Ugh, irregular verbs! If you’re a Spanish student and feel like these verbs are like those socks that disappear in the laundry — you know they’re there, but you don’t know where or how to find them — don’t worry, you’re in the right place. MaestroMío is going to show you how to tame those rebellious verbs with tricks, rhythm, and good humor. Because learning them doesn’t have to be about memorizing endless lists like a robot, but about understanding, using, and even enjoying them. Ready for the battle? Let’s go!
1. Group them into “families”: verbs have cousins too
Many irregular verbs share the same “problem”… and that’s a blessing! Why? Because if you learn one, you’re learning several at once.
✅ Vowel changes in the root (dancing vowels!)
These verbs change a vowel in their root when conjugated:
| Infinitive | Yo (present) |
| Pensar | pienso |
| Dormir | duermo |
| Pedir | pido |
| Querer | quiero |
| Sentir | siento |
Visual trick: Imagine the vowel is jelly—it wiggles, shifts, but it’s still there.
✅ Verbs that change only in the 1st person (present tense)
These verbs want to be unique, special… like that friend who always wants to stand out in photos. 📸
| Infinitive | Yo (present) |
| Hacer | hago |
| Salir | salgo |
| Traer | traigo |
| Poner | pongo |
| Venir | vengo |
Memory tip: These are the “ME ME ME” verbs—the drama queens. Make a mini rap with them!
✅ The dreaded irregular past… (but with rhythm!)
This is the rebel zone of verbs. They follow no logic… but there are patterns:
| Infinitive | Preterite |
| Tener | tuve |
| Estar | estuve |
| Poder | pude |
| Saber | supe |
| Poner | puse |
| Hacer | hice |
| Decir | dije |
Rhyme to memorize:
“Tuve, estuve, puse, pude…
y aunque no quise, supe y hice.
Dije la verdad, y traje la pizza” 🍕
Make it a Latin beat and you’ll never forget it!
🃏 2. Use flashcards (but make them fun)
Create visual flashcards with emojis, colors, or drawings. For example:
- 😊 = present
- ⚡ = past
- 🔴 = irregular change
💡 Bonus tip: Use apps like Quizlet, Anki, or Wordwall and add wild audio or images. If it makes you laugh—you’ll remember it!
🧩 3. Use real phrases and fun contexts
📌 Instead of just memorizing “tener → tuve,” make a phrase you can use or imagine:
- ✅ Ayer tuve una cita con una pizza napolitana.
- ✅ Cada noche duermo con mi diccionario debajo de la almohada (por si acaso).
Context sticks the verb to an emotional or funny situation—that’s emotional memory!
🎶 4. Learn with music (sing off-key if needed!)
Many popular songs are full of irregular verbs:
- “Tuve tanto que darte” – Nena Daconte
- “Puse mis ojos en ti” – Amaral
- “Quise olvidarte” – Alejandro Sanz
Make a playlist with irregular verbs and become a grammar detective while you dance. 💃🕺
✍️ 5. Speak and write: diary + mirror = winning combo
Keep a diary: Write what you did (past), what you do (present), and what you’ll do (future) every day.
Talk to yourself out loud (yes, you!):
“Hoy hago ejercicio, salgo a caminar y traigo mi botella de agua”
Your mirror reflection won’t judge you—go for it! 😉
🔁 6. Spaced repetition = learning superpower
Don’t study 100 verbs in a day. Study 10 today, review them tomorrow, add 5 more on Friday, mix it up on Sunday…
Small doses, every day. That’s when your brain says: “Hey, this matters!”
🎯 Summary: How to win the battle against irregular verbs
✅ Group them by families and patterns
✅ Create fun, personal, or ridiculous phrases
✅ Make colorful, visual flashcards
✅ Listen to songs full of irregularities (verbal ones 😉)
✅ Write and speak with them (even if your cat is your first audience!)
✅ Repeat creatively—repetition doesn’t have to be boring!
