The Spanish Verb IR

The Spanish verb "ir" (to go) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish. It can be used for everything from announcing where you are going to what you are going to do.

The verb "Ir" happens to be a highly irregular verb. Like ser, it doesn't follow the normal patterns for verb conjugations. Can you imagine why? For example, try to conjugate ir by taking the infinitive –ir ending away … and you'll find there's nothing left!

Therefore, you'll have to memorize the following pattern for ir in the present tense:

yo

voy

vas

usted (Ud.), él, ella

va

Nosotros/as

vamos

Vosotros/as

vais

Uds

van

Spanish verb IR most important rules

The Spanish Verb IR (to go)

If you want to say, "I am going to the beach," in English, you know that you'll have to add the word "to" after the verb "to go." Similarly, in Spanish, the verb ir is almost always followed by "a." For example, the preceding sentence would be translated as Voy a la playa.

If the noun that follows the "a" is masculine singular, as in "el mercado," you must combine the two sounds of "a" and "el" into a single sound: "al."

a + el = al

For example, if you wanted to say that you were going to the market, you would say, "Voy al mercado" … NOT Voy a el mercado.

Por ejemplo:

Basic uses of the Spanish verb IR
Download Voy al cine con Felipe.I am going to the cinema with Phillip.
Download Nosotros vamos a las carreras de caballos.We are going to the horse races.
Download ¿Van Ustedes con nosotros?Are you going with us?

Spanish verb IR in the future: What is going to happen?

The simplest way to express that something is going to happen in the future is to use the verb to go—just as it was used in this sentence.

I'm going to walk to the beach.
Voy a caminar a la playa.)

Download Voy a caminar a la playa.I’m going to walk to the beach.

In order to express what is going to happen, add the appropriate conjugated form of ir plus "a" before the infinitive form of the verb.

—He is going to read
Él va a leer

Download Él va a leer.He is going to read.

—We are going to eat
Vamos a comer.

Download Vamos a comer.We are going to eat.

Por ejemplo:

Using the Spanish verb IR in the future
Download Mañana los estudiantes van a estudiar en la biblioteca.We are going to go for a walk Saturday.
Download Vamos a salir a caminar el sábado.Tomorrow the students are going to study in the library.
Download Voy a escribirlo en la mañana.I am going to write it in the morning.
Download Vamos a nadar en la piscina.We are going to swim in the pool.
Download El hombre va a caminar alrededor de la ciudad.The man is going to walk around the city.
Download ¿Vas a estudiar esta noche?Are you going to study tonight?

Next lesson, you'll learn about How to Ask Questions in Spanish

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