Below is the table of conjugation rules in the Present Tense. Most irregular verbs follow these changes in the Present Tense.
There is a set of irregular verbs for which there is no memorization rule. You must simply work hard to remember these. Fortunately, there aren't too many completely irregular verbs.
| Rule | Examples |
|---|---|
| e->ie, except nos/vos | atravesar, calentar, cerrar, comenzar, confesar, defender, despertarse, divertirse, empezar, encender, entender, gobernar, mentir, nevar, pensar, perder, preferir, quebrar, querer, recomendar, sentarse, sentir, sentirse, temblar |
|
i->y, except nos/vos
|
concluir, construir, contribuir, destruir, diluir, disminuir, distribuir, excluir, huir, incluir, influir, instituir, instruir, intuir, reconstruir, retribuir, sustituir |
| c->z(yo) | convencer, ejercer, vencer |
| g->j(yo) | acoger, coger, corregir, dirigir, dirigirse, elegir, escoger, exigir, fingir, proteger, recoger, surgir |
| u->ú, except nos/vos | acentuar, actuar, continuar, evaluar, graduarse, situar |
| o->ue, except nos/vos | acordarse, acostarse, almorzar, contar, costar, devolver, doler, dormir, encontrar, envolar, envolver, jugar, llover, morder, morir, mostrar, mover, poder, probar, recordar, resolver, revolver, soler, sonar, soñar, volar, volver |
| gu->g(yo) | distinguir, extinguir |
| e->i, except nos/vos | despedir, despedirse, desvestir, desvestirse, impedir, medir, pedir, reírse, repetir, servir, sonreírse, vestirse |
| quepo(yo) | caber (Otherwise regular) |
| cir/cer->zc(yo) | agradecer, aparecer, conducir, conocer, desaparecer, merecer, nacer, obedecer, ofrecer, padecer, parecer, permanecer, pertenecer, producir, reconocer, reducir, traducir |
| tilde on í, except nos/vos | confiar, desconfiar, enviar, extraviar, guiar, resfriarse, variar |
| gu->g(yo) and e->i except nos/vos | conseguir, perseguir, seguir |
|
o->hue, except nos/vos
|
oler |
| Example: e->ie, except nos/vos | |
|---|---|
| Pronoun | preferir - to prefer |
| yo | prefiero |
| tú | prefieres |
| Usted | prefiere |
| nosotros | preferimos |
| vosotros | preferís |
| Ustedes | prefieren |
| Example: i->y, except nos/vos | |
|---|---|
| Pronoun | concluir - to conclude |
| yo | concluyo |
| tú | concluyes |
| Usted | concluye |
| nosotros | concluimos |
| vosotros | concluís |
| Ustedes | concluyen |
| Example: c->z(yo) | |
|---|---|
| Pronoun | ejercer - to exercise |
| yo | ejerzo |
| tú | ejerces |
| Usted | ejerce |
| nosotros | ejercemos |
| vosotros | ejercéis |
| Ustedes | ejercen |
| Example: g->j(yo) | |
|---|---|
| Pronoun | fingir - to pretend |
| Yo | finjo |
| Tú | finges |
| Usted | finge |
| nosotros | fingimos |
| Vosostros | fingís |
| Ustedes | fingen |
| Example: u->ú, except nos/vos | |
|---|---|
| Pronoun | continuar - to continue |
| yo | continúo |
| tú | continúas |
| Usted | continúa |
| nosotros | continuamos |
| vosotros | continuáis |
| Ustedes | continúan |
| Example: o->ue, except nos/vos | |
|---|---|
| Pronoun | poder - to be able; can |
| yo | puedo |
| tú | puedes |
| Usted | puede |
| nosotros | podemos |
| vosotros | podéis |
| Ustedes | pueden |
| Example: gu->g(yo) | |
|---|---|
| Pronoun | distinguir - to distinguish |
| yo | distingo |
| tú | distingues |
| Usted | distingue |
| nosotros | distinguimos |
| vosotros | distinguís |
| Ustedes | distinguen |
| Example: e->i, except nos/vos | |
|---|---|
| Pronoun | pedir - to ask forth |
| yo | pido |
| tú | pides |
| Usted | pide |
| nosotros | pedimos |
| vosotros | pedís |
| Ustedes | piden |
| Example: quepo(yo), Otherwise Regular | |
|---|---|
| Pronoun | caber - to fit |
| yo | quepo |
| tú | cabes |
| Usted | cabe |
| nosotros | cabemos |
| vosotros | cabéis |
| Ustedes | caben |
| Example: cir/cer->zc(yo) | |
|---|---|
| Pronoun | conducir - to drive |
| yo | conduzco |
| tú | conduces |
| Usted | conduce |
| nosotros | conducimos |
| vosotros | conducís |
| Ustedes | conducen |
| Example: tilde on í, except nos/vos | |
|---|---|
| Pronoun | enviar - to send |
| yo | envío |
| tú | envías |
| Usted | envía |
| nosotros | enviamos |
| vosotros | enviáis |
| Ustedes | envían |
| Example: gu->g(yo) and e->i except nos/vos | |
|---|---|
| Pronoun | seguir - to follow; to continue |
| yo | sigo |
| tú | sigues |
| Usted | sigue |
| nosotros | seguimos |
| vosotros | seguís |
| Ustedes | siguen |
| Example: o->hue, except nos/vos | |
|---|---|
| Pronoun | oler - to smell |
| yo | huelo |
| tú | hueles |
| Usted | huele |
| nosotros | olemos |
| vosotros | oléis |
| Ustedes | huelen |