8.5.8

Irregular ER Verbs 2

Test yourself

Spelling Changes 'GER → J'

ER verbs that end in 'ger' change their stem to preserve the sound of 'x' or 'h'. The 'g' changes to a 'j'.

Illustrative background for 'Coger'Illustrative background for 'Coger' ?? "content

'Coger'

  • Coja - I catch.
  • Cojas - you catch.
  • Coja - he/she catches.
  • Cojamos - we catch.
  • Cojáis - you catch.
  • Cojan - they catch.
Illustrative background for 'Escoger'Illustrative background for 'Escoger' ?? "content

'Escoger'

  • Escoja - I choose.
  • Escojas - you choose.
  • Escoja - he/she choose.
  • Escojamos - we choose.
  • Escojáis - you choose.
  • Escojan - they choose.
Illustrative background for 'Proteger' Illustrative background for 'Proteger'  ?? "content

'Proteger'

  • Proteja - I protect.
  • Protejas - you protect.
  • Proteja - he/she protect.
  • Protejamos - we protect.
  • Protejáis - you protect.
  • Protejan - they protect.

No Pattern

Some ER verbs in the present subjunctive do not have the same stem as the present tense but they do add the regular subjunctive endings. There are four ER verbs worth to mention:

Illustrative background for 'Ser'Illustrative background for 'Ser' ?? "content

'Ser'

  • Uses ‘se’ as stem in all the forms followed by the regular subjunctive endings.
  • Sea - I am.
  • Seas - you are.
  • Sea - he/she is.
  • Seamos - we are.
  • Seáis - you are.
  • Sean - they are.
Illustrative background for 'Caber'Illustrative background for 'Caber' ?? "content

'Caber'

  • Uses ‘quep’ as stem in all the forms followed by the regular subjunctive endings.
  • Quepa - I fit.
  • Quepas - you fit.
  • Quepa - he/she fits.
  • Quepamos - we fit.
  • Quepáis - you fit.
  • Quepan - they fit.
Illustrative background for 'Haber'Illustrative background for 'Haber' ?? "content

'Haber'

  • Uses ‘hay’ as stem in all the forms followed by the regular subjunctive endings.
  • Haya - I have.
  • Hayas - you have.
  • Haya - he/she has.
  • Hayamos - we have.
  • Hayáis - you have.
  • Hayan - they have.
Illustrative background for 'Saber'Illustrative background for 'Saber' ?? "content

'Saber'

  • Uses ‘sep’ as stem in all the forms followed by the regular subjunctive endings.
  • Sepa - I know.
  • Sepas - you know.
  • Sepa - he/she knows.
  • Sepamos - we know.
  • Sepáis - you know.
  • Sepan - they know.

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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