Irregular Verbs
Spanish: AQA A Level, topic 16.9.3
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
What could happen (speculation)
- Podría ser un problema para el medioambiente.
- It could be a problem for the environment.
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.
Being polite
- ¿Podrías ayudarme?
- Could you help me?
- ¿Tendríais chocolate?
- Do you have some chocolate?
'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.
Test yourself on Irregular Verbs
How do you say 'I would have done' in Spanish?
How do you say 'we would know' in Spanish?
How do you say 'we would have' in Spanish?
How do you say 'you plural would put' in Spanish?
How do you say 'do you have any wine' in Spanish?