8.2.3

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?
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'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

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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