Common Irregular Verbs (AQA A-Level Spanish): Revision Notes
Common Irregular Verbs
Overview
Irregular verbs in Spanish don't follow the standard conjugation patterns. In the present tense, some of the most frequently used verbs are irregular, which means you need to memorise their forms individually. These verbs are essential for everyday communication, allowing you to express actions, states, and intentions naturally.
Irregular verbs fall into different categories: some are completely irregular across all forms, some are only irregular in the yo (I) form, and some have spelling changes to maintain correct pronunciation.
Understanding irregular verbs is crucial for Spanish fluency. While they may seem challenging at first, most conversations rely heavily on just a handful of these verbs, so your effort in learning them will pay off quickly!
The verbs ir and tener
Two of the most important irregular verbs in Spanish are ir (to go) and tener (to have). These verbs are completely irregular and must be memorised, as they don't follow any regular conjugation patterns.
Ir and tener are among the most frequently used verbs in Spanish. You'll encounter them in almost every conversation, so mastering these forms early is essential for communication.
Conjugation of ir (to go)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | voy | I go |
| tú | vas | you go (informal) |
| él / ella / usted | va | he / she goes / you go (formal) |
| nosotros / nosotras | vamos | we go |
| vosotros / vosotras | vais | you go (plural, informal) |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | van | they go / you go (plural, formal) |
Conjugation of tener (to have)
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | tengo | I have |
| tú | tienes | you have (informal) |
| él / ella / usted | tiene | he / she has / you have (formal) |
| nosotros / nosotras | tenemos | we have |
| vosotros / vosotras | tenéis | you have (plural, informal) |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | tienen | they have / you have (plural, formal) |
Example sentence
Using ir and tener together:
Tengo que hacer los deberes y luego voy al cine.
Translation: I have to do my homework and then I'm going to the cinema.
Analysis: This sentence demonstrates how both irregular verbs work together naturally. Notice how tengo expresses obligation when followed by "que + infinitive", and voy expresses immediate future plans.
Other completely irregular verbs
Beyond ir and tener, several other commonly used verbs have irregular conjugations throughout the present tense. These three verbs appear constantly in conversation and writing.
Conjugation of decir (to say)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| yo | digo |
| tú | dices |
| él / ella / usted | dice |
| nosotros / nosotras | decimos |
| vosotros / vosotras | decís |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | dicen |
The stem changes from dec- to dig- in the yo form, and to dic- in most other forms. This makes decir particularly challenging to remember. Pay attention to these three different stems!
Using decir in context:
Digo la verdad. (I tell the truth.)
Notice the irregular digo form for the yo conjugation.
Conjugation of oír (to hear)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| yo | oigo |
| tú | oyes |
| él / ella / usted | oye |
| nosotros / nosotras | oímos |
| vosotros / vosotras | oís |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | oyen |
This verb has an unusual yo form (oigo), and adds a 'y' in several forms to maintain proper pronunciation. Pay careful attention to the accent marks on oímos and oís.
Using oír in a sentence:
Oigo música en mi habitación. (I listen to music in my room.)
The irregular oigo form shows the unique yo conjugation pattern.
Conjugation of venir (to come)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| yo | vengo |
| tú | vienes |
| él / ella / usted | viene |
| nosotros / nosotras | venimos |
| vosotros / vosotras | venís |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | vienen |
Similar to tener, venir has an irregular yo form ending in -go, and also features stem changes (e→ie) in several forms. Recognising this pattern can help you remember both verbs together.
Using venir in context:
Vengo a clase todos los días. (I come to class every day.)
The vengo form follows the -go ending pattern seen in other irregular verbs.
Verbs with irregular yo forms only
Some verbs are only irregular in the yo (I) form, whilst all other forms follow regular -ar, -er, or -ir patterns. This makes them easier to learn, as you only need to memorise one irregular form.
| Infinitive | English | Yo form |
|---|---|---|
| conocer | to know / to meet | conozco |
| dar | to give | doy |
| hacer | to make / to do | hago |
| poner | to put | pongo |
| saber | to know | sé |
| salir | to go out | salgo |
| traer | to bring | traigo |
These verbs follow a pattern where the yo form often ends in -go, -zco, -oy, or has other specific changes. The remaining forms (tú, él/ella, nosotros, vosotros, ellos) conjugate regularly according to their verb ending, making them much easier to master than completely irregular verbs!
Examples of irregular yo forms in sentences:
- Hago mis deberes por la tarde. (I do my homework in the afternoon.)
- Conozco a tu hermano. (I know your brother.)
- Salgo con mis amigos los viernes. (I go out with my friends on Fridays.)
- Pongo mis libros en la mesa. (I put my books on the table.)
Each example shows the irregular yo form, while all other conjugations would follow regular patterns.
Spelling changes for pronunciation
Some verbs undergo spelling changes in certain forms to maintain correct pronunciation. This isn't really an irregularity in the traditional sense, but rather a spelling rule to preserve the sound of the verb.
Verbs ending in -ger or -gir
When conjugating verbs ending in -ger or -gir, the 'g' changes to 'j' in the yo form to maintain the soft sound (like the 'h' sound in English 'help').
Proteger (to protect)
- yo protejo (I protect)
- All other forms keep the 'g': proteges, protege, protegemos, protegéis, protegen
Coger (to take)
- yo cojo (I take)
- All other forms keep the 'g': coges, coge, cogemos, cogéis, cogen
Why does this change happen?
In Spanish, 'g' before 'e' or 'i' makes a soft sound, but 'g' before 'o' would make a hard sound (like in 'goal'). To keep the soft sound consistent throughout the conjugation, we change 'g' to 'j' before 'o'. This is a pronunciation rule, not a true irregularity!
Common mistakes and tips
Mistake 1: Forgetting the irregular yo forms
Many students correctly conjugate tú, él, nosotros forms, but forget that the yo form is irregular for verbs like hacer, poner, and salir.
- Incorrect: Yo haco mis deberes
- Correct: Yo hago mis deberes
Mistake 2: Over-regularising irregular verbs
Don't try to apply regular patterns to irregular verbs.
- Incorrect: Yo teno (incorrectly applying regular -er pattern)
- Correct: Yo tengo
Mistake 3: Forgetting accent marks on oír
The verb oír requires accent marks in certain forms (oímos, oís). Missing these accents is a spelling error that changes pronunciation.
Mistake 4: Confusing similar irregular verbs
Students sometimes mix up tener and venir because both have -go in the yo form and similar patterns.
- tener: tengo, tienes, tiene...
- venir: vengo, vienes, viene...
Remember: tener = to have, venir = to come
Tip 1: Learn ir, tener, hacer, and ser first, as these are the most commonly used irregular verbs in everyday Spanish.
Tip 2: Many irregular yo forms end in -go (tengo, vengo, pongo, salgo, traigo, hago). Recognising this pattern can help you remember them more easily.
Tip 3: Practice these verbs in context by creating sentences about your daily routines, as irregular verbs appear constantly in natural conversation.
Tip 4: Create flashcards specifically for the yo forms, as these are usually the most irregular and therefore the most challenging to remember.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Ir and tener are completely irregular and must be memorised in full. These are amongst the most frequently used verbs in Spanish.
- Some verbs are only irregular in the yo form (conocer→conozco, hacer→hago, salir→salgo, poner→pongo), making them easier to learn since other forms follow regular patterns.
- Decir, oír, and venir are irregular throughout their conjugations and require special attention and practice.
- Spelling changes like g→j (proteger→protejo, coger→cojo) happen to maintain correct pronunciation, not because of true irregularity.
- The -go pattern in yo forms is very common among irregular verbs – spotting this pattern will help you remember many verbs at once.