Idea Transcript
CONQUERING THE SPANISH VERB SYSTEM: THE YO CONNECTION
NANCY T. MÍNGUEZ DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY
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INTRODUCTION
These handouts are a great tool for the student to easily comprehend how the conjugations work in Spanish. The techniques taught by this system help to quickly grasp and learn the verb types and their conjugations. By dividing the verbs into four main groups, each with its own predictable pattern and all based on the yo conjugation of the present tense, the student can make predictions about the rest of the tenses and will come to rely less on outside sources. These handouts are an incredibly useful instrument for the student to fully embrace verb conjugating naturally.
When in need of a different resource to accurately conjugate verbs immediately, the Verb Conjugator is available. At hand to conjugate over 86 verbs, it is a fast and reliable source to look up a specific verb in a particular tense instantly.
OVERVIEW
The Spanish verb system can be easily divided into four main groups, each with its own predictable pattern and all based on the yo conjugation of the present tense. Once you discover the yo conjugation, you can make predictions about the rest of the tenses and, hopefully, will need to rely less on outside sources.
1. Regular verbs (-ar and -er/-ir), like comprar, aprender, and abrir, form the largest group and are the easiest to learn. These verbs establish the general pattern of operation for all groups, and there are few, if any, irregularities. The regular verbs can be divided into two categories representing each ending group: (a) -ar and (b) -er/-ir. Each subsequent group deviates somewhat from this general pattern, with -ir verbs showing the most irregularities. 2. “Shoe” verbs (-ar/-er/-ir), or stem-changing verbs like pensar, volver, and pedir, are verbs whose present tense in both the indicative and subjunctive forms a “shoe” or “boot” pattern when the singular conjugations are listed adjacent to the plural. “Shoe” verbs can be divided into three ending categories: (a) -ar, (b) -er, and (c) -ir. Verbs in this group will not show a stem change in any other tense, except for those in Group 2C that deviate slightly from the pattern established in the other two categories in the present subjunctive and in the third person preterit. 3. “Yo -go” verbs (or “Yo -zco” verbs) are those verbs whose yo form ends in -go or -zco, such as tener, hacer, conocer, and conducir. Only -er/-ir verbs form this group—there are no -ar “yo -go” verbs. We find more irregularities in this group, but most are predictable. Almost all of these verbs (except salir and conocer) are irregular in the preterit tense. Also, the irregularities tend to be similar: all of these verbs have the same ending that differs slightly from the regular preterit, and all reflect a similar change in the 1
stem that repeats in the six conjugations. In all cases, once again, the yo form generates an irregular present subjunctive, and the irregular preterit forms generate the past subjunctive. Many “yo -go” verbs tend to have a similar pattern of irregularities in the future and conditional. 4. “-O no” verbs, or irregular verbs, are those whose yo form does not end in -o. The patterns these verbs follow are generally unpredictable and must be memorized. However, the irregularity that these verbs share—the yo form not ending in -o—draws the student’s attention to the fact that these verbs will typically not follow the normal pattern and may have many irregularities. Since there are only six verbs in this group (ser, estar, dar, ir, saber, and haber), this is not a particular problem. For each category, you’ll see a pattern represented by a model verb from each group/subgroup, determined by the group and endings (-ar, -er/-ir). On the back of each model page, you can write all verbs that are in the group and practice the conjugations as needed with one of the “blank” model charts. As you learn other verbs that “behave” like the model (see the “quick reference” for others in any particular group), you can simply add them to the back of the page and indicate any minor deviation from the norm, such as an irregular past participle or an irregular preterit form. In the end, you will have six pages with the model on the front and all other verbs in that category on the back. You’ll need to make a separate chart for each verb in Group 4, the “-o no” group. Eventually, you’ll be able to establish at a glance to which group any new verb belongs and know exactly how to use it, simply by observing the yo form of the present tense. If it is regular, then you may predict that the verb will not deviate from the regular pattern; if the yo form shows a stem change, then you may predict that it will follow the pattern of the “shoe” verbs; if the yo form ends in -go, then it will most likely follow the patterns established by the other “yo -go” verbs.
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CONQUERING THE SPANISH VERB SYSTEM: THE YO CONNECTION
Group 1: Regular Verbs (-ar, -er/-ir) (Since -ir verbs differ ONLY in the nosotros and vosotros forms of the present indicative, it is not necessary to have a separate page for them. After the present tense, -ir verbs have the same endings as -er verbs.)
Regular verbs form the largest and most predictable group of verbs. This group establishes the basic pattern from which other groups may deviate slightly. There are very few irregularities in this group, and you should indicate any irregularities next to the verb on the list on the back of the model page—e.g., andar (irregular preterit > anduve). It is important to learn well the patterns established by the regular verbs. See “Quick Reference” for other common verbs in this group on page 14 of this handout.
Remember: Conjugate verbs in Spanish by taking the stem and affixing the proper ending for the subject and tense. The six conjugations represent first (yo), second (tú) and third (usted, él, ella) persons singular, and first (nosotros), second (vosotros), and third (ustedes, ellos) persons plural.
Conjugate reflexive verbs (e.g., lavarse) exactly the same way you would conjugate any other verb. Be sure to include the respective reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se), which always precedes the verb that you are conjugating—e.g., me lavo, te lavas, se lava, etc. See “Reflexive commands” on page 13 of this handout.
MODELS: COMPRAR (SHOWN),
COMER, ESCRIBIR
Present Tense Indicative Mood
Subjunctive Mood (Yo form of present indicative + opposite vowel)
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
compro compras compra
compramos compráis compran
compre compres compre
compremos compréis compren
Preterit Tense Singular
Plural
compré compraste compró
compramos comprasteis compraron
Imperfect Tense Indicative Mood
Subjunctive Mood (Formed from third person plural preterit)
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
compraba comprabas compraba
comprábamos comprabais compraban
comprara compraras comprara
compráramos comprarais compraran
Future Tense: infinitive + -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án = compraré (I will buy), etc. Conditional Tense: infinitive + -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían = compraría (I would buy), etc.
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Compound Tenses Progressive: estar (any tense, indicative or subjunctive) + present participle (stem + -ando/-iendo) = Estoy (estaba, estaré, estaría) comprando/comiendo/escribiendo (I am [was, will be, would be] buying/eating/writing) Perfect: haber + past participle (stem + -ado/-ido [some verbs are irregular—e.g., escribir > escrito]) = haber comprado/comido/escrito (to have bought/eaten/written) Present Perfect: present tense of haber + past participle (stem + -ado) = he comprado (I have bought) Indicative Mood
Subjunctive Mood
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
he comprado has ha
hemos comprado habéis han
haya comprado hayas haya
hayamos comprado hayáis hayan
Pluperfect: imperfect tense of haber + past participle = había comprado (I had bought) Indicative Mood
Subjunctive Mood
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
había comprado habías había
habíamos comprado habíais habían
hubiera comprado hubieras hubiera
hubiéramos comprado hubierais hubieran
Future Perfect: future tense (no subjunctive) of haber + past participle = habré comprado (I will have bought) Singular
Plural
habré comprado habrás habrá
habremos comprado habréis habrán
Conditional Perfect: conditional tense (no subjunctive) of haber + past participle = habría comprado (I would have bought) Singular
Plural
habría comprado habrías habría
habríamos comprado habríais habrían
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CONQUERING THE SPANISH VERB SYSTEM: THE YO CONNECTION
Group 2A/2B: "Shoe" Verbs (-ar and -er) Since e will always change to ie, and o will always change to ue, it is not necessary to separate these verbs according to their different stem changes. See “Quick Reference” for other common verbs in these groups. Repeat same exercise for Group 2A: “Shoe” Verbs (-ar). The endings will be the same as Group 1: Regular Verbs (-ar). NOTE: There is a separate page for Group 2C: “Shoe” Verbs (-ir), since these verbs show changes that Groups 2A and 2B do not.
MODELS: 2A PENSAR / 2B VOLVER (SHOWN) e > ie o > ue
By placing the present indicative next to the subjunctive, the student can see the "shoe" pattern and how the pattern is carried into the subjunctive but disappears in the past tenses.
Present Tense Indicative Mood
Subjunctive Mood
Singular
Plural
Singular Plural (The “shoe”-pattern stem change carries over.)
vuelvo vuelves vuelve
volvemos volvéis vuelven
vuelva vuelvas vuelva
volvamos volváis vuelvan
Preterit Tense Singular (No stem change in past tenses)
Plural
volví volviste volvió
volvimos volvisteis volvieron
Imperfect Tense Indicative Mood
Subjunctive Mood
Singular
Plural
Singular Plural (Formed from third person plural preterit)
volvía volvías volvía
volvíamos volvíais volvían
volviera volvieras volviera
volviéramos volvierais volvieran
These verbs will generally be regular in future and conditional tenses.
Future Tense: infinitive + -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án = volveré (I will return), etc. Conditional Tense: infinitive + -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían = volvería (I would return), etc.
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Compound Tenses Progressive: estar + present participle (stem + -ando/-iendo) = estoy volviendo (I am returning) Present Perfect: present tense of haber + past participle (stem + -ido [volver (irregular) > vuelto]) = he vuelto (I have returned) Indicative Mood
Subjunctive Mood
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
he vuelto has ha
hemos vuelto habéis han
haya vuelto hayas haya
hayamos vuelto hayáis hayan
Pluperfect: imperfect tense of haber + past participle = había vuelto (I had returned) Indicative Mood
Subjunctive Mood
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
había vuelto habías había
habíamos vuelto habíais habían
hubiera vuelto hubieras hubiera
hubiéramos hubierais hubieran
vuelto
Future Perfect: future tense (no subjunctive) of haber + past participle = habré vuelto (I will have returned) Conditional Perfect: conditional tense (no subjunctive) of haber + past participle = habría vuelto (I would have returned) See Group 1 for the conjugations of future perfect and conditional perfect tenses.
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CONQUERING THE SPANISH VERB SYSTEM: THE YO CONNECTION
Group 2C: "Shoe" Verbs (-ir): e > i, i
e > ie, i
o > ue, u
The verbs in this group follow the same basic “shoe” pattern as the -ar and -er verbs in Groups 2A and 2B. However, the verbs in this group change in ways that the other two groups do not and require a model of their own. Again, it is not necessary to separate the different stem changes, since e will always change to i (or ie for a few verbs), and o will always change to ue. In this group, you will see that the "shoe" pattern appears only in the indicative, but the change in the yo form is carried throughout the subjunctive, unlike Groups 2A and 2B. Also unlike 2A and 2B, there is a stem change in the preterit and in the present participle, as indicated by the second vowel in parentheses (e > i, i). See “Quick Reference” for other common verbs in this group.
MODEL:
PEDIR (e > i, i)
Indicative Mood Singular
Subjunctive Mood
Plural
Singular
Plural
Present Tense *The stem change carries over to all conjugations.
pido pides pide
pedimos pedís piden
pida pidas pida
pidamos pidáis pidan
Although the "shoe” pattern does not carry into the past tenses, observe that with all of these verbs—like verbs in all the groups—the change in the third person preterit carries over to all forms of the imperfect subjunctive. Preterit Tense **The stem changes in the third person of all verbs in this group.
pedí pediste **pidió
pedimos pedisteis ** pidieron
Imperfect Tense ***Always formed from the third person plural preterit pedía pedías pedía
pedíamos pedíais pedían
pidiera pidieras pidiera
pidiéramos pidierais pidieran
These verbs will generally be regular in future and conditional tenses. Future Tense: infinitive + -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án = pediré (I will request), etc.
XXXX
Conditional Tense: infinitive + -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían = pediría (I would request), etc.
XXXX
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Compound Tenses Progressive: estar + present participle (stem**** + -iendo) = estoy pidiendo (I am requesting); estaba pidiendo (I was requesting), etc. ****ONLY verbs in this group—and a couple in other groups (e.g., venir and poder)—will show the same stem change in the present participle as in the preterit.
Indicative Mood Singular
Plural
Subjunctive Mood Singular
Plural
Present Perfect: present tense of haber + past participle (stem + -ido) = he pedido (I have requested) he pedido has ha
hemos pedido habéis han
haya pedido hayas haya
hayamos pedido hayáis hayan
Pluperfect: imperfect tense of haber + past participle = había pedido (I had requested) había pedido habías había
habíamos pedido habíais habían
hubiera pedido hubieras hubiera
hubiéramos pedido hubierais hubieran
Future Perfect: future tense (no subjunctive) of haber + past participle = habré pedido (I will have requested) Conditional Perfect: conditional tense (no subjunctive) of haber + past participle = habría pedido (I would have requested)
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CONQUERING THE SPANISH VERB SYSTEM: THE YO CONNECTION
Group 3: “Yo -go” Verbs The first person present tense of the verbs in this group ends with -go. There are two subgroups that affect ONLY the present tense: -go + “shoe” (verbs have a stem change in the present tense) and -go “alone” (verbs that do not have a stem change). These subgroups do not affect any of the other tenses. The “yo -go” group also includes "yo -zco" verbs like conocer and conducir since the yo form affects the subjunctive formation in the same way. The ucir verbs will have the same irregularities in the preterit tense. Typical verbs in this group are decir, poner, hacer, venir, and any derivatives thereof (e.g., imponer, intervenir, entretener, mantener, reconocer, introducir, etc.). No -ar verbs fall into this group. See “Quick Reference” for other common verbs in this group. MODELS: TENER (e > ie) HACER
Present Tense Indicative Mood
Subjunctive Mood
-go + "shoe"
-go “alone”
(Formed from yo form of present indicative)
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
Singular
tengo tienes tiene
tenemos tenéis tienen
hago haces hace
hacemos hacéis hacen
tenga tengamos tengas tengáis tenga tengan
Plural
Singular
Plural
haga hagas haga
hagamos hagáis hagan
Preterit Tense These verbs tend to have irregular i-stems or u-stems but have the same endings, which are slightly different from regular verbs in the first and third person singular. The verb salir, among other verbs like conocer, is regular in this tense. Since the endings are not stressed as they are in the other groups, these verbs do not have written accents. Singular
Plural
tuve tuvimos tuviste tuvisteis tuvo **tuvieron
Singular
Plural
hice hicimos hiciste hicisteis hizo ** hicieron
Imperfect Tense All forms are regular in the indicative imperfect tense.
Indicative Mood
**Always formed from the third person plural preterit
Subjunctive Mood
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
tenía tenías tenía
teníamos teníais tenían
hacía hacías hacía
hacíamos hacíais hacían
tuviera tuvieras tuviera
tuviéramos tuvierais tuvieran
hiciera hicieras hiciera
hiciéramos hicierais hicieran
Future/Conditional Tenses: Since the conditional mirrors the future tense, any changes in the future tense will be applied to the conditional tense. These verbs tend to be slightly irregular with a d-stem or other variation; however, "yo -zco" verbs will be regular in these tenses—e.g., conoceré, conduciré, etc. tener > tendré / tendría, etc. caber > cabré, etc.
poner > pondré / pondría, etc. hacer > haré / haría, etc.
venir > vendré / vendría, etc. decir > diré / diría, etc.
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Compound Tenses Progressive: Most of the present participles for these verbs are regular (e.g., haciendo, teniendo, conduciendo), except viniendo and diciendo, which have stem changes similar to other irregular -ir verbs. Perfect Aspect: Some past participles for these verbs are irregular, but the patterns are not predictable. hacer > hecho
BUT
tener > tenido
decir > dicho
BUT
venir > venido
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COMMANDS Since commands are related to the subjunctive (> yo prs. + opposite vowel), most of the forms come directly from the subjunctive (see boxes).
SUBJUNCTIVE ___________________________________________________________________________________ Singular
Plural
Group 1 Regular -ar (comprar)
Regular -er/-ir (comer)
nosotros affirm./neg.
(no) compremos
informal affirm.
compra (> 3rd p. prs. ind.) comprad (> inf. drop -r, + -d)
informal neg.
no compres
no compréis
formal affirm./neg.
(no) compre
(no) compren
nosotros affirm./neg.
(no) comamos
informal affirm.
come (> 3rd p. prs. ind.)
comed (> inf. drop -r, + -d)
informal neg.
no comas
no comáis
formal affirm./neg.
(no) coma
(no) coman
____________________________________________________________________________________ Group 2 a) “Shoe” -ar (pensar) > ie
b) “Shoe” -er (volver) > ue
c) “Shoe” -ir (pedir) > i
nosotros affirm./neg.
(no) pensemos
informal affirm.
piensa (> 3rd p. prs. ind.)
pensad (> inf. drop -r, + -d)
informal neg.
no pienses
no penséis
formal affirm./neg.
(no) piense
(no) piensen
nosotros affirm./neg.
(no) volvamos
informal affirm.
vuelve (> 3rd p prs. ind.)
volved (> inf. drop -r, + -d)
informal neg.
no vuelvas
no volváis
formal affirm./neg.
(no) vuelva
(no) vuelvan
nosotros affirm./neg.
(no) pidamos
informal affirm.
pide (> 3rd p. prs. ind.)
pedid (> inf. drop -r, + -d)
informal neg.
no pidas
no pidáis
formal affirm./neg.
(no) pida
(no) pidan
__________________________________________________________________________________ Group 3 "Yo -go" (tener) irregular
nosotros affirm./neg.
(no) tengamos
informal affirm.
ten (> stem of inf.)
tened (> inf. drop -r,+ -d)
informal neg.
no tengas
no tengáis
formal affirm./neg.
(no) tenga
(no) tengan 11
__________________________________________________________________________________ Group 4 "-O no" (These verbs follow similar patterns but are not predictable; they should be memorized.)
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REFLEXIVE COMMANDS Since commands are related to the subjunctive, most forms come directly from the subjunctive (see boxes).
SUBJUNCTIVE ___________________________________________________________________________________ Singular
Plural
Group 1 Regular -ar (lavarse)
nosotros affirm./neg.
lavémonos / no nos lavemos
informal affirm.
lávate (> 3rd p. prs. ind.)
lavaos (> inf. drop -r, NO -d)
informal neg.
no te laves
no os lavéis
formal affirm./neg.
lávese / no se lave
lávense / no se laven
Regular -er/-ir
Repeat same pattern.
____________________________________________________________________________________ Group 2 (a) Shoe -ar (acostarse) > ue
nosotros affirm./neg.
acostémonos / no nos acostemos
informal affirm.
acuéstate
acostaos
(> 3rd p. prs. ind.)
(> inf. drop -r, NO -d)
informal neg.
no te acuestes
no os acostéis
formal affirm./neg.
acuéstese
acuéstense
no se acueste
no se acuesten
(b) Shoe -er
Repeat same pattern.
(c) Shoe -ir
Repeat same pattern.
__________________________________________________________________________________ Group 3 "Yo -go" (ponerse)
nosotros affirm./neg.
pongámonos / no nos pongamos
irregular
informal affirm.
ponte (> stem of inf.)
poneos (> inf. drop -r, NO -d
informal neg.
no te pongas
no os pongáis
formal affirm./neg.
póngase
pónganse
no se ponga
no se pongan
__________________________________________________________________________________ Group 4 "-O no" (These verbs follow similar patterns but are not predictable; they should be memorized.) 13
CONQUERING THE SPANISH VERB SYSTEM: THE YO CONNECTION
QUICK REFERENCE: COMMON VERBS BY GROUP Group 1: Regular
Group 2: “Shoe”
Group 3: “Yo -go”
Group 4: “-O no"
-ar
-ar
decir > digo
dar > doy
apagar bailar bañar besar buscar cambiar caminar comprar desear encantar entrar gustar hablar lavar levantar llamar llegar llevar mandar mirar nadar pagar tomar trabajar
acostar almorzar cerrar contar despertar empezar encontrar jugar pensar recomendar recordar sentar
hacer > hago
estar > estoy
deshacer rehacer
haber > he
oír > oigo
ir > voy
poner > pongo
saber > sé
-er entender perder poder (irreg. pret.) querer (irreg. pret.) volver envolver devolver resolver revolver
disponer imponer suponer
ser > soy
salir > salgo tener > tengo detener entretener obtener retener
traer > traigo venir > vengo “Yo -zco” conocer
-er/-ir
-ir
aprender beber comer
divertir dormir morir
abrir asistir escribir prohibir recibir vivir
pedir
reconocer desconocer
conducir introducir reproducir producir traducir
despedir impedir
preferir repetir sentir servir sugerir vestir
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