Irregular Spanish Verbs

Stem Changes in the Present Tense

Many verbs that have an e in the stem change the e to ie in the present tense in cases where the e is stressed. For example, the e in pensar (to think) changes to ie in pienso (I think). Similarly Many verbs that have an o in the stem change the o to ue in the present tense in cases where the o is stressed. For example, the o in poder (to be able) changes to ue in puedo (I am able).

Some verbs add a g in the first person present tense when the stem of the verb ends in n, such as tengo (I have) from tener (to have).

Preterite Tense

In Spanish there are many irregular verbs in the preterite tense, including some of the most common verbs. Some of the verbs are very irregular, but since they are very common, you'll have the opportunity to get a lot of practice. The tables below show you how to conjugate these irregular verbs.

Irregular Verb Tables

Andar (To Walk)

present	preterite
ando	anduve	I walk/walked
andas	anduviste	you walk/walked
anda	anduvo	he/she/it walks/walked
andamos	anduvimos	we walk/walked
andáis	anduvisteis	you (pl) walk/walked
andan	anduvieron	they walk/walked

Caber (To Fit)

present	preterite
quepo	cupe	I fit
cabes	cupiste	you fit
cabe	cupo	he/she/it fit
cabemos	cupimos	we fit
cabéis	cupisteis	you (pl) fit
caben	cupieron	they fit

Dar (To Give)

present	preterite
doy	di	I give/gave
das	diste	you give/gave
da	dio	he/she/it gives/gave
damos	dimos	we give/gave
dais	disteis	you (pl) give/gave
dan	dieron	they give/gave

Decir (To Say)

present	preterite
digo	dije	I say/said
dices	dijiste	you say/said
dice	dijo	he/she/it says/said
decimos	dijimos	we say/said
decís	dijisteis	you (pl) say/said
dicen	dijeron	they say/said

Hacer (To Do)

present	preterite
hago	hice	I do/did
haces	hiciste	You do/did
hace	hizo	he/she/it does/did
hacemos	hicimos	we do/did
haceís	hicisteis	you (pl) do/did
hacen	hicieron	they do/did

Estar (To Be)

present	preterite
estoy	estuve	I am/was
estás	estuviste	you are/were
está	estuvo	he/she/it is/was
estamos	estuvimos	we are/were
estáis	estuvisteis	you (pl) are/were
están	estuvieron	they are/were

Ir (To Go)

present	preterite
voy	fui	I go/went
vas	fuiste	you go/went
va	fue	he/she/it goes/went
vamos	fuimos	we go/went
vais	fuisteis	you (pl) go/went
van	fueron	they go/went

Oír (To Hear)

present	preterite
oigo	oí	I hear/heard
oyes	oíste	you hear/heard
oye	oyó	he/she/it hears/heard
oímos	oímos	we hear/heard
oís	oísteis	you (pl) hear/heard
oyen	oyeron	they hear/heard

Poder (To Be Able)

present	preterite
puedo	pude	I am/was able
puedes	pudiste	you are/were able
puede	pudo	he/she/it is/was able
podimos	pudimos	we are/were able
podéis	pudisteis	you (pl) are/were able
pueden	pudieron	they are/were able

Poner (To Put)

present	preterite
pongo	puse	I put/placed
pones	pusiste	you put/placed
pone	puso	he/she/it put/placed
ponemos	pusimos	we put/placed
ponéis	pusisteis	you (pl) put/placed
ponen	pusieron	they put/placed

Producir (To Produce)

present	preterite
produzco	produje	I produce/produced
produces	produjiste	you produce/produced
produce	produjo	he/she/it produces/produced
producimos	produjimos	we produce/produced
producís	produjisteis	you (pl) produce/produced
producen	produjieron	they produce/produced

Querer (To want)

present	preterite
quiero	quise	I wanted
quieres	quisiste	you wanted
quiere	quiso	he/she/it wanted
queremos	quisimos	we wanted
queréis	quisisteis	you (pl) wanted
quieron	quisieron	they wanted

Saber (To Know)

present	preterite
sé	supe	I know/knew
sabes	supiste	you know/knew
sabe	supo	he/she/it knows/knew
sabemos	supimos	we know/knew
sabéis	supisteis	you (pl) know/knew
saben	supieron	they know/knew

Ser (To Be)

present	past
soy	fui	I am/was
eres	fuiste	you are/were
es	fue	he/she/it is/was
somos	fuimos	we are/were
sois	fuisteis	you (pl) are/were
son	fueron	they are/were

Tener (To Have)

present	preterite
tengo	tuve	I have/had
tienes	tuviste	you have/had
tiene	tuvo	he/she/it has/had
tenemos	tuvimos	we have/had
tenéis	tuvisteis	you (pl) have/had
tienen	tuvieron	they have/had

Traer (To Bring)

present	preterite
traigo	traje	I bring/brought
traes	trajiste	you bring/brought
trae	trajo	he/she/it brings/brought
traemos	trajimos	we bring/brought
traéis	trajisteis	you (pl) bring/brought
traen	trajeron	they bring/brought

Venir (To Come)

present	preterite
vengo	vine	I come/came
vienes	viniste	you come/came
viene	vino	he/she/it comes/came
venimos	vinimos	we come/came
venís	vinisteis	you (pl) come/came
vienen	vinieron	they come/came

Ver (To See)

present	preterite
veo	vi	I see/saw
ves	viste	you see/saw
ve	vio	he/she/it sees/saw
vemos	vimos	we see/saw
veis	visteis	you (pl) see/saw
ven	vieron	they see/saw

Examples

Vimos el perro.	We saw the dog.
¿Qué te dijo ella?	What did she say to you?
Lo puse en la mesa.	I put it on the table.
Él me lo dio.	He gave it to me.

Irregular Imperatives

Here are some common verbs that have irregular imperative forms. Have a look at Imperative Mood for more information on the imperative form of Spanish verbs.

Polite Imperative

The following table shows the polite imperative form of several irregular verbs.

Infinitive	Singular	Plural
dar	dé	dén	give
estar	esté	estén	be
decir	diga	digan	say
empezar	empiece	empiecen	start
ir	vaya	vayan	go
saber	sepa	sepan	know
traer	traiga	traigan	bring

Familiar Imperative

Several common verbs have irregular familiar imperative forms.

• no dés - don't give
• di - say
• haz - do
• ve - go
• no vayas - don't go
• pon - put
• sal - leave
• sé - be
• ten - have
• ven - come