“Mnemonics” en español Clues for remembering the irregular preterite stems. Las clases de Español II Honores Del Señor Blease 2003

IR – to go  fui  fuiste  fue  fuimos  fuisteis  fueron

I go to Fui, the Chinese restaurant.

Ir- to go stem-fu My friends and I went to the “fu” fighters concert last night.

The baby went fu the tunnel.

The man was found innocent of murder and was allowed to go fui.

SER – to be  fui  fuiste  fue  fuimos  fuisteis  fueron

Ser/Ir  Life stinks to be a fui on a dog.

Ser- to be  To be or not to fui. (that is the question)

Ser – to be  The fud was green.

DAR – to give di di diste diste dio dio dimos dimos disteis disteis dieron dieron

D gave her cat away. D gave her cat away.

Dar – to give  I gave the di to my friend Joe.

He gave her a Diamond

Dar – to give “Di” The teacher didn’t give me a di! The teacher didn’t give me a di!

I’ll give you di money.

ANDAR – to walk stem – anduv-

Andar-to walk I walked part of the way anduv the rest of the way.

ANDAR The dog walked up ANDUVer the obstacle.

ANDAR I’ve been running anduv been walking.

DECIR – to say, to tell stem – dij-

Decir The dije told everyone to dance.

We told the dije to play a song.

Dij you tell him the secret?

Dij- Decir- to say I told her I broke the dij.

Decir-to tell/say Dij - Dijon He told me about the honey dijon mustard.

Decir I said, “Do you have any DIJon mustard?”

ESTAR – to be stem – estuv-

Estar – to be  The estuv was hot.

Estuv- Estar- to be I was cooking on estuv.

Estar I was in the estuve playing hide-and- go-seek.

To be cool you need to cook on ESTUV.

HACER – to do, to make stem – hic-

Hacer - to make We made hice using a tray, water, and the cold weather.

The hic was good at making “coon soup”.

Hacer – to make “Hiz” I made hiz lunch.

Hacer – to do/make  I did this project and it was not hicy.

Hacer HICEd to make it.

PODER – to be able to (can) stem – pud-

Poder: to be able to stem-pud The baby was able to eat “pud”ding

Poder-to be able Pud - Pudding I was able to have pudding after my surgery.

He could have stepped in the PUDdle.

Poder – to be able to I could trim the pudle.

PONER – to put stem – pus-

Mrs. Armstrong put the pus on the cutting table.

Poner-to put My puso cat put on her helmet by herself.

Poner The Indian woman put her baby in the papus.

QUERER – to want stem – quis-

The boy wanted the quis.

Querer – to want “Quis” I want a quis!

Querer I want some QUISO dip with my chips.

Querer-to want Quis - Quiche I wanted some quis for an appetizer.

I love MarQUIS.

SABER – to know stem – sup-

We wanted to know what was in the sup.

Saber-to know Sup - Supper I knew that we were having steak, peas, and potatoes for supper.

saber: to know stem-sup The athlete knew not to take any “sup” plements. The athlete knew not to take any “sup” plements.

Saber – to know facts  I knew the floor was supe, because my dad spilled the soap.

Sup- I knew you were SUPer.

SUPerman knew that his weakness was kryptonite.

What’s sup? Who wants to know?!

Saber-to know Who knew ‘sup with that wave, dude?!

TENER – to have stem – tuv-

I have a tuv of toothpaste.

I had a tuv, but someone popped it.

We had two TUVas in the marching band.

Tuv- Tener- to have I have a tuv ache.

TRADUCIR – to translate stem – traduj- (All verbs ending in -cir work the same way – conducir, producir)

Traducir- to translate Will you tra duj translate the Spanish for me?

TRADUCIR – to translate The teacher translated the traduje.

TRAER – to bring stem – traj-

Traer- to bring (stem – traj-) I am going traj to bring pie to the party.I am going traj to bring pie to the party.

I brought the traje of fruit. tray

Traer The waiter brings the traje.The waiter brings the traje.

TRAER I brought a traje.

VENIR – to come stem – vin-

Venir- to come George of the jungle came swinging on a vine to save me. George of the jungle came swinging on a vine to save me.

Venir VIN did you come home?

I came vin I saw blood.

FIN