The Versatile Power of Ir: Beyond Just “Going”
The Spanish verb ir is one of the most useful irregular verbs you’ll learn. Not only does it mean “to go,” but it’s also essential for forming the future tense and expressing intentions. Despite its irregularities, ir follows patterns that make it easier to master.
Quick Navigation:
- Ir Conjugation Charts
- Ir + a + Infinitive: The Future Tense
- Common Phrases & Expressions
- Practice Exercises
- Test Your Knowledge
Complete Ir Conjugation Charts
Present Tense Conjugation
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | voy | Yo voy al mercado. (I go to the market.) |
| Tú | vas | Tú vas a la escuela. (You go to school.) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | va | Ella va al médico. (She goes to the doctor.) |
| Nosotros | vamos | Nosotros vamos al cine. (We go to the movies.) |
| Vosotros | vais | Vosotros vais de vacaciones. (You all go on vacation.) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | van | Ellos van al trabajo. (They go to work.) |
Preterite Tense Conjugation
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | fui | Yo fui a París el año pasado. (I went to Paris last year.) |
| Tú | fuiste | Tú fuiste al concierto. (You went to the concert.) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | fue | Él fue a la universidad. (He went to university.) |
| Nosotros | fuimos | Nosotros fuimos de compras. (We went shopping.) |
| Vosotros | fuisteis | Vosotros fuisteis al estadio. (You all went to the stadium.) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | fueron | Ellos fueron a la playa. (They went to the beach.) |
Imperfect Tense Conjugation
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | iba | Yo iba al parque todos los días. (I used to go to the park every day.) |
| Tú | ibas | Tú ibas a la biblioteca. (You used to go to the library.) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | iba | Mi abuela iba al mercado. (My grandmother used to go to the market.) |
| Nosotros | íbamos | Nosotros íbamos a la escuela juntos. (We used to go to school together.) |
| Vosotros | ibais | Vosotros ibais al mismo café. (You all used to go to the same café.) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | iban | Ellos iban al trabajo en autobús. (They used to go to work by bus.) |
Ir + a + Infinitive: The Informal Future
This construction is used constantly in everyday Spanish:
- Voy a estudiar. (I am going to study.)
- Vas a comer. (You are going to eat.)
- Va a llover. (It is going to rain.)
- Vamos a viajar. (We are going to travel.)
- Van a trabajar. (They are going to work.)
Common Phrases with Ir
- ¡Vamos! (Let’s go!)
- ¿Cómo te va? (How’s it going?)
- Ir de compras (To go shopping)
- Ir de vacaciones (To go on vacation)
- Ir bien/mal (To go well/badly)
Practice Exercises
Complete the sentences:
- Mañana yo ______ a la universidad. (go)
- El año pasado nosotros ______ a México. (went)
- ¿______ tú al supermercado? (are you going)
- Ellos ______ a estudiar esta noche. (are going to)
Ready to Master Ir Completely?
You’ve learned the conjugations and rules – now it’s time to practice!
[TAKE THE IR CONJUGATION QUIZ]
Test your knowledge with our interactive 20-question quiz covering all tenses and uses of Ir.
[LEARN SPANISH FUTURE TENSE CONJUGATIONS]
[RETURN TO IRREGULAR VERBS MAIN HUB]
Practice other essential irregular verbs like ser, estar, tener, and more
[USE OUR CONJUGATION TOOL]
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