Spanish Irregular Verbs

In the Spanish language we have regular and irregular verbs. Regular verbs are those verbs that are always conjugated according to the same rules. For example, all the "yo" forms are changed in the same way, and the same happens with the rest of the pronouns.

In contrast, irregular verbs in Spanish are those that do not follow those rules, and change for different reasons. There are some irregular verbs that have slight modifications, because of the sound or to follow certain spelling rules, and then there are many others that are completely changed and which you will need to memorize at the beginning.

Irregular verbs - Present Simple Tense

• Radical changing verbs: These change their stem to all the pronouns except nosotros and vosotros, replacing a stressed vowel with different letters. The three options are:
  --- “e” changes to “ie”: Example: empezar: Yo empiezo, Tú empiezas, Él empieza, Nosotros empezamos, Vosotros empezáis, Ellos empiezan.
  --- “o” changes to “ue”: Example: almorzar: Yo almuerzo, Tú almuerzas, Él almuerza, Nosotros almorzamos, Vosotros almorzáis, Ellos almuerzan.
  --- “e” changes to “i”: Example: pedir (to ask for): Yo pido, Tú pides, Él pide, Nosotros pedimos, Vosotros pedís, Ellos piden.
• Stem-changing verbs in the 1st person singular:
  Example: - salir (to leave, to go out): Yo salgo, Tú sales, Él sale, Nosotros salimos, Vosotros salís, Ellos salen.
• Other stem-changing verbs: Some irregular verbs combine the two changes explained above: they change a stressed vowel with different letters (ie, ue, i) to all the pronouns except nosotros and vosotros, and they add another change to the stem of the first person singular:
  - tener (to have): Yo tengo, Tú tienes, Él tiene, Nosotros tenemos, Vosotros tenéis, Ellos tienen.
• Highly irregular verbs: These are verbs that have a totally unique conjugation, which differs from the original verb in the infinitive.
  Ser (To be): Yo soy, Tú eres, Él es, Nosotros somos, Vosotros sois, Ellos son.
  Ir (To go): Yo voy, Tú vas, Él va, Nosotros vamos, Vosotros vais, Ellos van.

Exercise on irregular verbs in the present

Select the correct option to complete the sentences.

Verbos irregulares en presente - elige la opción correcta para completar las oraciones.

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