A1 Verb Conjugation 1 min read Easy

1st Conjugation: Present Tense Basics

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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

First conjugation verbs in Latvian drop the -t ending and add specific endings like -u, -i, -a to show who is acting.

  • Remove the -t from the infinitive: strādāt -> strādā-.
  • Add the 1st person singular ending -u: es strādāju.
  • Add the 3rd person ending -a (same for singular and plural): viņš strādā.
Infinitive (-t) + Personal Ending = Conjugated Verb

Conjugation of 'strādāt' (to work)

Person Pronoun Ending Verb Form
1st Sing.
Es
-u
strādāju
2nd Sing.
Tu
-i
strādā
3rd Sing.
Viņš/Viņa
-
strādā
1st Plur.
Mēs
-am
strādājam
2nd Plur.
Jūs
-at
strādājat
3rd Plur.
Viņi/Viņas
-
strādā

Meanings

The first conjugation is the most common group of Latvian verbs. It describes actions performed in the present time.

1

Present Habitual

Actions that happen regularly.

“Es eju uz skolu.”

“Viņš dzer kafiju.”

Reference Table

Reference table for 1st Conjugation: Present Tense Basics
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Stem + Ending
Es lasu
Negative
ne + Stem + Ending
Es nelasu
Question
Vai + Verb
Vai tu lasi?
1st Person
Stem + u/am
Es lasu
2nd Person
Stem + i/at
Tu lasi
3rd Person
Stem
Viņš lasa

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Es strādāju.

Es strādāju. (Work)

Neutral
Es strādāju.

Es strādāju. (Work)

Informal
Es strādāju.

Es strādāju. (Work)

Slang
Es kapāju.

Es kapāju. (Work)

Verb Conjugation Map

Infinitive

Steps

  • Remove -t strādā-
  • Add ending strādāju

Examples by Level

1

Es lasu grāmatu.

I am reading a book.

2

Tu strādā daudz.

You work a lot.

3

Viņš dzīvo Rīgā.

He lives in Riga.

4

Mēs ejam mājās.

We are going home.

1

Es nelasu šo žurnālu.

I am not reading this magazine.

2

Vai tu dzer kafiju?

Are you drinking coffee?

3

Viņi nestrādā šodien.

They are not working today.

4

Mēs runājam latviski.

We speak Latvian.

1

Viņa strādā par skolotāju, jo viņai patīk bērni.

She works as a teacher because she likes children.

2

Mēs bieži ejam uz teātri, kad esam brīvi.

We often go to the theater when we are free.

3

Vai tu zini, kur viņš dzīvo?

Do you know where he lives?

4

Es nekad nedzeru aukstu pienu.

I never drink cold milk.

1

Lai gan viņš strādā smagi, viņš vienmēr atrod laiku hobijiem.

Although he works hard, he always finds time for hobbies.

2

Mēs runājam par projekta detaļām, kamēr dzeram tēju.

We are talking about project details while we drink tea.

3

Viņa dzīvo tālu no centra, tāpēc viņa brauc ar autobusu.

She lives far from the center, so she takes the bus.

4

Vai jūs lasāt jaunāko ziņojumu?

Are you reading the latest report?

1

Viņš strādā pie jauna pētījuma, kas mainīs mūsu skatījumu uz lietām.

He is working on a new study that will change our view on things.

2

Mēs runājam par to, kā viņi dzīvo svešumā.

We are talking about how they live abroad.

3

Viņa lasa klasisko literatūru, lai uzlabotu savu stilu.

She reads classical literature to improve her style.

4

Vai jūs dzerat vīnu vai alu?

Are you drinking wine or beer?

1

Viņš dzīvo saskaņā ar saviem principiem, pat ja tas ir grūti.

He lives according to his principles, even if it is difficult.

2

Mēs strādājam pie tā, lai nodrošinātu labāku nākotni.

We are working towards ensuring a better future.

3

Viņa runā tik pārliecinoši, ka visi klausās.

She speaks so convincingly that everyone listens.

4

Vai jūs lasāt starp rindām?

Are you reading between the lines?

Easily Confused

1st Conjugation: Present Tense Basics vs 2nd Conjugation

Different endings.

Common Mistakes

✗

Es strādātu

✓

Es strādāju

Don't keep the -t.
✗

Viņi strādājat

✓

Viņi strādā

3rd person plural doesn't use -jat.
✗

Es nelasīt

✓

Es nelasu

Negation requires conjugation.
✗

Viņi ietā

✓

Viņi iet

Irregular verb stem.

Sentence Patterns

Es ___ (verb).

Real World Usage

Social Media constant

Es tagad lasu.

💡

Practice daily

Use the verbs in your head.

Smart Tips

Focus on the first syllable.

strādāju → STRĀdāju

Pronunciation

STRĀ-dā-ju

Stress

Stress is almost always on the first syllable.

Question

Vai tu strādā? ↑

Rising intonation at the end.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the -t as a 'tail' you must cut off to let the verb run free.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant pair of scissors cutting the letter 't' off a word, and then a new colorful ending sticker being slapped onto the word.

Rhyme

Drop the T, set it free, add the ending, one, two, three!

Story

Imagine a robot named 'T'. Every time you want to use a verb, you have to unplug 'T' and plug in a new battery (the ending). If you forget to unplug 'T', the robot doesn't work!

Word Web

strādātlasītdzīvotrunātietdzert

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about your day using 5 different 1st conjugation verbs in 5 minutes.

Cultural Notes

Latvians value directness in communication.

Baltic roots.

Conversation Starters

“

Ko tu dari?

Journal Prompts

Describe your daily routine.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Test Yourself

Conjugate.

Es ___ (strādāt).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: strādāju
1st person singular.

Score: /1

Practice Exercises

1 exercises
Conjugate.

Es ___ (strādāt).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: strādāju
1st person singular.

Score: /1

FAQ (1)

No, it is regular.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

German moderate

Ich arbeite

German has more irregular verbs.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Connected Grammar

2nd Conjugation

Similar

Next step.

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