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Spanish Verb Irregularities: Spelling, Stem Changes, and Irregular Forms

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 4 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Spanish spelling sometimes changes when a verb is conjugated so that its consonant keeps the same sound before different vowels. These changes are generally predictable spelling adjustments, not true irregularities.

The diaeresis in ü signals that the u is pronounced. In verbs ending in -jar, the j remains before e: mojar → mojemos, not mogemos.

Note: These changes follow spelling and pronunciation rules. They do not normally count as irregular conjugation patterns.

All flashcards

Why do some Spanish verbs change c to qu?
The spelling qu preserves the /k/ sound before e or i, as in tocar → toquemos.
What does the diaeresis indicate in averigüemos?
It indicates that the u in gü is pronounced before e.
What happens to unstressed i between non-silent vowels in forms such as cayó?
It is written as y: caer becomes cayó and cayeron.
Why does caímos have an accent mark?
The stressed i follows a, and the accent marks the hiatus so the vowels are pronounced in separate syllables.
What happens to unstressed i between ll or ñ and a vowel?
It is dropped, as in bullir → bulló and tañer → tañó.

Quiz questions

  1. Why does tocar change to toquemos in the present subjunctive?Answer: The spelling qu preserves the /k/ sound before e.
  2. Which spelling change occurs in averiguar → averigüemos?Answer: gu changes to gü so the u is pronounced before e.
  3. Which form illustrates unstressed i becoming y between non-silent vowels?Answer: cayeron
  4. Why is there no written accent in the form vio?Answer: It is a monosyllabic preterite form without a written accent.
  5. What happens to the unstressed i in bullir → bulló?Answer: It is dropped between ll and a vowel.

Based on the Wikipedia article Spanish irregular verbs, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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