16.9.3

Irregular Verbs

Test yourself

Deleting an 'E' before the ‘R'

There are five verbs that have the same irregular stem. They are all ER verbs. To form the stem, remove 'e' from the infinitive.

Illustrative background for Caber - to fitIllustrative background for Caber - to fit ?? "content

Caber - to fit

  • Cabría - I would fit.
  • Cabrías - you would fit.
  • Cabría - he/she would fit.
  • Cabríamos - we would fit.
  • Cabríais - you would fit.
  • Cabrían - they would fit.
Illustrative background for Haber - to have Illustrative background for Haber - to have  ?? "content

Haber - to have

  • Habría - I would have.
  • Habrías - you would have.
  • Habría - he/she would have.
  • Habríamos - we would have.
  • Habríais - you would have.
  • Habrían - they would have.
Illustrative background for Poder - to be able to, could when used the conditional ‘podría’Illustrative background for Poder - to be able to, could when used the conditional ‘podría’ ?? "content

Poder - to be able to, could when used the conditional ‘podría’

  • Podría - I would be able to.
  • Podrías - you would be able to.
  • Podría - he/she would be able to.
  • Podríamos - we would be able to.
  • Podríais - you would be able to.
  • Podrían - they would be able to.
Illustrative background for Saber - to knowIllustrative background for Saber - to know ?? "content

Saber - to know

  • Sabría - I would know.
  • Sabrías - you would know.
  • Sabría - he/she would know.
  • Sabríamos - we would know.
  • Sabríais - you would know.
  • Sabrían - they would know.
Illustrative background for Querer - to wantIllustrative background for Querer - to want ?? "content

Querer - to want

  • Querría - I would want.
  • Querrías - you would want.
  • Querría - he/she would want.
  • Querríamos - we would want.
  • Querríais - you would want.
  • Querrían - they would want.

Removing the infinitive ending and adding 'DR' to the Stem

There are five irregular verbs in the conditional tense and the future tense that share this irregularity.

Illustrative background for Poner - to putIllustrative background for Poner - to put ?? "content

Poner - to put

  • Pondría - I would put.
  • Pondrías - you would put.
  • Pondría - he/she would put.
  • Pondríamos - we would put.
  • Pondríais - you would put.
  • Pondrían - they would put.
Illustrative background for Salir - to go outIllustrative background for Salir - to go out ?? "content

Salir - to go out

  • Saldría - I would go out.
  • Saldrías - you would go out.
  • Saldría - he/she would go out.
  • Saldríamos - we would go out.
  • Saldríais - you would go out.
  • Saldrían - they would go out.
Illustrative background for Tener - to haveIllustrative background for Tener - to have ?? "content

Tener - to have

  • Tendría - I would have.
  • Tendrías - you would have.
  • Tendría - he/she would have.
  • Tendríamos - we would have.
  • Tendríais - you would have.
  • Tendrían - they would have.
Illustrative background for Valer - to cost, to be worthIllustrative background for Valer - to cost, to be worth ?? "content

Valer - to cost, to be worth

  • Valdría - I would cost.
  • Valdrías - you would cost.
  • Valdría - he/she would cost.
  • Valdríamos - we would cost.
  • Valdríais - you would cost.
  • Valdrían - they would cost.
Illustrative background for Venir - to comeIllustrative background for Venir - to come ?? "content

Venir - to come

  • Vendría - I would come.
  • Vendrías - you would come.
  • Vendría - he/she would come.
  • Vendríamos - we would come.
  • Vendríais - you would come.
  • Vendrían - they would come.

Uses of the Conditional Tense

Illustrative background for What could happen (speculation)Illustrative background for What could happen (speculation) ?? "content

What could happen (speculation)

  • Podría ser un problema para el medioambiente.
    • It could be a problem for the environment.
Illustrative background for What should happen (recommendation)Illustrative background for What should happen (recommendation) ?? "content

What should happen (recommendation)

  • The following phrases are used when offering advice and are followed by the conditional.
    • Yo hablaría con un profesor.
      • I would talk to a teacher.
  • To offer advice you can also use 'deberías' or 'podrías':
    • Podrías comer más verduras.
      • You could eat more vegetables.
    • Deberíamos hacer más ejercicio.
      • We should do more exercise.
Illustrative background for Being politeIllustrative background for Being polite ?? "content

Being polite

  • ¿Podrías ayudarme?
    • Could you help me?
  • ¿Tendríais chocolate?
    • Do you have some chocolate?
Illustrative background for 'Si' clausesIllustrative background for 'Si' clauses ?? "content

'Si' clauses

  • When the imperfect subjunctive is used at the start of a 'si' clause, the conditional is required. (You will learn about the imperfect subjunctive later on).
    • Si tuviera más dinero, compraría una nueva casa.
      • If I had more money, I would buy a new house.

Jump to other topics

1Los valores tradicionales y modernos

2El ciberespacio

3La igualdad de los sexos

4La inmigración

5El racismo

6La convivencia

7La influencia de los ídolos

8La identidad regional en España

9El patrimonio cultural

10El Laberinto del Fauno

11Nouns

12Articles

12.1Definite & Indefinite

12.2El with Feminine Nouns

12.3Lo + Adjective

13Adjectives

13.1Agreement

13.2Position

13.3Apocopation

13.4Comparative & Superlative

13.5Use of Adjectives as Nouns

13.6Demonstrative

13.7Indefinite

13.8Possessive

13.9Interrogative & Exclamative

13.10Relative

14Numerals & Quantifiers

15Pronouns

15.1Subject

15.2Object: Direct & Indirect

15.3Reflexive

15.4Unstressed & Stressed Forms

15.5Position & Order

15.6Relative

15.7Demonstrative

15.8Indefinite

15.9Possessive

15.10Interrogative

16Verbs

16.1Regular Conjugations

16.2Regular & Irregular Verbs

16.3Agreement of Verb & Subject

16.4Use of Hay Que in All Tenses

16.5Present Tense

16.6Preterite Tense

16.7Imperfect Tense

16.8Future Tense

16.9Conditional Tense

16.10Perfect Tense

16.11Future Perfect Tense

16.12Conditional Perfect Tense

16.13Pluperfect Tense

16.14Infinitive, Gerund & Past Participle

16.15Verbal Paraphrases

16.16Use of the Subjunctive

16.17Commands

16.18Conditional Sentences

16.19After Conjunctions of Time

16.20After Para Que, Sin Que

16.21In Relative Clauses

16.22After Other Subordinating Conjunctions

16.23With Verbs of Wishing & Commanding

16.24Sequence of Tense in Indirect Speech

16.25Voice

16.26Use of the Reflexives as a Passive

16.27Use of the Reflexive to Express an Impersonal

16.28Use of Ser + Past Participle

16.29Use of Estar + Past Participle

16.30'Nuance' Reflexive Verbs

16.31Modes of Address

16.32Constructions with Verbs

16.33Verbs Followed by an Infinitive

17Prepositions & Conjunctions

17.1All Prepositions

17.2'Personal' a

17.3Discrimination of Por and Para

17.4Coordinating Conjunctions

17.5Subordinating Conjunctions

17.6Use of Que to Introduce a Clause

18Negation, Questions & Commands

18.1Negation

19Word Order, Other Constructions & Discourse Marker

19.1Subject Following Verb

19.2Focalisation

19.3Time Expressions with Hace/Hacía

19.4Cleft Sentences

19.5Comparative Constructions

19.6Indirect Speech

19.7Discourse Markers

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