CONQUERING THE SPANISH VERB SYSTEM:
THE YO CONNECTION
NANCY T. MÍNGUEZ DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY
1 INTRODUCTION
These handouts are a great tool for the student to easily comprehend how the conjugations work in Spanish. The techniques taught by this system help to quickly grasp and learn the verb types and their conjugations. By dividing the verbs into four main groups, each with its own predictable pattern and all based on the yo conjugation of the present tense, the student can make predictions about the rest of the tenses and will come to rely less on outside sources. These handouts are an incredibly useful instrument for the student to fully embrace verb conjugating naturally.
When in need of a different resource to accurately conjugate verbs immediately, the Verb Conjugator is available. At hand to conjugate over 86 verbs, it is a fast and reliable source to look up a specific verb in a particular tense instantly.
OVERVIEW
The Spanish verb system can be easily divided into four main groups, each with its own predictable pattern and all based on the yo conjugation of the present tense. Once you discover the yo conjugation, you can make predictions about the rest of the tenses and, hopefully, will need to rely less on outside sources.
1. Regular verbs (-ar and -er/-ir), like comprar, aprender, and abrir, form the largest group and are the easiest to learn. These verbs establish the general pattern of operation for all groups, and there are few, if any, irregularities. The regular verbs can be divided into two categories representing each ending group: (a) -ar and (b) -er/-ir. Each subsequent group deviates somewhat from this general pattern, with -ir verbs showing the most irregularities.
2. “Shoe” verbs (-ar/-er/-ir), or stem-changing verbs like pensar, volver, and pedir, are verbs whose present tense in both the indicative and subjunctive forms a “shoe” or “boot” pattern when the singular conjugations are listed adjacent to the plural. “Shoe” verbs can be divided into three ending categories: (a) -ar, (b) -er, and (c) -ir. Verbs in this group will not show a stem change in any other tense, except for those in Group 2C that deviate slightly from the pattern established in the other two categories in the present subjunctive and in the third person preterit.
3. “Yo -go” verbs (or “Yo -zco” verbs) are those verbs whose yo form ends in -go or -zco, such as tener, hacer, conocer, and conducir. Only -er/-ir verbs form this group—there are no -ar “yo -go” verbs. We find more irregularities in this group, but most are predictable. Almost all of these verbs (except salir and conocer) are irregular in the preterit tense. Also, the irregularities tend to be similar: all of these verbs have the same ending that differs slightly from the regular preterit, and all reflect a similar change in the 2 stem that repeats in the six conjugations. In all cases, once again, the yo form generates an irregular present subjunctive, and the irregular preterit forms generate the past subjunctive. Many “yo -go” verbs tend to have a similar pattern of irregularities in the future and conditional.
4. “-O no” verbs, or irregular verbs, are those whose yo form does not end in -o. The patterns these verbs follow are generally unpredictable and must be memorized. However, the irregularity that these verbs share—the yo form not ending in -o—draws the student’s attention to the fact that these verbs will typically not follow the normal pattern and may have many irregularities. Since there are only six verbs in this group (ser, estar, dar, ir, saber, and haber), this is not a particular problem.
For each category, you’ll see a pattern represented by a model verb from each group/subgroup, determined by the group and endings (-ar, -er/-ir). On the back of each model page, you can write all verbs that are in the group and practice the conjugations as needed with one of the “blank” model charts. As you learn other verbs that “behave” like the model (see the “quick reference” for others in any particular group), you can simply add them to the back of the page and indicate any minor deviation from the norm, such as an irregular past participle or an irregular preterit form. In the end, you will have six pages with the model on the front and all other verbs in that category on the back. You’ll need to make a separate chart for each verb in Group 4, the “-o no” group. Eventually, you’ll be able to establish at a glance to which group any new verb belongs and know exactly how to use it, simply by observing the yo form of the present tense. If it is regular, then you may predict that the verb will not deviate from the regular pattern; if the yo form shows a stem change, then you may predict that it will follow the pattern of the “shoe” verbs; if the yo form ends in -go, then it will most likely follow the patterns established by the other “yo -go” verbs.
3 CONQUERING THE SPANISH VERB SYSTEM: THE YO CONNECTION
Group 1: Regular Verbs (-ar, -er/-ir)
(Since -ir verbs differ ONLY in the nosotros and vosotros forms of the present indicative, it is not necessary to have a separate page for them. After the present tense, -ir verbs have the same endings as -er verbs.)
Regular verbs form the largest and most predictable group of verbs. This group establishes the basic pattern from which other groups may deviate slightly. There are very few irregularities in this group, and you should indicate any irregularities next to the verb on the list on the back of the model page—e.g., andar (irregular preterit > anduve). It is important to learn well the patterns established by the regular verbs. See “Quick Reference” for other common verbs in this group on page 14 of this handout.
Remember: Conjugate verbs in Spanish by taking the stem and affixing the proper ending for the subject and tense. The six conjugations represent first (yo), second (tú) and third (usted, él, ella) persons singular, and first (nosotros), second (vosotros), and third (ustedes, ellos) persons plural.
Conjugate reflexive verbs (e.g., lavarse) exactly the same way you would conjugate any other verb. Be sure to include the respective reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se), which always precedes the verb that you are conjugating—e.g., me lavo, te lavas, se lava, etc. See “Reflexive commands” on page 13 of this handout.
MODELS: COMPRAR (SHOWN) , COMER, ESCRIBIR
Present Tense
Indicative Mood Subjunctive Mood (Yo form of present indicative + opposite vowel)
Singular Plural
Singular
Plural
compro compramos compre compr e mos compras compráis compres compréis compra compran compre compren
Preterit Tense
Singular Plural
compré compramos compraste comprasteis compró compraron
Imperfect Tense
Indicative Mood Subjunctive Mood (Formed from third person plural preterit)
Singular Plural
Singular 4 Plural compraba comprábamos comprara compráramos comprabas comprabais compraras comprarais compraba compraban comprara compraran
Future Tense: infinitive + -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án = compraré (I will buy), etc. Conditional Tense: infinitive + -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían = compraría (I would buy), etc.
5 Compound Tenses
Progressive: estar (any tense, indicative or subjunctive) + present participle (stem + -ando/-iendo) = Estoy (estaba, estaré, estaría) comprando/comiendo/escribiendo (I am [was, will be, would be] buying/eating/writing)
Perfect: haber + past participle (stem + -ado/-ido [some verbs are irregular—e.g., escribir > escrito]) = haber comprado/comido/escrito (to have bought/eaten/written)
Present Perfect: present tense of haber + past participle (stem + -ado) = he comprado (I have bought)
Indicative Mood Subjunctive Mood
Singular Plural
Singular
Plural
he comprado hemos comprado haya comprado hayamos comprado has habéis hayas hayáis ha han haya hayan
Pluperfect: imperfect tense of haber + past participle = había comprado (I had bought)
Indicative Mood Subjunctive Mood
Singular Plural
Singular
Plural
había comprado habíamos comprado hubiera comprado hubiéramos comprado habías habíais hubieras hubierais había habían hubiera hubieran
Future Perfect: future tense (no subjunctive) of haber + past participle = habré comprado (I will have bought)
Singular Plural
habré comprado habremos comprado habrás habréis habrá habrán
Conditional Perfect: conditional tense (no subjunctive) of haber + past participle = habría comprado (I would have bought)
Singular Plural
habría comprado habríamos comprado 6 habrías habríais habría habrían
7 CONQUERING THE SPANISH VERB SYSTEM: THE YO CONNECTION
Group 2A/2B: "Shoe" Verbs (-ar and -er)
Since e will always change to ie, and o will always change to ue, it is not necessary to separate these verbs according to their different stem changes. See “Quick Reference” for other common verbs in these groups.
Repeat same exercise for Group 2A: “Shoe” Verbs (-ar). The endings will be the same as Group 1: Regular Verbs (-ar).
NOTE: There is a separate page for Group 2C: “Shoe” Verbs (-ir), since these verbs show changes that Groups 2A and 2B do not.
MODELS: 2A PENSAR / 2B VOLVER ( SHOWN ) e > ie o > ue
By placing the present indicative next to the subjunctive, the student can see the "shoe" pattern and how the pattern is carried into the subjunctive but disappears in the past tenses.
Present Tense
Indicative Mood Subjunctive Mood
Singular Plural Singular Plural (The “shoe”-pattern stem change carries over.)
vuelvo volvemos vuelva volv amo s vuelves volvéis vuelvas volváis vuelve vuelven vuelva vuelvan
Preterit Tense
Singular Plural (No stem change in past tenses)
volví volvimos volviste volvisteis volvió volvieron
Imperfect Tense
Indicative Mood Subjunctive Mood
Singular Plural Singular Plural
(Formed from third person plural preterit)
volvía volvíamos volviera volviér amo s volvías volvíais volvieras volvierais volvía volvían volviera volvieran
These verbs will generally be regular in future and conditional tenses.
Future Tense: infinitive + -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án = volveré (I will return), etc.
Conditional Tense: infinitive + -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían = volvería (I would return), etc.
8 Compound Tenses
Progressive: estar + present participle (stem + -ando/-iendo) = estoy volviendo (I am returning)
Present Perfect: present tense of haber + past participle (stem + -ido [volver (irregular) > vuelto]) = he vuelto (I have returned)
Indicative Mood Subjunctive Mood
Singular Plural
Singular
Plural
he vuelto hemos vuelto haya vuelto hayamos vuelto has habéis hayas hayáis ha han haya hayan
Pluperfect: imperfect tense of haber + past participle = había vuelto (I had returned)
Indicative Mood Subjunctive Mood
Singular Plural
Singular
Plural
había vuelto habíamos vuelto hubiera vuelto hubiéramos vuelto habías habíais hubieras hubiérais
había habían hubiera hubieran
Future Perfect: future tense (no subjunctive) of haber + past participle = habré vuelto (I will have returned)
Conditional Perfect: conditional tense (no subjunctive) of haber + past participle = habría vuelto (I would have returned)
See Group 1 for the conjugations of future perfect and conditional perfect tenses.
9 CONQUERING THE SPANISH VERB SYSTEM: THE YO CONNECTION
Group 2C: "Shoe" Verbs (-ir): e > i, i e > ie, i o > ue, u
The verbs in this group follow the same basic “shoe” pattern as the -ar and -er verbs in Groups 2A and 2B. However, the verbs in this group change in ways that the other two groups do not and require a model of their own. Again, it is not necessary to separate the different stem changes, since e will always change to i (or ie for a few verbs), and o will always change to ue. In this group, you will see that the "shoe" pattern appears only in the indicative, but the change in the yo form is carried throughout the subjunctive, unlike Groups 2A and 2B. Also unlike 2A and 2B, there is a stem change in the preterit and in the present participle, as indicated by the second vowel in parentheses (e > i, i). See “Quick Reference” for other common verbs in this group.
MODEL: PEDIR (e > i, i)
Indicative Mood Subjunctive Mood
Singular Plural Singular Plural
Present Tense
*The stem change carries over to all conjugations. pido pedimos pida pidamos pides pedís pidas pid áis pide piden pida pidan
Although the "shoe” pattern does not carry into the past tenses, observe that with all of these verbs—like verbs in all the groups—the change in the third person preterit carries over to all forms of the imperfect subjunctive.
Preterit Tense
**The stem changes in the third person of all verbs in this group. pedí pedimos pediste pedisteis **pidió ** pidieron
Imperfect Tense
***Always formed from the third person plural preterit pedía pedíamos pidiera pidiéramos pedías pedíais pidieras pidierais pedía pedían pidiera pidieran
These verbs will generally be regular in future and conditional tenses.
Future Tense: infinitive + -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án = pediré (I will request), etc. XXXX
Conditional Tense: infinitive + -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían = pediría (I would request), etc. XXXX
10 Compound Tenses
Progressive: estar + present participle (stem**** + -iendo) = estoy pidiendo (I am requesting); estaba pidiendo (I was requesting), etc.
****ONLY verbs in this group—and a couple in other groups (e.g., venir and poder)—will show the same stem change in the present participle as in the preterit.
Indicative Mood Subjunctive Mood
Singular Plural Singular Plural
Present Perfect: present tense of haber + past participle (stem + -ido) = he pedido (I have requested) he pedido hemos pedido haya pedido hayamos pedido has habéis hayas hayáis ha han haya hayan
Pluperfect: imperfect tense of haber + past participle = había pedido (I had requested) había pedido habíamos pedido hubiera pedido hubiéramos pedido habías habíais hubieras hubierais había habían hubiera hubieran
Future Perfect: future tense (no subjunctive) of haber + past participle = habré pedido (I will have requested)
Conditional Perfect: conditional tense (no subjunctive) of haber + past participle = habría pedido (I would have requested)
11 CONQUERING THE SPANISH VERB SYSTEM: THE YO CONNECTION
Group 3: “ Yo -go” Verbs
The first person present tense of the verbs in this group ends with -go. There are two subgroups that affect ONLY the present tense: -go + “shoe” (verbs have a stem change in the present tense) and -go “alone” (verbs that do not have a stem change). These subgroups do not affect any of the other tenses. The “yo -go” group also includes "yo -zco" verbs like conocer and conducir since the yo form affects the subjunctive formation in the same way. The -ucir verbs will have the same irregularities in the preterit tense. Typical verbs in this group are decir, poner, hacer, venir, and any derivatives thereof (e.g., imponer, intervenir, entretener, mantener, reconocer, introducir, etc.). No -ar verbs fall into this group. See “Quick Reference” for other common verbs in this group.
MODELS: TENER ( e > ie ) HACER
Present Tense
Indicative Mood Subjunctive Mood
-go + "shoe" -go “alone” (Formed from yo form of present indicative)
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
tengo ten emos hago hacemos tenga tengamos haga hagamos tienes tenéis haces hacéis tengas tengáis hagas hagáis tiene tienen hace hacen tenga tengan haga hagan
Preterit Tense
These verbs tend to have irregular i-stems or u-stems but have the same endings, which are slightly different from regular verbs in the first and third person singular. The verb salir, among other verbs like conocer, is regular in this tense. Since the endings are not stressed as they are in the other groups, these verbs do not have written accents.
Singular Plural Singular Plural
tuve tuvimos hice hicimos tuviste tuvisteis hiciste hicisteis tuvo **tuvieron hizo ** hicieron
Imperfect Tense
All forms are regular in the indicative imperfect tense. **Always formed from the third person plural preterit
Indicative Mood Subjunctive Mood
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
tenía teníamos hacía hacíamos tuviera tuviéramos hiciera hiciéramos tenías teníais hacías hacíais tuvieras tuvierais hicieras hicierais tenía tenían hacía hacían tuviera tuvieran hiciera hicieran
Future/Conditional Tenses: Since the conditional mirrors the future tense, any changes in the future tense will be applied to the conditional tense. These verbs tend to be slightly irregular with a d-stem or other variation; however, "yo -zco" verbs will be regular in these tenses—e.g., conoceré, conduciré, etc. tener > tendré / tendría, etc. poner > pondré / pondría, etc. venir > vendré / vendría, etc. caber > cabré, etc. hacer > haré / haría, etc. decir > diré / diría, etc.
12 Compound Tenses
Progressive: Most of the present participles for these verbs are regular (e.g., haciendo, teniendo, conduciendo), except viniendo and diciendo, which have stem changes similar to other irregular -ir verbs.
Perfect Aspect: Some past participles for these verbs are irregular, but the patterns are not predictable. hacer > hecho BUT tener > tenido decir > dicho BUT venir > venido
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CO MM AND S
Since commands are related to the subjunctive (> yo prs. + opposite vowel), most of the forms come directly from the subjunctive (see boxes). SUBJUNCTIVE ______
Singular
Plural Group 1 Regular -ar (comprar) nosotros affirm./neg. (no) compremos
informal affirm. compra (> 3rd p. prs. ind.) comprad (> inf. drop -r, + -d) informal neg. no compres no compréis formal affirm./neg. (no) compre (no) compren
Regular -er/-ir (comer) nosotros affirm./neg. (no) comamos
informal affirm. come (> 3rd p. prs. ind.) comed (> inf. drop -r, + -d) informal neg. no comas no comáis formal affirm./neg. (no) coma (no) coman ______Group 2 a) “Shoe” -ar (pensar) > ie nosotros affirm./neg. (no) pensemos
informal affirm. piensa (> 3rd p. prs. ind.) pensad (> inf. drop -r, + -d) informal neg. no pienses no penséis formal affirm./neg. (no) piense (no) piensen b) “Shoe” -er (volver) > ue nosotros affirm./neg. (no) volvamos
14 informal affirm. vuelve (> 3rd p prs. ind.) volved (> inf. drop -r, + -d) informal neg. no vuelvas no volváis formal affirm./neg. (no) vuelva (no) vuelvan c) “Shoe” -ir (pedir) > i nosotros affirm./neg. (no) pidamos
informal affirm. pide (> 3rd p. prs. ind.) pedid (> inf. drop -r, + -d) informal neg. no pidas no pidáis formal affirm./neg. (no) pida (no) pidan ______Group 3 "Yo -go" (tener) nosotros affirm./neg. (no) tengamos
irregular informal affirm. ten (> stem of inf.) tened (> inf. drop -r,+ -d) informal neg. no tengas no tengáis formal affirm./neg. (no) tenga (no) tengan ______Group 4 "-O no" (These verbs follow similar patterns but are not predictable; they should be memorized.)
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REF LEXI VE CO MM AND S
Since commands are related to the subjunctive, most forms come directly from the subjunctive (see boxes). SUBJUNCTIVE ______
Singular
Plural Group 1 Regular -ar (lavarse) nosotros affirm./neg. lavémonos / no nos lavemos
informal affirm. lávate (> 3rd p. prs. ind.) lavaos (> inf. drop -r, NO -d) informal neg. no te laves no os lavéis formal affirm./neg. lávese / no se lave lávense / no se laven
Regular -er/-ir Repeat same pattern. ______Group 2 (a) Shoe -ar (acostarse) > ue nosotros affirm./neg. acostémonos / no nos acostemos informal affirm. acuéstate acostaos
(> 3rd p. prs. ind.) (> inf. drop -r, NO -d) informal neg. no te acuestes no os acostéis formal affirm./neg. acuéstese acuéstense no se acueste no se acuesten
16 (b) Shoe -er Repeat same pattern.
(c) Shoe -ir Repeat same pattern. ______Group 3 "Yo -go" (ponerse) nosotros affirm./neg. pongámonos / no nos pongamos
irregular informal affirm. ponte (> stem of inf.) poneos (> inf. drop -r, NO -d informal neg. no te pongas no os pongáis formal affirm./neg. póngase pónganse no se ponga no se pongan ______Group 4 "-O no" (These verbs follow similar patterns but are not predictable; they should be memorized.)
17 CONQUERING THE SPANISH VERB SYSTEM: THE YO CONNECTION
QUICK REFERENCE: COMMON VERBS BY GROUP
Group 1 : Regular Group 2 : “ Shoe” Group 3 : “ Yo - go ” Group 4 : “- O no "
-ar - ar decir > digo dar > doy apagar acostar hacer > hago estar > estoy bailar almorzar deshacer bañar cerrar rehacer haber > he besar contar buscar despertar oír > oigo ir > voy cambiar empezar caminar encontrar poner > pongo saber > sé comprar jugar disponer imponer desear pensar suponer ser > soy encantar recomendar entrar recordar salir > salgo gustar sentar hablar tener > tengo lavar - er detener levantar entretener llamar entender obtener retener llegar perder llevar poder (irreg. pret.) traer > traigo mandar querer (irreg. pret.) mirar venir > vengo nadar volver pagar envolver tomar devolver resolver “ Yo -zco ” trabajar revolver conocer reconocer - er/-ir - ir desconocer aprender divertir conducir beber dormir introducir morir reproducir comer producir traducir abrir pedir despedir asistir impedir escribir prohibir preferir recibir repetir vivir sentir servir sugerir vestir
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