1. IRREGULAR PRETERITE VERBS
AN UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE IN SPANISH
SEVERAL VERBS HAVE UNUSUAL IRREGULARITIES WHEN CONJUGATED (about 10)

2. Irregular verbs are divided into several “groups”
These groups each contain a set of verbs which conjugate similarly

3. THE GROUPS:
U group
I group
J group
“loco” group
( Y group)

4. WHAT HAPPENS?
In the Preterite tense, these groups of verbs contain the letter of their name in the STEM when they conjugate:
U group has a U in the stem
I group has an I in the stem
Etc.

5. After determining the stem, each group has its own set of endings.
THEN WHAT?
After determining the stem, each group has its own set of endings.
It’s simple and easy!
¡ Es simple y fácil !

6. U group verbs: Estar—to be Tener—to have Andar--to walk Saber—to know
Poner—to put, place, set
Poder—to be able, can
Remember: When conjugated, a U will appear in the stem
Remember: When conjugated, a U will appear in the STEM of the verb.

7. U GROUP STEMS ESTAR ------- TENER ------- ANDAR ------ ESTUV TUV
ANDUV
NOTE THE U IN THE STEM

8. U GROUP STEMS
SUP
PUS
PUD
SABER------
PONER------
PODER------

9. U GROUP endings E
ISTE O
IMOS
(ISTEIS )
IERON

10. Put the stem with the endings (example)
Tener—to have
TUV TUV
TUV TUV
Add endings
Tener--to have
tuve tuvimos
tuviste (tuvisteis)
tuvo tuvieron

11. ASSIGNMENT: On a separate sheet of paper,
start a conjugations page entitled
PRETERITE IRREGULAR GROUPS

12. CONJUGATE ALL THE U GROUP VERBS
Subtitle: U GROUP
CONJUGATE ALL THE U GROUP VERBS

13. There are only three verbs included in the I group:
EL GRUPO I
There are only three verbs included in the I group:
hacer—to do, make; venir—to come;
querer—to want, wish, love

14. **Hacer------------- HIC
I group STEMS
**Hacer  HIC
Venir  VIN
Querer  QUIS

15. I group endings: E
ISTE O
IMOS
(ISTEIS)
IERON

16. Hacer contains an additional irregularity
Third person singular: HIZO not HICO. This spelling change occurs only in 3rd person singular. Its purpose is to keep the original sound of the soft C.

17. Hice hicimos Hiciste hicisteis HIZO hicieron
Hacer==to do, make
Hice hicimos
Hiciste hicisteis
HIZO hicieron

18. ASSIGNMENT: (JUST CONTINUE YOUR CONJUGATIONS ON SAME PAGE)
CONJUGATE THE I GROUP VERBS ON YOUR CONJUGATION SHEETS.
(JUST CONTINUE YOUR CONJUGATIONS ON SAME PAGE)

19. TRADUCIR—to translate
J GROUP
DECIR—to say, to tell
CONDUCIR—to drive
TRAER—to bring
TRADUCIR—to translate

20. J group stems Decir----------- DIJ Traer----------- TRAJ
Conducir  CONDUJ
Traducir  TRADUJ

21. J GROUP endings E
ISTE O
IMOS
(ISTEIS)
ERON

22. Assignment
Conjugate the I group verbs on your Irregular Preterite Conjugations page
Conjugate the J group verbs on your
Irregular Conjugations Page
Just continue the separate groups on this page—and on page 2. Please not on the back. We’ have more later.

23. Estar – to be
Estuve Estuvimos
Estuviste
Estuvo Estuvieron

25. Saber – to know
Supe supimos
Supiste
Supo supieron