The Spanish verb ir means "to go" and is used to express the idea of moving or traveling from one place to another. Because it is an irregular verb, its conjugations do not follow the standard patterns of regular -ar, -er, or -ir verbs, making it important to learn separately. Ir is essential for discussing not only physical movement but also future plans when combined with an infinitive.
- Ir = "to go"
- Used for expressing movement/travel
- Irregular verb with unique conjugations
- Also used to form near-future tense (e.g., vamos a estudiar)
*ir* means "to go," expressing movement or travel.
*Ir* is an irregular verb, so its conjugations are unique.
Conjugation of Ir
*Ir* in the present: voy, vas, va, vamos, van.
| Person | Present | Preterite | Imperfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | voy | fui | iba |
| Tú | vas | fuiste | ibas |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | va | fue | iba |
| Nosotros | vamos | fuimos | íbamos |
| Ellos/Uds. | van | fueron | iban |
- Present: voy, vas, va, vamos, van
- Preterite: fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fueron
- Imperfect: iba, ibas, iba, íbamos, iban
The preterite forms are: fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fueron.
Usage of Ir
*Ir* is also used to express near-future: 'ir + a + infinitive.'
- To express movement:
- Voy al mercado. (I go to the market.)
- ¿Adónde vas? (Where are you going?)
- To talk about future plans (near future):
- Vamos a estudiar. (We are going to study.)
- Ellos van a viajar. (They are going to travel.)
- To indicate habitual movement (using imperfect):
- Íbamos a la playa cada verano. (We used to go to the beach every summer.)
Correct use for movement: 'Voy al trabajo,' 'Van a la escuela.'
For near future: 'Vamos a comer.'
Practice Exercises
- Conjugate ir in the present tense for all subjects.
- Write three sentences using ir to express movement.
- Form three sentences about future plans using ir + a + infinitive.
- Conjugate ir in preterite and use it in a short story about travel.
- Explain why ir is considered irregular and give examples of its unique forms.
Conclusion
Ir is a core verb for expressing movement, travel, and even future plans in Spanish. Its unique conjugations across tenses make it essential to learn thoroughly.
- Ir means "to go" and is used for travel and plans.
- It is irregular, with unique forms in present, preterite, and imperfect.
- Ir + a + infinitive = a key way to express the near future.