6.2.2

Irregular AR Verbs

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Verbs Ending in 'gar' in the Preterite Tense

Some AR verbs in the preterite change their stem in the 'yo' form. This is the only change and follow a regular pattern after this. Derivatives of these verbs follow the same pattern.

Illustrative background for Verbs ending in 'gar'Illustrative background for Verbs ending in 'gar' ?? "content

Verbs ending in 'gar'

  • Spanish verbs ending in 'gar' in the preterite change their spelling in the first person.
  • These verbs add a 'u' after 'g'.
    • Jugar (to play) → jugué (I played).
Illustrative background for Jugar - to playIllustrative background for Jugar - to play ?? "content

Jugar - to play

  • Jugué - I played.
  • Jugaste - you played.
  • Jugó - he/she played.
  • Jugamos - we played.
  • Jugasteis - you (plural) played.
  • Jugaron - they played.
Illustrative background for Negar - to denyIllustrative background for Negar - to deny ?? "content

Negar - to deny

  • Negué - I denied.
  • Negaste - you denied.
  • Negó - he/she denied.
  • Negamos - we denied.
  • Negasteis - you (plural) denied.
  • Negaron - they denied.
Illustrative background for Entregar - to hand inIllustrative background for Entregar - to hand in ?? "content

Entregar - to hand in

  • Entregué - I handed in.
  • Entregaste - you handed in.
  • Entregó -he/she handed in.
  • Entregamos - we handed in.
  • Entregasteis - you (plural) handed in.
  • Entregaron - they handed in.
Illustrative background for Llegar - to arriveIllustrative background for Llegar - to arrive ?? "content

Llegar - to arrive

  • Llegué - I arrived.
  • Llegaste - you arrived.
  • Llegó - he/she arrived.
  • Llegamos - we arrived.
  • Llegasteis - you (plural) arrived.
  • Llegaron - they arrived.
Illustrative background for Other verbs that follow this patternIllustrative background for Other verbs that follow this pattern ?? "content

Other verbs that follow this pattern

  • Other verbs that follow this pattern include:
    • Apagar - to turn off.
    • Colgar - to hang.
    • Castigar - to punish.
    • Pagar - to pay.
    • Cargar - to load, charge.
    • Navegar - to surf (the internet).

Verbs Ending in 'car' in the Preterite Tense

Some AR verbs in the preterite change their stem in the 'yo' form. This is the only change and they follow a regular pattern after this.

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Verbs ending in 'car'

  • Spanish verbs ending in 'car' change their spelling in the first person preterite.
  • The 'car' in the infinitive changes to 'qué' in the 'yo' form.
    • Publicar (to publish) → publiqué (I published).
Illustrative background for Tocar - to touch, play (an instrument)Illustrative background for Tocar - to touch, play (an instrument) ?? "content

Tocar - to touch, play (an instrument)

  • Toqué - I played.
  • Tocaste - you played.
  • Tocó - she played.
  • Tocamos - we played.
  • Tocasteis - you played.
  • Tocaron - they played.
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Explicar - to explain

  • Expliqué - I explained.
  • Explicaste - you explained.
  • Explicó - he explained.
  • Explicamos - we explained.
  • Explicasteis - you explained.
  • Explicaron - they explained.
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Similar verbs

  • Other verbs that follow this pattern include:
    • Pescar - to fish.
    • Dedicar - to devote.
    • Provocar - to provoke.
    • Marcar - to score, to mark.
    • Sacar - to get, to achieve

Verbs Ending in 'zar' in the Preterite Tense

AR verbs that end in 'zar' have an irregular 'yo' form in the preterite tense. The 'zar' in the infinitive changes to 'cé' in the 'yo' form, e.g. comenzar → comen (to start → I started).

Illustrative background for Empezar - to beginIllustrative background for Empezar - to begin ?? "content

Empezar - to begin

  • Empe - I began.
  • Empezaste - you began.
  • Empezó - he/she began.
  • Empezamos - we began.
  • Empezasteis - you (plural) began.
  • Empezaron - they began.
Illustrative background for Comenzar - to startIllustrative background for Comenzar - to start ?? "content

Comenzar - to start

  • Comen - I started.
  • Comenzaste - you started.
  • Comenzó - he/she started.
  • Comenzamos - we started.
  • Comenzasteis - you (plural) started.
  • Comenzaron - they started.
Illustrative background for Utilizar - to useIllustrative background for Utilizar - to use ?? "content

Utilizar - to use

  • Utili - I used.
  • Utilizaste - you used.
  • Utilizó - she used.
  • Utilizamos - we used.
  • Utilizasteis - you (plural) used.
  • Utilizaron - they used.
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Similar verbs

  • Other verbs that follow this pattern include:
    • Almorzar - to have lunch.
    • Amenazar - to threaten.
    • Cruzar - to cross.
    • Organizar - to organise.
    • Alcanzar - to reach.

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1The Basics

2Current & Future Study & Employment

3Identity & Culture

3.1Me, My Family & Friends

3.2Me, My Family & Friends - Translations

3.3Technology in Everyday Life

3.4Technology in Everyday Life - Translations

3.5Free Time Activities

3.6Free Time Activities - Translations

3.7Customs & Festivals in Spanish Speaking Countries

3.8Customs & Festivals - Translations

4Areas of Interest

4.1Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region

4.2Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region - Translations

4.3Social Issues

4.4Social Issues - Translations

4.5Global Issues

4.6Global Issues - Translations

4.7Travel & Tourism

4.8Travel & Tourism - Translations

5Listening Practice

6Common Tenses

7Important Verbs

8Advanced Tenses

9Extra Grammar

9.1Articles

9.2Negatives

9.3Nouns

9.4Asking Questions

9.5Adjectives

9.6Adverbs

9.7Conjunctions

9.8Pronouns

9.9By, With, From, Of

9.10Verbs

9.11Comparisons

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