Spanish conjugation explanation

G-verbs

<p><strong>G-verbs</strong> (commonly known as "yo-go" verbs) are a specific group of <span style="font-style: italic;">-er</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">-ir</span> verbs that have an irregular first person singular form (<span style="font-style: italic;">yo</span>) in the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/14/" target="_blank">Present Indicative</a>

ending in <span style="font-style: italic;">-go</span>.</p>

<p>This irregularity only appears in the <span style="font-style: italic;">yo</span> form; the rest of the Present Indicative forms usually follow the regular pattern (unless the verb also has stem changes).</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Categories of G-verbs</div>

<p>We can categorize G-verbs into three main groups based on how the <span style="font-style: italic;">-go</span> ending is formed:</p>

<ol>

<li>

<p><strong>Adding -g- to a consonant stem</strong></p>

<p>For verbs in this group, the stem ends in a consonant (usually <span style="font-style: italic;">l</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">n</span>). We simply add a <span class="in_word_highlight">g</span> before the <span style="font-style: italic;">-o</span> ending.</p>

<p>Common verbs:

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/tener/" title="Click to see conjugations for tener" target="_blank">tener</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to have</span>),

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/poner/" title="Click to see conjugations for poner" target="_blank">poner</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to put</span>),

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/salir/" title="Click to see conjugations for salir" target="_blank">salir</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to go out</span>),

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/suponer/" title="Click to see conjugations for suponer" target="_blank">suponer</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to suppose</span>).</p>

<p style="font-style: italic;">poner &#8594; pon + g + o &#8594; <span class="green_emphasis">pongo</span></p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Yo <span class="green_emphasis">pongo</span> las llaves en la mesa. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I put the keys on the table.</span>)</div>

<p>Note that

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/tener/" title="Click to see conjugations for tener" target="_blank">tener</a>

also has an e &#8594; ie stem change in other persons, but the <span style="font-style: italic;">yo</span> form is strictly <span style="font-style: italic;">tengo</span>.</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/14/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

yo

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tengo<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tú

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tienes<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

él

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tiene<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nosotros

</span>tenemos

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vosotros

</span>tenéis

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ellos

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tienen<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</li>

<li>

<p><strong>Adding -ig- to a vowel stem</strong></p>

<p>When the verb stem ends in a vowel, we add <span class="in_word_highlight">ig</span> before the <span style="font-style: italic;">-o</span> ending to maintain pronunciation.</p>

<p>Common verbs:

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/traer/" title="Click to see conjugations for traer" target="_blank">traer</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to bring</span>),

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/caer/" title="Click to see conjugations for caer" target="_blank">caer</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to fall</span>),

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/o%C3%ADr/" title="Click to see conjugations for oír" target="_blank">oír</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to hear</span>).</p>

<p style="font-style: italic;">traer &#8594; tra + ig + o &#8594; <span class="green_emphasis">traigo</span></p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Yo te <span class="green_emphasis">traigo</span> la comida. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I bring you the food.</span>)</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/14/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

yo

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">traigo<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tú

</span>traes

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

él

</span>trae

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nosotros

</span>traemos

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vosotros

</span>traéis

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ellos

</span>traen

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</li>

<li>

<p><strong>Replacing -c- with -g-</strong></p>

<p>For certain verbs ending in <span style="font-style: italic;">-cer</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">-cir</span>, we replace the <span style="font-style: italic;">c</span> of the stem with <span class="in_word_highlight">g</span> in the first person singular.</p>

<p>Common verbs:

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/hacer/" title="Click to see conjugations for hacer" target="_blank">hacer</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to do, to make</span>),

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/deshacer/" title="Click to see conjugations for deshacer" target="_blank">deshacer</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to undo</span>),

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/satisfacer/" title="Click to see conjugations for satisfacer" target="_blank">satisfacer</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to satisfy</span>),

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/decir/" title="Click to see conjugations for decir" target="_blank">decir</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to say</span>).</p>

<p style="font-style: italic;">hacer &#8594; ha(c) + g + o &#8594; <span class="green_emphasis">hago</span></p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Yo <span class="green_emphasis">hago</span> mis deberes por la tarde. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I do my homework in the afternoon.</span>)</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/14/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

yo

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">hago<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tú

</span>haces

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

él

</span>hace

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nosotros

</span>hacemos

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vosotros

</span>hacéis

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ellos

</span>hacen

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</li>

</ol>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">The Verb Decir</div>

<p>The verb

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/decir/" title="Click to see conjugations for decir" target="_blank">decir</a>

belongs to the third group above (replacing <span style="font-style: italic;">c</span> with <span style="font-style: italic;">g</span>), but it also undergoes a

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/spanish_stem_change_e_i_present/" target="_blank">stem change</a>

where the root vowel <span style="font-style: italic;">e</span> becomes <span style="font-style: italic;">i</span>.</p>

<p style="font-style: italic;">decir &#8594; di(c) + g + o &#8594; <span class="green_emphasis">digo</span></p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/14/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

yo

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">digo<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tú

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dices<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

él

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dice<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nosotros

</span>decimos

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vosotros

</span>decís

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ellos

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dicen<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Influence on Other Tenses</div>

<p>Understanding the G-verb pattern is critical because this irregularity spreads to other tenses. The "G-stem" formed in the first person singular of the Present Indicative is used to form the entire

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/19/" target="_blank">Present Subjunctive</a>

and parts of the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/22/" target="_blank">Imperative</a>

.</p>

<p><strong>Present Subjunctive:</strong> All forms use the <span style="font-style: italic;">-g-</span> stem.</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/19/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente subjuntivo</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

yo

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tenga<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tú

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tengas<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

él

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tenga<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nosotros

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tengamos<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vosotros

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tengáis<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ellos

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tengan<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<p><strong>Imperative (Affirmative):</strong> The formal commands (<span style="font-style: italic;">usted/ustedes</span>) and the *nosotros* command use the <span style="font-style: italic;">-g-</span> stem.</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/22/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Imperativo afirmativo</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">---</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(tú)

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">ten<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(usted)

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tenga<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(nosotros)

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tengamos<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(vosotros)

</span>tened

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(ustedes)

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tengan<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>