Hola hispanohablante,

Welcome to this week’s newsletter! Today, we’re reviewing an essential topic many find challenging: irregular verbs in the present tense. Understanding its conjugation rules (4 key rules) will significantly improve your fluency and confidence in Spanish.

4 Key Rules for Conjugating Irregular Verbs in the Present Tense

Irregular verbs do not follow the standard rules of conjugation and may have variations in their stems or endings. These verbs often have unique conjugation patterns that must be memorized.

These rules don’t apply to the pronouns Nosotros (as) and Vosotros (as). They remain regular. 

Rule 1: E to IE

This rule changes the e on the second to last syllable of the verb to ie

Example: Pensar (to think)

Yo pienso, tú piensas, él piensa, nosotros pensamos, vosotros pensáis, ellos piensan

Other verbs that follow this rule: empezar, entender, mentir, comenzar, querer, confesar, entender, invertir, sembrar, atender, recomendar.

Rule 2: E to I

• This rule changes the e on the second to last syllable of the verb to i. 

• Most of the verbs that follow this rule end in -IR. 

Example: Pedir (to ask/request)

Yo pido, tú pides, él pide, nosotros pedimos, vosotros pedís, ellos piden

Other verbs that follow this rule: pedir, competir, medir, repetir, servir, corregir, reir, sonreir, reelegir, elegir.

Rule 3: O to UE

• Similar to rules 1 and 2, but with o changing to ue.

Example: Dormir (to sleep)

Yo duermo, tú duermes, él duerme, nosotros dormimos, vosotros dormís, ellos duermen

Other verbs that follow this rule: recordar, poder, dormir, contar, volver, probar, resolver, encontrar, almorzar, devolver.

Rule 4: Irregular “Yo” Forms

In this case, the irregularity only occurs in the first person “Yo”

Example: Salir (to go out)

Yo salgo, tú sales, él sale, nosotros salimos, vosotros salís, ellos salen

Other verbs that follow this rule: dar, hacer conocer, producir, saber, reducir, valer, sobresalir, poner, traducir, traer, seducir.

Recommendations to Master the Conjugations

1. Practice Regularly: Try using each verb in sentences to familiarize yourself with its conjugation.

2. Flashcards: Create flashcards for each rule and test yourself periodically.

3. Interactive Exercises: Engage with online exercises and quizzes focusing specifically on irregular verbs.

These four rules are just the beginning! There are more nuances and exceptions when mastering Spanish verb conjugations. Keep an eye on our upcoming newsletters, where we will continue to learn additional conjugation rules.

Thank you for reading this week’s newsletter and your interest in improving your Spanish skills. I hope our weekly emails help you become a more confident Spanish speaker.

Hasta pronto.

Un abrazo,

Alejandro Nuñez
Founder & Director