Irregular AR Verbs
Spanish: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 8.1.3
Stem Changing AR Verbs (E → IE)
When conjugating some AR verbs in the present tense, the 'e' in the infinitive becomes 'ie'. This does NOT happen in the 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms.
Cerrar - to close
- Cierro - I close.
- Cierras - you close.
- Cierra - he/she closes / you close (formal).
- Cerramos - we close.
- Cerráis - you close (plural).
- Cierran - they close / you close (formal plural).
Comenzar - to start
- Comienzo - I start.
- Comienzas - you start
- Comienza - he/she starts / you start (formal).
- Comenzamos - we start.
- Comenzáis - you start (plural).
- Comienzan - they start / you start (formal plural).
Empezar - to begin
- Empiezo - I begin.
- Empiezas - you begin.
- Empieza - he/she begins / you begin (formal).
- Empezamos - we begin.
- Empezáis - you begin (plural).
- Empiezan - they begin / you begin (formal plural).
Pensar - to think
- Pienso - I think.
- Piensas - you think.
- Piensa - he/she thinks / you think (formal).
- Pensamos - we think.
- Pensáis - you think (plural).
- Piensan - they think / you think (formal plural).
Nevar - to snow
- Nieva - It snows.
- This verb is only used in the 3rd person singular form.
- Hiela - It freezes.
- This verb is only used in the 3rd person singular form.
Other verbs that follow this pattern
- Merendar - to have an afternoon snack
- Recomendar - to recommend.
- Sentarse - to sit.
- Negar - to deny.
Stem Changing AR Verbs (O → UE)
In Spanish in the present tense some AR verbs change when conjugated. The 'o' in the infinitive becomes 'ue'. This does NOT happen in the 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms. Derivatives of these verbs follow the same pattern.
Stem changes O → UE
- 'Soñar' (to dream) becomes 'sueño' (I dream).
- 'Encontrar' (to find) becomes 'encuentro' (I find).
Soñar - to dream
- Sueño - I dream.
- Sueñas - you dream.
- Sueña - he/she dreams / you dream (formal).
- Soñamos - we dream.
- Soñáis - you dream (plural).
- Sueñan - they dream / you dream (formal plural).
Aprobar - to approve
- Apruebo - I approve.
- Apruebas - you approve.
- Aprueba - he/she approves / you approve (formal).
- Aprobamos - we approve.
- Aprobáis - you approve (plural).
- Aprueban - they approve / you approve (formal plural).
Costar -cost
- Cuesta - he/she/it costs.
- Cuestan - they cost.
Mostrar - to show
- Muestro - I show.
- Muestras - you show.
- Muestra - he/she shows / you show (formal).
- Mostramos - we show.
- Mostráis - you show (plural).
- Muestran - they show / you show (formal plural).
Verbs that follow this pattern:
- Volar - to fly.
- Recordar - to remember.
- Colgar - to put (photos on social media)
- Almorzar - to have lunch.
- Encontrar - to find.
- Probar - to try/taste.
- Acordar - to agree on.
- Contar - to count/tell.
Test yourself on Irregular AR Verbs
What is the correct way to say 'we think'?
Encontrar - to Find
How do you say 'they try'?