Irregular 'AR' Verbs: Spelling Changes 'ZAR'-'C'

Spanish: Cambridge International GCSE, topic 10.6.7

Spelling Changes ('ZAR' → 'C')

Verbs ending in ‘zar’ all have irregular stems in the present subjunctive for spelling reasons. Change the ‘z’ for a ‘c’. For example:

Alcanzar - to reach

Alcanzar - to reach

  • Alcance - I reach.
  • Alcances - you reach.
  • Alcance - he/she reaches / you reach (formal).
  • Alcancemos - we reach.
  • Alcancéis - you reach (plural).
  • Alcancen - they reach / you reach (formal plural).
Almorzar - to have lunch

Almorzar - to have lunch

  • Note that 'almorzar' is irregular in the present tense and keeps that pattern as well.
  • Almuerce - I have lunch.
  • Almuerces - you have lunch.
  • Almuerce - he/she has lunch / you have lunch (formal).
  • Almorcemos - we have lunch.
  • Almorcéis - you have lunch (plural).
  • Almuercen - they have lunch / you have lunch (formal plural).
Comenzar - to start

Comenzar - to start

  • Note that 'comenzar' is irregular in the present tense and keeps that pattern as well.
  • Comience - I start.
  • Comiences - you start.
  • Comience - he/she starts / you start (formal).
  • Comencemos - we start.
  • Comencéis - you start (plural).
  • Comiencen - they start / you start (formal plural).

Test yourself on Irregular 'AR' Verbs: Spelling Changes 'ZAR'-'C'

  • How do you say 'they start' in the present subjunctive in Spanish?

  • How do you say 'she reaches' in the present subjunctive in Spanish?

Practise this topic for free