Spanish

What is the difference between a regular verb and an irregular verb? i.e What makes something irregular?

That one or more forms of the verb go against the standard endings. So for example, a regular -ar verb will have predictable endings in all of the tenses. Usually if one or more of those conjugations is the odd one out then the verb is irregular.

Thank you, Do you know what a radical changing verb is?

Yes, it's a verb where the stem changes.

So for example the verb "to be able" is "poder". And if it were regular the conjugations would keep the "o" stem. The conjugations for present tense would therefore be:

Yo podo
Tú podes
Él pode
Nosotros podemos
Vosotros podéis
Ellos poden.

But because it's stem-changing, the "o" stem mutates to "ue" in all but the "nosotros" and "vosotros" forms. So the correct conjugations for present tense are:

Yo puedo
Tú puedes
Él puede
Nosotros podemos
Vosotros podéis
Ellos pueden

There are other stem changers, such as "e" to "ie" (e.g. querer ---> yo quiero) and "e" to "i" (e.g. pedir ---> yo pido).

So when would you have to put Yo/Tu/el/nosotros/vosotros/ellos in front of the verb? Why does this happen? Adn is there a way to know or is it just down to learning and practicing ?

For example, if I wrote 'tengo' that would translate to I have, but if i wrote 'Yo tengo' that would also be correct?

Yes, both mean "I have", but "tengo" is far more commonly used than "yo tengo".

So I'm guessing it is just preference? I tend not to use the pronouns anyway Confuses me more

Why are there two verbs for certain 'things'? 'To cause' ( ocasionar and provocar)?

What is the difference between a regular verb and an irregular verb? i.e What makes something irregular?

It's actually not preference, all Spanish speakers will use "tengo" 99% of the time, it's usually only when you want to emphasise that you'd insert "yo".


There's also "causar"

Don't know, most languages have several words for some nouns and verbs. I'd say "provocar" is far more frequently used than "ocasionar".

Thankyou for your help ... One last thing; does preterite mean the past tense?

And what is imperfect used for,

conditional

and subjunctive, what do these all mean?

What is the difference between a regular verb and an irregular verb? i.e What makes something irregular?

Preterite is the simple past tense. e.g. "I went" instead of the difference type of past such as "I have eaten".



Generally for repeated actions in the past.



This is used for phrases where you use "would" and "should".


This is the most difficult tense and can't be explained simply. You'd need to actually be taught this properly.

Hello ,
I'm reallyyyyy sorry to be a pain, but I study GCSE French and have just started Spanish (in Year 10- I know ). I should knowwww this and I think I do ~ but could you quickly go over the differences between when to use the imperfect and preterite. Do you use the preterite for a completed action that took place over a small period of time and the imperfect for habitual actions in the past?

Also, is the preterite generally used with time phrases (por ejemplo: la semana pasada, fui de compras)? ~ That was probably incorrect but hopefully you understand

Thank you and sorry to be a bother!

Gracias! Would you mind if I PMed, I don't want to be a bother

Hello ,
I'm reallyyyyy sorry to be a pain, but I study GCSE French and have just started Spanish (in Year 10- I know ). I should knowwww this and I think I do ~ but could you quickly go over the differences between when to use the imperfect and preterite. Do you use the preterite for a completed action that took place over a small period of time and the imperfect for habitual actions in the past?

Also, is the preterite generally used with time phrases (por ejemplo: la semana pasada, fui de compras)? ~ That was probably incorrect but hopefully you understand

Thank you and sorry to be a bother!