Three key verbs
ir (to go), tener (to have) and hacer (to do, to make) are among the most frequent verbs in Spanish. Their present tense forms break the regular pattern, so learn them as fixed sets.
ir — to go
ir is completely irregular: every form starts with v-, which does not appear in the infinitive at all. The destination is marked with a, the means of transport with en. One form covers both English tenses: voy is I go and I am going.
Present tense of ir
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | voy |
| tú | vas |
| él/ella/usted | va |
| nosotros/as | vamos |
| vosotros/as | vais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | van |
ir
ir in everyday sentences
Voy a Madrid.
I am going to Madrid.
¿Adónde vas?
Where are you going?
Vamos en coche.
We are going by car.
Like English going to, ir + a + infinitive says what you are about to do: Voy a comer.
tener — to have
tener is irregular in two ways: the yo form gains a g (tengo), and in tú, él and ellos the stem vowel e becomes ie. In nosotros and vosotros the plain e stays.
Present tense of tener
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | tengo |
| tú | tienes |
| él/ella/usted | tiene |
| nosotros/as | tenemos |
| vosotros/as | tenéis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | tienen |
tener
tener in everyday sentences
Tengo dos hermanos.
I have two brothers.
¿Tienes tiempo?
Do you have time?
Ellos tienen una casa grande.
They have a big house.
Where English uses to be, Spanish uses tener: age, hunger, cold. Literally you have twenty-five years, have hunger, have cold. Have to is tener que + infinitive.
Fixed phrases with tener
Tengo veinticinco años.
I am twenty-five years old.
Tengo hambre.
I am hungry.
Tengo frío.
I am cold.
Tengo que trabajar.
I have to work.
hacer — to do and to make
Spanish uses hacer for both do and make. Only the yo form is irregular: hago (c becomes g). All other forms are regular.
Present tense of hacer
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | hago |
| tú | haces |
| él/ella/usted | hace |
| nosotros/as | hacemos |
| vosotros/as | hacéis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | hacen |
hacer
hacer in everyday sentences
Hago ejercicio cada día.
I exercise every day.
¿Qué haces esta noche?
What are you doing tonight?
Hacemos la cama.
We make the bed.
For the weather, hacer has no subject and is always the 3rd person singular hace. Not Es frío, but Hace frío. Do not mix it up with tener: Hace frío is it is cold, Tengo frío is I am cold.
hacer for the weather
Hace frío.
It is cold.
Hace calor.
It is hot.
Hoy hace buen tiempo.
The weather is nice today.
