Irregular verbs pattern

​Some irregular verbs

By Fernando Cabo

​Some irregular verbs in Spanish follow a pattern. They are not just "irregular". If you learn the pattern, you don't need to memorise the conjugaation.

​These verbs follow the same pattern as regular verbs with a slight change in only 3 tenses.
The present tense (presente de indicativo)
The imperative and
The present subjunctive.

All the other tenses follow the regular pattern for whatever conjugation (ar, er or ir)

​Example: Cantar (to sing) is an ar verb. The present tense is as follows:

Yo canto Nosotros/as cantamos
Tú cantas Vosotros/as cantáis
Él/ella canta Ellos/as cantan

​Cerrar (to close or to close down) is an ar verb that has the exact same endings as cantar or any other ar regular verbs but has an extra change in the stem for certain tenses (present indicative/subjunctive and imperative)

Yo cierro Nosotros/as cerramos
Tú cierras Vosotros/as cerráis
Él/ella cierra Ellos/as cierran

Multiple Choice

He closes the door

• Él cerra la puerta

• Él cierra la puerta

• Él cerró la puerta

• Él cierre la puerta

Multiple Choice

We recommend the fish

• Recomendamos el pescado

• Recomiendamos el pescado

• Recomiendan el pescado

​The same applies to the imperative. Cantar (to sing) is an ar verb.

Nosotros/as cantemos
(Tú) canta Vosotros/as cantad
(Él/ella) cante Ellos/as canten

​Cerrar (to close or to close down)

Nosotros/as cerremos
(Tú) cierra Vosotros/as cerrad
(Él/ella) cierre Ellos/as cierren

​Let's practise

Multiple Choice

Wake me up at 7

• Despértome a las 7

• Despiértome a las 7

• Despértame a las 7

• Despiértame a las 7

Multiple Choice

Start the exercise (you singular/one person)

• Empecemos el ejercicio

• Empeza el ejercicio

• Empieza el ejercicio