10.5.9

Irregular IR Verbs (1/3)

Test yourself

Radically Changing IR Verbs (O → UE, (E → IE), (E → I)

Verbs that have radical changing stems in the present tense are also radically changing in the present subjunctive. In the 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms these verbs drop the ‘e’. Here are a couple of examples:

Illustrative background for DormirIllustrative background for Dormir ?? "content

Dormir

  • Duerma - I sleep.
  • Duermas - you sleep.
  • Duerma - he/she sleeps.
  • Durmamos - we sleep.
  • Durmáis - you sleep.
  • Duerman - they sleep.
Illustrative background for SentirIllustrative background for Sentir ?? "content

Sentir

  • Sienta - I feel.
  • Sientas - you feel.
  • Sienta - he/she feels.
  • Sintamos - we feel.
  • Sintáis - you feel.
  • Sientan - they feel.
Illustrative background for PedirIllustrative background for Pedir ?? "content

Pedir

  • Pida - I ask.
  • Pidas - you ask.
  • Pida - he/she asks.
  • Pidamos - we ask.
  • Pidáis - you ask.
  • Pidan - they ask.

Adding a 'G'

Some IR verbs in the present tense 'yo' form add a 'g' to their stem. The ‘yo form’ of the present tense without the ‘o’ acts as the stem for the present subjunctive.

Illustrative background for 'Salir'Illustrative background for 'Salir' ?? "content

'Salir'

  • Salga - I go out.
  • Salgas - you go out.
  • Salga - he/she goes out.
  • Salgamos - wego out.
  • Salgáis - you go out.
  • Salgan - they go out.
Illustrative background for 'Decir'Illustrative background for 'Decir' ?? "content

'Decir'

  • Diga - I say.
  • Digas - you say.
  • Diga - he/she says.
  • Digamos - we say.
  • Digáis - you say.
  • Digan - they say.

Jump to other topics

1The Basics

2Home & Abroad

3Education & Employment

4Personal Life & Relationships

5The World Around Us

6Social Activities, Fitness & Health

7Listening

8Common Tenses

9Important Verbs

10Advanced Tenses

11Extra Grammar

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium