In this article, we’ll explore irregular participles in Spanish. Regular participles are formed by taking the stem off the verb and add the ending –
Irregular Participles in Spanish
Participles play a vital role in constructing compound or perfect tenses. For example, the Pretérito compuesto is formed with
Whether you’re a beginner or experienced learner, this article will explain irregular participles in Spanish. We’ve classified them in several groups so that it is easier to remember.
Adding –uelto
This group includes the verb
| Participle | |
| v | |
| dev | |
| env |
Susana todavía no ha vuelto de su viaje.
Susana hasn’t returned from her trip yet.
Siempre me han devuelto la maquinaria en excelentes condiciones.
They have always returned the machinery in the very best condition.
¿Has envuelto la caja con la pulsera para el cumpleaños de Iñaki?
Have you wrapped the box with the bracelet for Iñaki’s birthday?
Adding –uesto
This group includes the verb
| Participle | |
| p | |
| comp | |
| posp |
¿Todavía no te has puesto los calcetines? Vamos a llegar tarde.
Haven’t you put on your socks yet? We’re going to be late.
Deseamos que tú cantes esa canción tan emotiva que has compuesto.
We want you to sing that song that you’ve composed that is so moving.
Nunca he pospuesto la entrega de un artículo.
I have never postponed the submission of an article.
Adding –ierto
This group includes the verbs
| Participles | |
| ab | |
| cub | |
| descub |
Esta puerta siempre ha estado cerrada. Yo nunca la he abierto.
This door has always been closed. I have never opened it.
Ella no ha cubierto el pastel con chocolate todavía.
She hasn’t covered the cake with chocolate yet.
He descubierto que Sofía tiene un gran sentido del humor.
I have discovered that Sofía has a great sense of humor.
Completely Irregular
The last group of irregular participles in Spanish includes the following verbs and any other verb that derives from them. For example, the participles of
| Participles | |
Mario, son las siete. ¿Todavía no has hecho los deberes?
Mario, it’s seven. Haven’t you done your homework yet?
Todavía no le he dicho la verdad. Creo que se va a enfadar.
I haven’t told him the truth yet. I think he’s going to be mad.
Nunca le he escrito una carta a un amigo.
I have never written a letter to a friend.
Toda la casa huele a aceite de oliva y cebolla porque has frito cebolla.
The whole house smells like olive oil and onion because you’ve fried onion.
Nunca he visto a la novia de Sergio.
I have never seen Sergio’s girlfriend.
Mi vecina ha muerto a los noventa años.
My neighbor has died at the age of ninety.
David se ha roto el tobillo en un partido de fútbol.
David he has broken his ankle during a soccer game.
Exercises
Let’s do some exercises to practice the irregular participles in Spanish.