Meaning and Usage
The verb ir means to go in English. It is an essential verb used to express movement from one place to another and is highly irregular in Spanish. Besides physical movement, ir is also used in various expressions, including the near future tense with the construction ir a + infinitive to express what someone is going to do.
Present Tense Conjugation
The present tense of ir is irregular and must be memorized carefully. It is frequently used in daily conversation to talk about current plans or ongoing movement.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | voy | I go / I am going | Yo voy al mercado. | I am going to the market. |
| tú | vas | you go / you are going | Tú vas a la escuela. | You are going to school. |
| él/ella/usted | va | he/she/you (formal) goes/is going | Él va al cine. | He is going to the cinema. |
| nosotros/as | vamos | we go / we are going | Nosotros vamos de viaje. | We are going on a trip. |
| vosotros/as | vais | you all go / are going (Spain) | Vosotros vais al parque. | You all are going to the park. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | van | they / you all go / are going | Ellos van a la playa. | They are going to the beach. |
Preterite Tense Conjugation
The preterite form of ir is identical to that of the verb ser, so context is important when interpreting sentences in the past.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | fui | I went | Yo fui a la fiesta ayer. | I went to the party yesterday. |
| tú | fuiste | you went | Tú fuiste al concierto. | You went to the concert. |
| él/ella/usted | fue | he/she/you went | Ella fue al museo. | She went to the museum. |
| nosotros/as | fuimos | we went | Nosotros fuimos al restaurante. | We went to the restaurant. |
| vosotros/as | fuisteis | you all went | Vosotros fuisteis al teatro. | You all went to the theater. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | fueron | they/you all went | Ellos fueron de viaje. | They went on a trip. |
Future Tense With Ir + a + Infinitive
The verb ir is combined with a and an infinitive verb to form the near future tense, indicating planned actions.
Example:
- Voy a estudiar – I am going to study.
- Vamos a cenar – We are going to have dinner.
This construction is very common and useful for expressing future intentions.
Imperative Forms
Ir also has imperative (command) forms, which are irregular and important for giving directions or instructions.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tú | ve | go (you) | Ve a la escuela. | Go to school. |
| usted | vaya | go (you formal) | Vaya al médico. | Go to the doctor. |
| nosotros/as | vayamos | let's go | Vayamos al parque. | Let's go to the park. |
| vosotros/as | id | go (you all, Spain) | Id a casa. | Go home. |
| ustedes | vayan | go (you all formal) | Vayan al supermercado. | Go to the supermarket. |
Common Expressions with Ir
Ir is frequently found in idiomatic expressions such as:
- ir bien/mal – to go well/badly
- irse de – to leave or to go away from
- irse a dormir – to go to sleep
- ir de compras – to go shopping
These give ir a versatile role in everyday Spanish communication.
Summary
The verb ir is an irregular, highly useful verb in Spanish used to express movement, future plans, and commands. Its unique conjugations and combinations make it a fundamental verb to master for learners of all levels.
