Irregular preterite verbs are a set of verbs that deviate from the standard -ar, -er, or -ir conjugation patterns in the preterite tense. They are essential for expressing completed actions, narrating past events, and conveying specific time frames in Spanish.
Common Irregular Preterite Verbs
The following are some of the most common irregular preterite verbs, along with their root changes and endings:
- tener (to have) → root: tuv-
- estar (to be) → root: estuv-
- ir (to go) → forms: fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fuisteis, fueron
- ser (to be) → same forms as ir
- hacer (to do/make) → root: hic- (3rd person singular is hizo)
- decir (to say/tell) → root: dij-
- poder (to be able to) → root: pud-
- poner (to put) → root: pus-
- venir (to come) → root: vin-
- querer (to want) → root: quis-
- saber (to know/find out) → root: sup-
- traer (to bring) → root: traj-
Conjugation Patterns
Irregular preterite verbs follow specific root changes and use a common set of endings. Exceptions include ir/ser and certain spelling changes.
Endings for Most Irregular Verbs
| Person | Ending | Spanish Example (tener) | English Example (tener) |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | -e | tuve | I had |
| tú | -iste | tuviste | you had |
| él/ella/usted | -o | tuvo | he/she/you had |
| nosotros | -imos | tuvimos | we had |
| vosotros | -isteis | tuvisteis | you all had |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | -ieron (-jeron for -cir verbs) | tuvieron / dijeron | they had / they said |
- Note: For decir and traer, use -jeron instead of -ieron (e.g., dijeron, trajeron).
Irregular Stem Examples
| Verb | Stem | Example (yo form) | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| tener | tuv- | tuve | I had |
| estar | estuv- | estuve | I was |
| hacer | hic- | hice | I did/made |
| venir | vin- | vine | I came |
| decir | dij- | dije | I said |
| traer | traj- | traje | I brought |
| poder | pud- | pude | I could |
| poner | pus- | puse | I put |
| querer | quis- | quise | I wanted |
| saber | sup- | supe | I knew/found out |
Irregular ir/ser Conjugation
| Person | Form | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| yo | fui | I went / I was |
| tú | fuiste | you went / you were |
| él/ella/usted | fue | he/she/you went / was |
| nosotros | fuimos | we went / we were |
| vosotros | fuisteis | you all went / were |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | fueron | they went / were |
- Context determines ir (to go) vs. ser (to be).
What is unique about the preterite forms of ir and ser?
They share the same forms: fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fuisteis, fueron.
In the preterite, ir and ser share the same forms and must be distinguished by context.
What is the general pattern for forming irregular preterite verbs in Spanish?
Use the irregular root + endings (-e, -iste, -o, -imos, -isteis, -ieron/-jeron).
Irregular preterite verbs use a changed root and a fixed set of endings, with -ieron sometimes changing to -jeron for -cir verbs (e.g., decir).
Irregular Spellings for Stem-Changing Verbs
Some verbs have spelling changes to maintain pronunciation, especially in the yo form or third-person singular/plural.
-car, -gar, -zar Verbs (Change in yo Form)
| Infinitive | yo Form | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| buscar | busqué | I searched |
| llegar | llegué | I arrived |
| almorzar | almorcé | I ate lunch |
Y-Verbs (i → y in 3rd Person)
| Infinitive | rd Person Singular | rd Person Plural | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| leer | leyó | leyeron | he/she read / they read |
| oír | oyó | oyeron | he/she heard / they heard |
| construir | construyó | construyeron | he/she built / they built |
- Note: These use ió and ieron, but i changes to y.
Sample Sentences
Telling What Happened
- Ayer hice la tarea. (Yesterday I did the homework.)
- Fuimos al cine el sábado. (We went to the movies on Saturday.)
- Tuvieron una reunión importante. (They had an important meeting.)
- Dijeron la verdad. (They told the truth.)
- Leí un libro interesante. (I read an interesting book.)
Describing Completed Actions
- Estuve en casa todo el día. (I was at home all day.)
- Puse la mesa para la cena. (I set the table for dinner.)
- Vine temprano a la oficina. (I came early to the office.)
- Quise ayudarte, pero no pude. (I wanted to help you, but I couldn’t.)
- Trajimos los documentos necesarios. (We brought the necessary documents.)
Tips for Mastery
- Memorize irregular verb stems and endings.
- Pay attention to spelling changes in yo and third-person forms.
- Practice with common verbs and use them in context.
- Remember ir and ser share the same preterite forms.
- Use frequency lists to focus on the most useful irregular preterite verbs.
Irregular preterite verbs are a cornerstone of past-tense narration in Spanish. With practice, you’ll gain confidence in expressing yourself clearly and accurately.
Flashcards (1 of 28)
- Person: yo
- Ending: -e
- English Example (tener): I had
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
