What Makes a Verb Irregular?

An essential aspect to consider with Galician language lies in the distinction between regular and irregular verbs. While regular verbs adhere to a set pattern when conjugating in various tenses and moods, irregular verbs deviate from the conventional conjugation rules, making them a potential challenge for learners.

Common Conjugation Patterns of Irregular Verbs

To get a better grasp of irregular verbs in Galician grammar, it is crucial to understand the conjugation patterns that differ from regular verbs. Let’s explore these conjugation patterns in greater detail:

1. Stem-changing Verbs

In these verbs, the radical, or the core part of the verb (excluding the endings -ar, -er, -ir), undergoes a vowel shift during certain types of conjugation. The most common stem changes found in Galician verbs are:

• e → ei (example: entender – to understand)
• o → ou (example: dormir – to sleep)
• u → ü (example: xurdir – to come up with)

2. Irregular Past Participles

Most Galician verbs form the past participle by adding -ado to -ar verbs or -ido to -er and -ir verbs. However, some verbs exhibit irregular past participle forms, which do not follow the standard pattern:

• Bater (to hit) – past participle: batido
• Escrever (to write) – past participle: escrito
• Abrir (to open) – past participle: aberto

3. Compound Verbs

In some cases, irregular verbs can be formed by combining existing verbs. Despite their irregularities, the compound verbs maintain their meaning and irregularity:

• Repor (to replace): a combination of the prefix re- and the verb por (to put)
• Rexurdir (to resurface): a combination of re- and xurdir (to come up with)

Examples of Irregular Verbs in Galician

To better grasp the scope of irregular verbs in Galician grammar, here are some examples that showcase the different conjugation patterns:

1. Verb: Ir (to go)

Present Indicative Tense:
Eu vou
Ti vas
El/Ela vai
Nós vamos
Vós ides
Eles/Elas van

2. Verb: Traer (to bring)

Imperfect Tense:
Eu traía
Ti traías
El/Ela traía
Nós traíamos
Vós traíades
Eles/Elas traían

3. Verb: Sentir (to feel)

Present Subjunctive:
Que eu sinta
Que ti sintas
Que el/ela sinta
Que nós sintamos
Que vós sintades
Que eles/elas sintan

These examples provide a glimpse into the fascinating world of irregular verbs in Galician grammar. By understanding the different conjugation patterns and studying the verbs extensively, learners can truly immerse themselves in the rich and diverse nature of the Galician language.