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Common Irregular Verbs

CEFR A1 · Lesson 8 of 11

Some of the most useful Spanish verbs break the rules — and you'll use them constantly, so it's worth learning them early.

Some of the most useful Spanish verbs don't follow the regular pattern — and you'll use them constantly, so it's worth learning them early.

Five essential irregular verbs
Subjecttener (to have)ir (to go)hacer (to do/make)
yotengovoyhago
tienesvashaces
él / ella / ustedtienevahace
nosotrostenemosvamoshacemos
vosotrostenéisvaishacéis
ellos / ellas / ustedestienenvanhacen
Two more: querer & poder
Subjectquerer (to want)poder (can / to be able to)
yoquieropuedo
quierespuedes
él / ella / ustedquierepuede
nosotrosqueremospodemos
vosotrosqueréispodéis
ellos / ellas / ustedesquierenpueden
Tengo veinte años.I am twenty years old.
Voy al mercado.I'm going to the market.
¿Quieres un café?Do you want a coffee?
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Pattern to notice: most irregular verbs only break the pattern in the yo form (tengo, hago) or change a vowel in the stem (quiero, puedo) — the nosotros/vosotros forms often stay regular.

Practice

Check your understanding

1.Yo ___ (tener) dos hermanos.

2.Choose the correct "yo" form of "ir":

3.Ella ___ (querer) un café.

4.True or false: "hacer" has an irregular yo form ("hago").

5.Nosotros ___ (poder) hablar español.

6.Choose the correct "yo" form of "hacer":

7.True or false: "querer" keeps its regular stem in the nosotros/vosotros forms.

8.Ellos ___ (tener) mucho trabajo.

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