscar un hotel. (They need to find a hotel.)

Preferir = to prefer
Yo prefiero esperar en la recepción. (I prefer to wait in the front desk/reception.)
Tú prefieres comprar los boletos ahora. (You prefer to buy the tickets now.)
El prefiere viajar por avión. (He prefers to travel by plane.)
Nosotros preferimos cenar después. (We prefer to dine later.)
Ellos prefieren tomar un taxi. (They prefer to take a taxi-cab.)

Common Verbs of desire or necessity followed by a direct object

We can use also use verbs like querer (to want), desear (to want, to wish), necesitar (to need), preferir (to prefer) follow by a direct object.

Querer = to want
Yo quiero una soda. (I want a soda.)
Tú quieres un carro. (You want a car.)
El quiere una cena vegetariana. (He wants a vegetarian dinner.)
Nosotros queremos las guias turísticas. (We want the turistic guides.)
Ellos quieren muchas cervezas. (They want a lot of beer.)

Desear = to want, to desire, to wish for
Yo deseo una habitación con ventana a la calle. (I want a room with a window to the street.)
Tú deseas un chocolate caliente. ( You want a hot cocoa.)
El desea un buen restaurante. (He wants a good restaurant.)
Nosotros deseamos papas fritas. (We want french fries.)
Ellos desean el periódico. (They want the newspaper.)

Necesitar = to need, to require
Yo necesito zapatos nuevos. (I need new shoes.)
Tú necesitas una botella con agua. (You need a bottle of water.)
El necesita un mapa de la ciudad. (He needs a map of the city.)
Nosotros necesitamos las mochilas. (We need the backpacks.)
Ellos necesitan un hotel económico. (They need a cheap hotel.)

Preferir = to prefer
Yo prefiero las frutas frescas. (I prefer the fresh fruits.)
Tú prefieres un restaurante sencillo. (You prefer a simple restaurant.)
El prefiere una caminata por la ciudad. (He prefers a walk around the city.)
Nosotros preferimos un desayuno continental. (We prefer a continental breakfast.)
Ellos prefieren un taxi. (They prefer a taxi-cab.)

Note: Notice that in both groups I have underlined the conjugation of the verb, so you can get used to using the right form easily.

Practice using these common Spanish verbs and you'll get a feel for how to conjugate most verbs.