Model Verbs
This table shows all irregular stems for the 45 irregular-stem model verbs from the Real Academia Española (RAE). Every verb with irregular stems conjugates similarly to one of these models.
Finding the Model
To conjugate a verb that is not one of the model verbs, you just need to find its model.
Prefixes: Prefixed (compound) verbs conjugate like the base verb. For example disponer conjugates like poner:
| Infinitive | Subjunctive | Preterite | Future |
|---|---|---|---|
| poner | ponga | pusiera | pondría |
| disponer | disponga | dispusiera | dispondría |
Other common base verbs include tener (obtener, retener) and volver (devolver, resolver).
Suffixes
- -ducir verbs all follow conducir + conduzca (for example traducir + traduzca).
- ·ecer verbs almost all follow conocer + conozca (for example nacer + nazca)
- ·uir verbs all follow construir + construyes + construya (for example deluir + deluyes + deluya).
Boot-Stem Vowel Change Models
There are eight model verbs where you can't tell the model verb based on prefixes or suffixes. Instead, verbs that conjugate like these models share a stem-vowel change pattern.
The stem vowel is the vowel in the last syllable of the stem. For example in mover and demoler the stem vowel is o. For these verbs, the vowel changes to ue in Boot positions (when the stress falls on the stem vowel): mover → mueves, demoler → demueles.
However, not all verbs with stem vowel o have this vowel change. For example comer is perfectly regular. So to correctly conjugate all the 350 most common irregular verbs, learn the lists of verbs with stem vowel changes on the following pages:
| Model Verb | Irregular Stem(s) | Vowel-Change Pattern | No. of Verbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| mover | mueves | o → ue | 12 |
| contar | cuentes | o → ue | 34 |
| acertar | aciertes | e → ie | 36 |
| entender | entiendes | e → ie | 10 |
| dormir | duermes | o → ue | 1 |
| adquirir | adquieres | i → ie | 0 |
| sentir | sientes + sintiendo | e → ie | 24 |
| pedir | pides + pidiendo | e → i | 19 |
All IR verbs with stressed stem vowel e conjugate like either pedir or sentir except concernir, sumergir, agredir, and transgredir.
The verbs oler, errar, discernir, and jugar also contain stem vowel changes, but these are unique patterns that don't fit any other conjugation model.
There are nine additional irregular verb models not included in the table to the left, where the only irregularity is an accent added to the u or i in the stem in Boot positions. This hiatus accent indicates the vowel is pronounced separately instead of forming a diphthong with the neighboring vowel. These are: enviar, actuar, aislar, aunar, descafeinar, prohibir, prohijar, rehusar, and reunir.