Irregular verbs (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Irregular verbs
Understanding irregular verbs is essential for speaking Spanish naturally. Unlike regular verbs that follow predictable patterns, irregular verbs change in unexpected ways when conjugated. This makes them challenging to learn, but they're among the most frequently used verbs in Spanish conversation.
Irregular verbs may seem difficult at first, but learning them is absolutely worth the effort. Since they appear so frequently in everyday Spanish, mastering these verbs will dramatically improve your ability to communicate naturally.
Key irregular verbs: ir and tener
Two of the most important irregular verbs in Spanish are ir (to go) and tener (to have). These verbs appear constantly in everyday conversation, so mastering their forms is crucial.
Critical for beginners: The verbs ir and tener are completely irregular in all forms. There are no patterns to follow - each form must be memorised individually. Focus on these two verbs first, as they appear in countless Spanish expressions and phrases.
Ir (to go) - present tense
| Person | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | voy | I go |
| tú | vas | you go |
| 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) |
Tener (to have) - present tense
| Person | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | tengo | I have |
| tú | tienes | you have |
| 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) |
Practice Sentences with Ir and Tener:
- Tengo que hacer los deberes y luego voy al cine. (I have to do my homework and then I'm going to the cinema.)
- ¿Tienes tiempo para ayudarme? (Do you have time to help me?)
- Vamos al parque todos los domingos. (We go to the park every Sunday.)
Other common irregular verbs
Several other frequently used verbs follow irregular patterns in the present tense. Here are three important ones to memorise:
Decir (to say/tell)
Present tense: digo, dices, dice, decimos, decís, dicen
Oír (to hear)
Present tense: oigo, oyes, oye, oímos, oís, oyen
Venir (to come)
Present tense: vengo, vienes, viene, venimos, venís, vienen
Using These Irregular Verbs in Context:
- Siempre digo la verdad. (I always tell the truth.)
- ¿Oyes ese ruido extraño? (Do you hear that strange noise?)
- Mi hermana viene a visitarnos mañana. (My sister is coming to visit us tomorrow.)
Verbs with irregular first person forms
Many Spanish verbs are only irregular in the first person singular (yo form). The other forms follow regular patterns, which makes them easier to remember once you know the irregular "I" form.
| Infinitive | English | Yo form | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| conocer | to know/meet | conozco | I know/meet |
| dar | to give | doy | I give |
| hacer | to make/do | hago | I make/do |
| poner | to put | pongo | I put |
| sabre | to know | sé | I know |
| salir | to go out | salgo | I go out |
| traer | to bring | traigo | I bring |
Pattern Recognition: Notice that many irregular first-person forms end in -go (tengo, vengo, pongo, salgo, traigo, hago). Learning this pattern can help you remember these forms as a group, making memorisation much easier.
Sentences with First-Person Irregular Forms:
- Conozco a tu hermano muy bien. (I know your brother very well.)
- Hago ejercicio todos los días. (I do exercise every day.)
- Salgo con mis amigos los viernes. (I go out with my friends on Fridays.)
Grammar and pronunciation tips
Pronunciation Preservation: Some verbs change their spelling in the first person to maintain correct pronunciation. This isn't random - it follows logical rules to preserve the sound of the original verb.
Pronunciation note: Some verbs change their spelling in the first person to maintain correct pronunciation. For example:
- proteger (to protect) becomes protejo (I protect)
- coger (to take) becomes cojo (I take)
This spelling change ensures the 'g' sound remains hard rather than soft.
Memory tip: Notice that many irregular first-person forms end in -go (tengo, vengo, pongo, salgo, traigo, hago). This pattern can help you remember these forms together.
Translation practice
Translation Practice Exercises:
Spanish to English:
- Yo salgo a las siete y media para ir al concierto.
- Mis primos tienen los ojos azules y son rubios.
English to Spanish: 3. I really like going to the beach but I don't know how to swim. 4. My friends do their homework in the library but I do it at home.
Answers:
- I go out at half past seven to go to the concert.
- My cousins have blue eyes and are blonde.
- Me gusta mucho ir a la playa pero no sé nadar.
- Mis amigos hacen los deberes en la biblioteca pero yo los hago en casa.
Key Points to Remember:
- Ir and tener are completely irregular and must be memorised fully
- Many verbs are only irregular in the yo form - learn these first-person forms by heart
- Irregular verbs are amongst the most commonly used in Spanish, so they're worth the extra effort
- Some spelling changes (like g→j) preserve pronunciation - these follow logical patterns
- Practice using these verbs in context to make them feel natural