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| ¡Un gran obstáculo! |
One of the biggest hurdles in Spanish is learning irregular verbs. As far as I know, there is no easy way to learn them other than memorizing them.
So, relax make friends with them, get to know them.
Here are the 25 most common irregular verbs on "flashcards" showing the 5 major tenses: present, the two past tenses, future and conditional.
Don't try to consume them all at once ... take 5 at a time and review frequently. Make sentences with them in each of the tenses. You will notice that some are more irregular than others.
If you click on the images, you will get a larger image that will be easier to read. The verbs are in alphabetical order to make them easier to find. You will also notice that the English translations are missing. Look up the meaning and write sentences. You need to know these verbs ... they will become old friends.
Each group will focus on one tense ... the present is the most irregular, the two past tenses are the most complicated and confusing, the future is easy, and the conditional is simple when you understand how to use it and the conjugation is a snap.
So here's the important part ... Best way to learn verbs: WRITE SENTENCES. Here's a process which may seem slow ... however, it is deep learning and will last as you work through the normal rough spots of learning to speak a new language.
Sentence process: aka Google Dos-Pasos
From your own life or interests, write sentences using each person of each tense, one tense at a time … en español. HOWEVER, only write these sentences for the irregular forms of the verb (in RED). All the other forms follow the regular conjugation rules. This will cut the number of sentences you write down dramatically.
Put the sentences into Google Translate.
Check each sentence to see if the English says what you intended. If it does, great! If not, tweak your sentence until it does say what you want.
One sentence at a time, cut and paste it into the left-side box and change the language to English.
Check to see if the Spanish is the same as yours. If it is, great (and unusual)! If not, figure out why there are differences. Some may be valid corrections; others may be Google Translate making changes you don’t want.
- Highlight the changes on your sentences and insert the correct version. Over time, you will start to see patterns in your errors which will help you correct them.
- Speak the corrected sentences OUT LOUD!
- Once you have your sentences for a verb written, record them and then listen to your recording. If you're not happy record them again. Read them to or record them for your teacher.
- If
you want to use words you don't know yet, get them from Google
Translate, but make note of them so you can add them to your new word
list in your journal. You do have a journal, don't you?
So we're off ...
Group 1: Presente -- ahorita!
Verbos: creer - dar - decir - dormir - estar
three endings -ar, -er, -ir. Once you understand regular conjugation,
the irregulars will make more sense.
It is difficult to have a belief that has a beginning
and an end, so most past beliefs will be imperfecto.
Group 2: Pretérito -- terminado. punto.
Verbos: haber - haber (2) - hacer - ir - oír - oler
One of the very different aspects of Spanish versus English is the use
of two past tenses, and to further complicate matters, they are known by different terms.
We're using the Spanish terms. To help simplify the two, Paul of SpanishwithPaul
calls them the "dot past," meaning that it was finished, a completed action.
He calls the other one the "line past," meaning that it was ongoing.
For instance: I danced yesterday. (dot) Ayer bailé.
I used to dance a lot. (line) Bailaba mucho.
Don't worry, it will take awhile.
For now, let's focus on the "dot past" - pretérito.
Write sentences using these words about actions you completed
sometime in the past.
Here's a video from language master Olly Richards
and his Fluent Spanish Academy which will help you understand
conjugation of some of the most irregular verbs in the
pretérito tense.
Group 3: Imperfecto -- habitos ... lineas
Verbos: pedir - pensar - pagar - poder - poner
Things you used to do ... habits, repeated actions in the past.
Fumaba. ;-(
It's tricky to decide which verb you need to use, but the lovely
thing about this tense is that there are only three irregulars:
IR - SER - VER
and none of them are in this group.
which verb to use. After you watch it, you will be
ready to write sentences.
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It's as simple as pizza!
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It is difficult to have a thought that has a beginning
and an end, so most past thoughts will be imperfecto.
Group 4: Futuro -- mañana
Verbos: querer - saber - salir - sequir - sentir
The future tense is easy to use and easy to conjugate.
You probably already know how to use an even simpler
future form ... voy a (infinitive) which is great for actions that will
take place in the immediate future. However, for actions that will
take place sometime in the indefinite future, you need the future tense.
There are a few verbs which change their stems in future and conditional
tenses and they are noted at the bottom of each flash card.
Group 5: Condicional -- ¿posible?
Verbos: ser - tener - traer - venir - ver
The conditional tense is actually quite useful and way easy
to conjugate, using the same three irregulars as the future tense:
IR - SER - VER.
This short video by language master, Olly Richards, shows you how to use
the four basic reasons for using this tense ... setting up possibilities,
asking for advice, giving excuses, and being polite.
It's especially important to write sentences with this tense
to make sure you know how to incorporate it into your conversations.
If you've finished this series,
it's time to
GRAZNAR!
Feel free to take a screen shot of this image
and paste to social media ... you deserve it.
and
please leave a comment below ... tell us what you think about this exercise ...
and how many sentences you wrote.
