Madrigals Magic Key to Spanish (100 page)

8. hacer, to do	h i ce	h i zo	hic i mos	hici e ron
9. querer, to want	qu i se	qu i so	quis i mos	quisi e ron
10. decir, to say	d i je	d i jo	dij i mos	dij e ron
11. traer, to bring	tr a je	tr a jo	traj i mos	traj e ron

Notice that all the verbs end in “ieron” in the third person plural with the exception of the last two verbs, “dijeron” and “trajeron.” In these two verbs the letter “i” is omitted.

Notice that in the eleven verbs above, the first person of each verb sets the pattern for the entire
past tense of the verb.

Once you know that “TUVE” is the first person singular, you can be sure that the three other forms will begin with “TUV.” Only the endings change. Once you establish that the first person of “venir” is “VINE,” you know that all the other forms must begin with “VIN.”

These verbs play a kind of follow-the-leader in their irregularities.

Two of the eighteen nonconformist verbs are completely regular in the past.

12. salir, to go out	salí	salió	salimos	salieron
13. ver, to see	ví	vió	vimos	vieron