Spanish, like English, has both regular and irregular verbs. Regular Spanish verbs follow predictable patterns in their conjugations based on stems and endings, while irregular verbs deviate from these norms. Understanding these irregularities is crucial for mastering Spanish verb conjugation. This article will explore the intricacies of irregular verbs in Spanish, starting with a recap of regular verbs for context.

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Regular Spanish Verbs and Their Conjugations

Before diving into irregular verbs, it’s crucial to understand the regular verbs in Spanish. They follow specific patterns depending on their endings: -ar, -er, -ir. Here’s a table showing the present tense conjugation of regular Spanish verbs:

Person/NumberSubject Pronouns-ar-er-ir
First Person Singularyo (I)-o-o-o
Second Person Singulartú (you informal)-as-es-es
Third Person Singularél/ella/usted (he/she)-a-e-e
First Person Pluralnosotros(as) (we)-amos-emos-imos
Second Person PluralUstedes (you formal)-an-en-en
Third Person Pluralellos/ellas (they)-an-en-en

The Most Common Irregular Spanish Verbs

Irregular verbs in Spanish deviate from these patterns. Below are some of the most common irregular verbs in Spanish, along with their conjugations in present, past (preterite), and future tenses.

1. Ser – to be

“Ser” is used for permanent states or inherent characteristics.

Person/NumberSubject PronounsPresent TensePast TenseFuture Tense
First Person Singularyo (I)soyfuiseré
Second Person Singulartú (you informal)eresfuisteserás
Third Person Singularél/ella/usted (he/she)esfueserá
First Person Pluralnosotros(as) (we)somosfuimosseremos
Second Person PluralUstedes (you formal)sonfueronserán
Third Person Pluralellos/ellas (they)sonfueronserán

2. Haber – to have

“Haber” serves as an auxiliary verb and to express existence.

Person/NumberSubject PronounsPresent TensePast TenseFuture Tense
First Person Singularyo (I)hehubehabré
Second Person Singulartú (you informal)hashubistehabrás
Third Person Singularél/ella/usted (he/she)hahubohabrá
First Person Pluralnosotros(as) (we)hemoshubimoshabremos
Second Person PluralUstedes (you formal)hanhubieronhabrán
Third Person Pluralellos/ellas (they)hanhubieronhabrán

3. Estar – to be

“Estar” is used for temporary states or conditions.

Person/NumberSubject PronounsPresent TensePast TenseFuture Tense
First Person Singularyo (I)estoyestuveestaré
Second Person Singulartú (you informal)estásestuvisteestarás
Third Person Singularél/ella/usted (he/she)estáestuvoestará
First Person Pluralnosotros(as) (we)estamosestuvimosestaremos
Second Person PluralUstedes (you formal)estánestuvieronestarán
Third Person Pluralellos/ellas (they)estánestuvieronestarán

4. Pensar – “To think”

“Pensar” means “to think” and is used for making plans, holding beliefs, and intending to do something. It’s an irregular, stem-changing verb.

Person/NumberSubject PronounsPresent TensePast TenseFuture Tense
First Person Singularyo (I)pienso pensé pensaré
Second Person Singulartú (you informal)piensas pensaste pensarás
Third Person Singularél/ella/usted (he/she/you formal)piensa pensó pensará
First Person Pluralnosotros(as) (we)pensamos pensamos pensaremos
Second Person Pluralustedes (you formal)piensan pensaron pensarán
Third Person Pluralellos/ellas (they)piensan pensaron pensarán

5. Tener – “To have”

“Tener” predominantly means “to have.” It can also imply “to be” in certain contexts, such as “tener calor” (to be hot). When paired with “que,” it signifies an obligation, as in “Tienes que hacerlo” (You have to do it). The verb’s conjugations are irregular in each tense.

Person/NumberSubject PronounsPresent TensePast TenseFuture Tense
First Person Singularyo (I)tengo tuve tendré
Second Person Singulartú (you informal)tienestuviste tendrá
Third Person Singularél/ella/usted (he/she/you formal)tiene tuvo tendrá
First Person Pluralnosotros(as) (we)tenemos tuvimos tendremos
Second Person Pluralustedes (you formal)tienen tuvierontendrán
Third Person Pluralellos/ellas (they)tienentuvieron tendrán

Stem-changing Spanish Irregular Verbs

Stem-changing Spanish irregular verbs are those where vowels in the stem are altered in the process of conjugation. This change often occurs to verbs ending in -ar, -er, and -ir, primarily in the present tense. The stem change typically affects all pronouns except the “nosotros” form, which follows regular conjugation rules. There are five types of stem-changing verbs in the simple present tense:

“e” changes to “ie”

The “e” in the stem is replaced with “ie.” This is the most common type of stem change. For example, the verb “venir” (to come) is conjugated as follows:

Person/NumberSubject PronounsPresent TensePast TenseFuture Tense
First person singularyo (I)vengo – I comevine – I camevendré – I will come
Second person singulartú (you informal)vienes – you comeviniste – you camevendrás – you will come
Third person singularél/ella/usted (he/she/you formal)viene – he/she/you comevino – he/she/you camevendrá – he/she/you will come
First person pluralnosotros(as) (we)venimos – we comevinimos – we camevendremos – we will come
Second person pluralustedes (you formal)vienen – you comevinieron – you camevendrán – you will come
Third person pluralellos/ellas (they)vienen – they comevinieron – they camevendrán – they will come

“o” to “ue”

The “o” in the stem is replaced with “ue.” For instance, the verb “poder” (to be able) is conjugated as follows:

Person/NumberSubject PronounsPresent TensePast TenseFuture Tense
First person singularyo (I)puedo – I canpude – I was ablepodré – I will be able to
Second person singulartú (you informal)puedes – you canpudiste – you were ablepodrás – you will be able to
Third person singularél/ella/usted (he/she/you formal)puede – he/she/you canpudo – he/she/you was ablepodrá – he/she/

“e” to “i”

This change applies to -ir verbs. For instance, the verb “medir” (to measure) follows this pattern.

Person/NumberSubject PronounsPresent TensePast TenseFuture Tense
First person singularyo (I)mido – I measuremedí – I measuredmediré – I will measure
Second person singulartú (you informal)mides – you measuremediste – you measuredmedirás – you will measure
Third person singularél/ella/usted (he/she/you formal)mide – he/she/you measures/measuremidió – he/she/you measuredmedirá – he/she/you will measure
First person pluralnosotros(as) (we)medimos – we measuremedimos – we measuredmediremos – we will measure
Second person pluralustedes (you formal)miden – you (plural) measuremidieron – you (plural) measuredmedirán – you (plural) will measure
Third person pluralellos/ellas (they)miden – they measuremidieron – they measuredmedirán – they will measure

“i” to “ie”

This change occurs in verbs like “adquirir” (to buy/acquire) and “inquirir” (to inquire/question). The “i” in the stem changes to “ie” in all forms except “nosotros”.

Person/NumberSubject PronounsPresent TensePast TenseFuture Tense
First Person Singularyo (I)inquiero – I inquireinquirí – I inquiredinquiriré – I will inquire
Second Person Singulartú (you informal)inquieres – you inquireinquiriste – you inquiredinquirirás – you will inquire
Third Person Singularél/ella/usted (he/she/you formal)inquiere – he/she/you inquires/inquireinquirió – he/she/you inquiredinquirirá – he/she/you will inquire
First Person Pluralnosotros(as) (we)inquirimos – we inquireinquirimos – we inquiredinquiriremos – we will inquire
Second Person Pluralustedes (you formal)inquieren – you (plural) inquireinquirieron – you (plural) inquiredinquirirán – you (plural) will inquire
Third Person Pluralellos/ellas (they)inquieren – they inquireinquirieron – they inquiredinquirirán – they will inquire

“u” to “ue” 

A notable example is the verb “jugar” (to play), which changes from “u” to “ue” in most of its forms, except for the first person plural (nosotros). Below is a table illustrating the conjugation of “jugar”:

Person/NumberSubject PronounsPresent TensePast TenseFuture Tense
First Person Singularyo (I)juego – I playjugué – I playedjugaré – I will play
Second Person Singulartú (you informal)juegas – you playjugaste – you playedjugarás – you will play
Third Person Singularél/ella/usted (he/she/you formal)juega – he/she/you plays/playjugó – he/she/you playedjugará – he/she/you will play
First Person Pluralnosotros(as) (we)jugamos – we playjugamos – we playedjugaremos – we will play
Second Person Pluralustedes (you formal)juegan – you (plural) playjugaron – you (plural) playedjugarán – you (plural) will play
Third Person Pluralellos/ellas (they)juegan – they playjugaron – they playedjugarán – they will play

Irregular “Yo” Form Spanish Verbs

Many irregular Spanish verbs exhibit unique patterns in their “yo” forms, particularly in the present tense conjugation. These verbs deviate from the standard endings expected for their respective verb types (-ar, -er, -ir) in the first-person singular (yo) form. An illustrative example is the verb “dar” (to give). As an -ar verb, a regular conjugation would end in “-o” for the “yo” form. However, “dar” changes to “doy” for the “yo” form, while its other present tense forms align with the standard -ar verb conjugation pattern.

Person/NumberSubject PronounsPresent TensePast TenseFuture Tense
First Person Singularyo (I)doy – I givedi – I gavedaré – I will give
Second Person Singulartú (you informal)das – you givediste – you gavedarás – you will give
Third Person Singularél/ella/usted (he/she/you formal)da – he/she/you gives/givedio – he/she/you gavedará – he/she/you will give
First Person Pluralnosotros(as) (we)damos – we givedimos – we gavedaremos – we will give
Second Person Pluralustedes (you formal)dan – you (plural) givedieron – you (plural) gavedarán – you (plural) will give
Third Person Pluralellos/ellas (they)dan – they givedieron – they gavedarán – they will give

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