Irregular Present Tense

• "GO" verbs
• "OY" verbs: Ir, Dar, Estar
• "ZCO"
• "G->J"
• "Tener que" and "Ir a"
• Gustar
• Hay (Haber)

"GO" verbs

There are a few verbs which have an irregular Yo form.  They are known as "GO" verbs.  Here's why:

Tener

First, tener is also a Stem changing verb (e-ie).  But look at the yo form.  Notice the "go" on the end?  That's it.  that's all the mystery to it.  Just another irregular verb.

Here is another go verb:

Poner

This is just a go verb and not a stem changer.

The Go verbs:

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OY verbs

Again, here is a verb with an irregular Yo form.

Dar

Notice the "oy" on the end of the yo form.  That's it.  Nothing more.

Here are some others:

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ZCO verbs

Spanish has several verb types with irregular Yo forms.  Here is another:

Conocer

Conducir

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G->J verbs

Spanish has several verb types with irregular Yo forms.  Here is another:

Recoger

Elegir (e-i)

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"Tener que" and "Ir a"

In Spanish, as in English, you may want to say, "I have to read" instead of "I read."  The same applies to "I am going to read" versus "I read."  

You can't simply say "I have I read" or "I going I read."  There are other words that go in between so the sentence makes sense.  Same principle here.

Examples:

What changes in each example?  What stays the same?  In each sentence, the subject changes and consequently the form of tener (I have versus He has).  What does not change is "que" and the verb after it.  Notice that in each sentence, it is ALWAYS "leer."  Never do you conjugate tener AND leer.  You would never say, "You tengo que leo."  In English you don't say, "I have to I read."  Same reason in Spanish-it doesn't make any sense.

Other Examples:

Notice again that the verb after "que" does not change.

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Gustar

In Spanish there are a group of verbs that behave differently than the others.  You don't conjugate them the same as you might the others.  The best example is "Gustar."

Gustar

First, you might notice that the standard pronouns are not being used (Yo, Tú, Ella, etc.).  Instead these (me, te, le, nos, os, les) are indirect object pronouns.  Also, you may notice that there are only two conjugations for gustar-gusta or gustan.  Confused yet?

The verb gustar means "to like" as far as you are concerned.  Literally, it means to please or make happy or something.  The factor that determines whether you use gusta or gustan has nothing to do with the person who likes, rather it is the object liked that makes that determination.

Examples:

Gusta is used for one thing you like.  Gustan is used for two or more things you like.

Also, if you "like to (verb)" you always use gusta.  For example:

• I like to swim, and ride my bike, and walk on the Greenbelt.
• Me gusta nadar, montar mi bicicleta, y andar por el Cinturón Verde.

A chart:

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