Volumen 2 · Capítulo 03

The Core Irregulars

The ten verbs that refuse the pattern but carry real conversation.

Irregular verbs are not a reason to panic. The most common verbs in any language are often irregular because people use them constantly.

Learn these as sentence starters.

Identity, state, possession, movement

: I am: identity, origin, profession
: I am: location, condition, mood
: I have
: I go · I am going

Formal you:

: you are · he/she is, identity
: you are · he/she is, location/state
: you have · he/she has
: you go · he/she goes

Action verbs you hear all the time

: I do · I make
: I say
: I can
: I want
: I know a fact · I know how
: I know a person/place

`saber` vs. `conocer`

Use for information and skills. Use for familiarity with people and places.

: I know the address.
: I know how to speak a little Spanish.
: I know Ana.
: I know downtown.

The practical memory set

Say these until they feel automatic:

: I am, I am, I have, I go.
: I do, I say, I can, I want.
: I know, two ways.

Drill: answer quickly

: Soy…
: Estoy…
: Tengo…
: Quiero…
: Sé…