Unit 2.1
Orthographic Irregularities of the Presente de Indicativo in the verb root
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Introduction
The present indicative [presente de indicativo] tense is a verb tense that expresses actions that occur at the moment of speaking, general things, habitual actions, and future actions.
There are vowel, consonant and proper (mixed) irregularities [irregularidades vocálicas, consonánticas y propias (mixtas)] in the verb root [raíz del verbo].
Form
Verbs conjugated in the present indicative have vowel, consonant and proper (mixed) irregularities in the verb root.
Vowel irregularities
Vowel irregularities are characterised by the change, diphthongation, loss or addition of a vowel:
- we replace the vowels –u– and –o– with the diphthong –ue-;
| Persona | Encontrar | Jugar |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | encuentro | juego |
| Tú | encuentras | juegas |
| Él/Ella/Usted | encuentra | juega |
| Nosotros/-as | encontramos | jugamos |
| Vosotros/-as | encontráis | jugáis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | encuentran | juegan |
| Persona | Puedo | Dormir |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | puedo | duermo |
| Tú | puedes | duermes |
| Él/Ella/Usted | puede | duerme |
| Nosotros/-as | podemos | dormimos |
| Vosotros/-as | podéis | dormís |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | pueden | duermen |
Other verbs with this irregularity are: contar, costar, morir, recordar, soler, soñar, volver…
- we replace the vowel -e- with the diphthong -ie-;
| Persona | Pensar | Entender | Querer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | pienso | entiendo | quiero |
| Tú | piensas | entiendes | quieres |
| Él/Ella/Usted | piensa | entiende | quiere |
| Nosotros/-as | pensamos | entendemos | queremos |
| Vosotros/-as | pensáis | entendéis | queréis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | piensan | entienden | quieren |
Another verbs with this irregularity are: cerrar, empezar, encender, preferir…
- we replace the vowel -e- with another vowel -i-.
| Persona | Pedir | Repetir | Servir |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | pido | repito | sirvo |
| Tú | pides | repites | sirves |
| Él/Ella/Usted | pide | repite | sirve |
| Nosotros/-as | pedimos | repetimos | servimos |
| Vosotros/-as | pedís | repetís | servís |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | piden | repiten | sirven |
Another verbs with this irregularity are: conseguir, elegir, sonreír…
Consonant irregularities
Consonant irregularities are characterised by the change or addition of a consonant. These irregularities are present in all persons except the 1st (nosotros/-as) and 2nd (vosotros/-as) of the plural.
The most common are the following:
- replace –ui– for-uy-.
| Persona | Construir | Destruir |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | construyo | destruyo |
| Tú | construyes | destruyes |
| Él/Ella/Usted | construye | destruye |
| Nosotros/-as | construimos | destruimos |
| Vosotros/-as | construís | destruís |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | construyen | destruyen |
Another verb with this irregularity is sustituir…
Proper (mixed) irregularities
Proper (mixed) irregularities are characterised by a vowel change and a consonant change at the same time, which are not typical for other verbs:
| Persona | Decir | Oír | Tener | Venir |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | digo | oigo | tengo | vengo |
| Tú | dices | oyes | tienes | vienes |
| Él/Ella/Usted | dice | oye | tiene | viene |
| Nosotros/-as | decimos | oímos | tenemos | venimos |
| Vosotros/-as | decís | oís | tenéis | venís |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | dicen | oyen | tienen | vienen |
Example
Vowel irregularities:
- -u- and -o- for -ue-:
- Yo no encuentro mi maletín;
- Nosotros no encontramos la sala de la fotocopiadora;
- Ellas no encuentran las agendas.
- -e- for -ie-:
- Yo quiero ser rico;
- Nosotros queremos billetes;
- Ellas quieren cheques al portador.
- -e- for -i-:
- Yo pido pagar en efectivo;
- Nosotros pedimos la hoja de reclamaciones;
- Ellas piden un paraguas.
Consonant irregularities:
- -ui- for-uy-:
- Yo construyo una fábrica de bañadores;
- Nosotros construimos un probador de ropa;
- Ellas construyen un negocio desde cero.
Proper (mixed) irregularties:
- Yo oigo la impresora gastando tóner;
- Nosotros oímos el maletín caerse;
- Ellas oyen las monedas tintineando.
Use
{See Present Indicative, level A1}
Summary
Present indicative verbs can be irregular. In Spanish, some of them have a particular irregularity called vowel or consonant change, that is, vowel or consontant changes. Remember that these irregularities are in all persons except the first and second person plural.
For example:
— «No puedo dormir.¿Tú duermes?» = change o ⇒ ue;
— «Todos los viernes juego al baloncesto.» = change u ⇒ ue;
— «No me entiendes.» = change e ⇒ ie;
— «Repite, por favor.» = change e ⇒ i;
— «Construyen su nueva casa.» = change ui ⇒ uy.
Check the contents of the {Form} section. Then move on to the {Example} section, which shows you the usage in context.
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