In Italian, the present indicative tense works much like the present tense in English. To conjugate Italian verbs in the present indicative tense, you first need to understand that Italian infinitives (the "to" form, as in to die, to sleep, to dream) end in one of three ways — and that you conjugate the verb based on that ending:
Verbs that end in -are
Verbs that end in -ere
Verbs that end in -ire
The endings of regular verbs don't change. Master the endings for each mode and tense, and you're good to go! Keep in mind that verbs agree with subjects and subject pronouns (io, tu, lui/lei/Lei, noi, voi, loro/Loro):
| Subject Pronoun | Lavorare (to work) | Prendere (to take; to order) | Partire (to leave) | Capire (to understand) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| io | lavoro | prendo | parto | capisco |
| tu | lavori | prendi | parti | capisci |
| lui/lei/Lei | lavora | prende | parte | capisce |
| noi | lavoriamo | prendiamo | partiamo | capiamo |
| voi | lavorate | prendete | partite | capite |
| loro/Loro | lavorano | prendono | partono | capiscono |
Unfortunately, there are also irregular verbs, which you have to memorize. You'll find that the more you practice them, the easier it is to use them in conversation:
| Subject Pronoun | Andare (to go) | Bere (to drink) | Dare (to give) | Fare (to do) | Stare (to stay) | Venire (to come) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| io | vado | bevo | do | faccio | sto | vengo |
| tu | vai | bevi | dai | fai | stai | vieni |
| lui/lei/Lei | va | beve | dà | fa | sta | viene |
| noi | andiamo | beviamo | diamo | facciamo | stiamo | veniamo |
| voi | andate | bevete | date | fate | state | venite |
| loro/Loro | vanno | bevono | danno | fanno | stanno | vengono |