6.2.9

Irregular IR Verbs - Preterite

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Radical Changing Stems (E → I)

For some Spanish verbs, their stem changes in the 'él/ella' form and the 'ellos/ellas' form of the preterite tense. Derivatives of these verbs follow the same pattern.

Radical changing stem

Radical changing stem

  • Some IR verbs in the preterite tense change their stem.
    • In the 'él/ella' and the 'ellos/ellas' forms, the 'e' changes to an 'i'.
Elegir - to choose

Elegir - to choose

  • Elegí - I chose.
  • Elegiste - you chose.
  • Eligió - he/she chose.
  • Elegimos - we chose.
  • Elegisteis - you chose.
  • Eligieron - they chose.
Mentir - to lie

Mentir - to lie

  • Mentí - I lied.
  • Mentiste - you lied.
  • Mintió - he/she lied.
  • Mentimos - we lied.
  • Mentisteis - you lied.
  • Mintieron - they lied.
Pedir - to ask

Pedir - to ask

  • Pedí - I asked.
  • Pediste - you asked.
  • Pidió - he/she asked.
  • Pedimos - we asked.
  • Pedisteis - you asked.
  • Pidieron - they asked.
Sentir - to feel

Sentir - to feel

  • Sentí - I felt.
  • Sentiste - you felt.
  • Sintió - he/she felt.
  • Sentimos - we felt.
  • Sentisteis - you felt.
  • Sintieron - they felt.
Verbs that follow this pattern

Verbs that follow this pattern

  • Medir - to measure.
  • Sugerir - to suggest.
  • Seguir - to follow, continue.
  • Preferir - to prefer.
  • Advertir - to warn.
  • Corregir - to correct.

Radical Changing Stems (O → U)

In the preterite tense, some verbs change their stems in the 'él/ella' and 'ellos/ellas' forms, with the 'o' changing to a 'u'. The two verbs that follow this pattern are 'morir' and 'dormir'.

Morir - to die

Morir - to die

  • Morí - I died.
  • Moriste - you died.
  • Murió - he/she died.
  • Morimos - we died.
  • Moristeis - you died.
  • Murieron - they died.
Dormir - to sleep

Dormir - to sleep

  • Dormí - I slept.
  • Dormiste - you slept.
  • Durmió - he/she slept.
  • Dormimos - we slept.
  • Dormisteis - you slept.
  • Durmieron - they slept.

Radical Changing Stems (I → Y)

Most IR verbs that end in 'uir' change their stem in the 'él/ella' and 'ellos/ellas' forms of the preterite tense. These verbs drop the 'i' from the stem and instead have a 'y'.

Contribuir - to contribute

Contribuir - to contribute

  • Contribuí - I contributed.
  • Contribuiste - you contributed.
  • Contribuyó - he/she contributed.
  • Contribuimos - we contributed.
  • Contribuisteis - you contributed.
  • Contribuyeron - they contributed.
Oír - to hear

Oír - to hear

  • - I heard.
  • Oíste - you heard.
  • Oyó - he/she heard.
  • Oímos - we heard.
  • Oísteis - you heard.
  • Oyeron - they heard.
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1

The Basics

2

Current & Future Study & Employment

2.1

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2.2

School & Subjects - Translations (Foundation)

2.3

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2.4

Education Post - 16

2.5

Education Post - 16 - Translations (Foundation)

2.6

Education Post - 16 - Translations (Higher)

3

Identity & Culture

3.1

Me, My Family & Friends

3.2

Me, Family & Friends - Translations (Foundation)

3.3

Me, Family & Friends - Translations (Higher)

3.4

Technology in Everyday Life

3.5

Tech in Everyday Life - Translations (Foundation)

3.6

Tech in Everyday Life - Translations (Higher)

3.7

Free Time Activities

3.8

Free Time Activities - Translations (Foundation)

3.9

Free Time Activities - Translations (Higher)

3.10

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3.11

Customs & Festivals - Translations (Foundation)

3.12

Customs & Festivals - Translations (Higher)

4

Areas of Interest

4.1

Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region

4.2

Home & Region - Translations (Foundation)

4.3

Home & Region - Translations (Higher)

4.4

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4.5

Social Issues - Translations (Foundation)

4.6

Social Issues - Translations (Higher)

4.7

Global Issues

4.8

Global Issues - Translations

4.9

Travel & Tourism

4.10

Travel & Tourism - Translations

5

Listening Practice

5.1

Time Expressions - Listening

5.2

Me, My Family & Friends - Listening

5.3

Technology in Everyday Life - Listening

5.4

Free-Time - Listening

5.5

Customs & Festivals - Listening

5.6

Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region - Listening

5.7

Social Issues - Listening

5.8

Travel & Tourism - Listening

5.9

Education - Listening

5.10

Food & Drink - Listening

5.11

In the Home - Listening

5.12

Colours - Listening

5.13

Clothes & Accesories - Listening

5.14

Measurements - Listening

5.15

Materials - Listening

6

Common Tenses

7

Important Verbs

8

Advanced Tenses

9

Extra Grammar

9.1

Articles

9.2

Negatives

9.3

Nouns

9.4

Asking Questions

9.5

Adjectives

9.6

Adverbs

9.7

Conjunctions

9.8

Pronouns

9.9

By, With, From, Of

9.10

Verbs

9.11

Comparisons

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