How to Say “Go” in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide

Learning how to conjugate and use the verb “ir” (to go) in Spanish is crucial for expressing movement, future actions, and even certain idiomatic expressions. This article provides a detailed exploration of “ir,” covering its various forms, tenses, usages, and common mistakes.

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will enhance your understanding and fluency in Spanish.

Mastering “ir” allows you to describe where you’re going, what you’re going to do, and even express your opinions about certain situations. This comprehensive guide will cover everything from the present tense to the subjunctive mood, providing numerous examples and practice exercises to solidify your knowledge.

By the end of this article, you’ll be able to use “ir” confidently and accurately in a wide range of contexts.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Definition of “Ir”
3. Structural Breakdown of “Ir”
4. Types and Categories of “Ir” Usage
   • Present Tense
   • Preterite Tense
   • Imperfect Tense
   • Future Tense
   • Conditional Tense
   • Present Perfect Tense
   • Pluperfect Tense
   • Future Perfect Tense
   • Conditional Perfect Tense
   • Subjunctive Mood
   • Imperative Mood
5. Examples of “Ir” in Use
   • Present Tense Examples
   • Preterite Tense Examples
   • Imperfect Tense Examples
   • Future Tense Examples
   • Conditional Tense Examples
   • Subjunctive Mood Examples
6. Usage Rules for “Ir”
7. Common Mistakes with “Ir”
8. Practice Exercises
9. Advanced Topics
10. FAQ
11. Conclusion

Definition of “Ir”

The Spanish verb “ir” translates to “to go” in English. It is an irregular verb, meaning its conjugation patterns deviate from the standard rules. “Ir” primarily expresses movement from one place to another. However, it also has other functions, such as forming the near future tense and appearing in various idiomatic expressions.

Classification: “Ir” is an intransitive verb, meaning it does not take a direct object. It’s a verb of motion, indicating movement or direction. Its irregularity affects its stem and endings in different tenses, which requires careful attention when learning its conjugation.

Function: The primary function of “ir” is to indicate physical movement or travel. It can also be used to express intentions or plans for the future, similar to “going to” in English. Furthermore, “ir” appears in many Spanish idioms, adding nuances to its meaning beyond simple movement. For example, “¿Cómo te va?” means “How’s it going?”

Contexts: “Ir” is used in a wide range of contexts, from everyday conversations about travel plans to more formal settings when discussing future events. It’s essential for describing where you are going, where someone else is going, and for expressing general ideas about movement and change. Understanding its various uses is fundamental to mastering Spanish.

Structural Breakdown of “Ir”

The verb “ir” is irregular, which means its conjugation does not follow the standard patterns of regular -ar, -er, or -ir verbs. Understanding its irregularities is crucial for accurate usage.

Let’s break down its conjugation in different tenses:

• Present Tense: The stem changes to “voy,” “vas,” “va,” “vamos,” “vais,” and “van.”
• Preterite Tense: The stem changes to “fui,” “fuiste,” “fue,” “fuimos,” “fuisteis,” and “fueron.”
• Imperfect Tense: This tense is regular, using the stem “iba.”
• Future Tense: This tense is formed using “ir” + “a” + infinitive (e.g., “voy a comer” – I am going to eat).
• Conditional Tense: Similar to the future, it’s formed using “ir” + “a” + infinitive in the conditional form.

These are the basic structural elements to keep in mind. Pay close attention to the stem changes in the present and preterite tenses, as these are the most common areas where learners make mistakes.

The imperfect tense, being regular, is generally easier to remember.

Types and Categories of “Ir” Usage

The verb “ir” can be categorized based on the tense and mood in which it is used. Each tense and mood conveys different nuances and meanings.

Here’s a detailed breakdown:

Present Tense

The present tense of “ir” is used to describe actions happening now or habitual actions. It’s also used to express future plans, especially when combined with “a” + infinitive.

Conjugation:

• Yo: voy
• Tú: vas
• Él/Ella/Usted: va
• Nosotros/Nosotras: vamos
• Vosotros/Vosotras: vais
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes: van

Preterite Tense

The preterite tense of “ir” describes completed actions in the past. Notably, the preterite form of “ir” is identical to the preterite form of “ser” (to be), so context is key to understanding which verb is being used.

Conjugation:

• Yo: fui
• Tú: fuiste
• Él/Ella/Usted: fue
• Nosotros/Nosotras: fuimos
• Vosotros/Vosotras: fuisteis
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes: fueron

Imperfect Tense

The imperfect tense of “ir” describes ongoing or habitual actions in the past. It’s used to set the scene, describe past routines, or express what someone used to do.

Conjugation:

• Yo: iba
• Tú: ibas
• Él/Ella/Usted: iba
• Nosotros/Nosotras: íbamos
• Vosotros/Vosotras: ibais
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes: iban

Future Tense

The future tense of “ir” is typically formed using the structure “ir + a + infinitive.” This construction expresses the near future, indicating what someone is going to do.

Formation:

• Voy a + infinitive
• Vas a + infinitive
• Va a + infinitive
• Vamos a + infinitive
• Vais a + infinitive
• Van a + infinitive

Conditional Tense

The conditional tense of “ir” expresses what someone would do, often in hypothetical situations. It’s similar to the future tense in formation but conveys a sense of uncertainty or conditionality.

Formation: Although less common, the conditional can be expressed as “ir” in the conditional form + “a” + infinitive. For example, “Iría a la playa si tuviera tiempo” (I would go to the beach if I had time).

Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense of “ir” (he ido) is used to describe actions that started in the past and continue to have relevance in the present. It’s formed using the auxiliary verb “haber” (to have) in the present tense + the past participle “ido.”

Conjugation:

• Yo: he ido
• Tú: has ido
• Él/Ella/Usted: ha ido
• Nosotros/Nosotras: hemos ido
• Vosotros/Vosotras: habéis ido
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes: han ido

Pluperfect Tense

The pluperfect tense of “ir” (había ido) describes an action that was completed before another action in the past. It’s formed using the auxiliary verb “haber” in the imperfect tense + the past participle “ido.”

Conjugation:

• Yo: había ido
• Tú: habías ido
• Él/Ella/Usted: había ido
• Nosotros/Nosotras: habíamos ido
• Vosotros/Vosotras: habíais ido
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes: habían ido

Future Perfect Tense

The future perfect tense of “ir” (habré ido) describes an action that will be completed before a specific time in the future. It’s formed using the auxiliary verb “haber” in the future tense + the past participle “ido.”

Conjugation:

• Yo: habré ido
• Tú: habrás ido
• Él/Ella/Usted: habrá ido
• Nosotros/Nosotras: habremos ido
• Vosotros/Vosotras: habréis ido
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes: habrán ido

Conditional Perfect Tense

The conditional perfect tense of “ir” (habría ido) describes what would have happened if a certain condition had been met. It’s formed using the auxiliary verb “haber” in the conditional tense + the past participle “ido.”

Conjugation:

• Yo: habría ido
• Tú: habrías ido
• Él/Ella/Usted: habría ido
• Nosotros/Nosotras: habríamos ido
• Vosotros/Vosotras: habríais ido
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes: habrían ido

Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood of “ir” is used to express doubt, uncertainty, desires, or emotions. It is often found in subordinate clauses after expressions like “que” (that), “para que” (so that), or “a menos que” (unless).

Present Subjunctive Conjugation:

• Yo: vaya
• Tú: vayas
• Él/Ella/Usted: vaya
• Nosotros/Nosotras: vayamos
• Vosotros/Vosotras: vayáis
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes: vayan

Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation: There are two forms, but the most common one is shown below:

• Yo: fuera
• Tú: fueras
• Él/Ella/Usted: fuera
• Nosotros/Nosotras: fuéramos
• Vosotros/Vosotras: fuerais
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes: fueran

Imperative Mood

The imperative mood is used to give commands or instructions. For “ir,” the imperative forms are irregular.

Affirmative Commands:

• Tú: ve
• Usted: vaya
• Nosotros/Nosotras: vamos
• Vosotros/Vosotras: id
• Ustedes: vayan

Negative Commands: These are formed using the present subjunctive.

• Tú: no vayas
• Usted: no vaya
• Nosotros/Nosotras: no vayamos
• Vosotros/Vosotras: no vayáis
• Ustedes: no vayan

Examples of “Ir” in Use

To better understand how “ir” is used in different contexts, let’s look at various examples organized by tense and mood.

Present Tense Examples

The following table provides examples of “ir” in the present tense, illustrating its use in expressing current movement, habitual actions, and future plans.

Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	voy	Yo voy al supermercado.	I am going to the supermarket.
Tú	vas	Tú vas a la escuela todos los días.	You go to school every day.
Él/Ella/Usted	va	Ella va a viajar a España el próximo mes.	She is going to travel to Spain next month.
Nosotros/Nosotras	vamos	Nosotros vamos al cine esta noche.	We are going to the cinema tonight.
Vosotros/Vosotras	vais	Vosotros vais a estudiar español.	You (plural, informal) are going to study Spanish.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	van	Ellos van a la fiesta.	They are going to the party.
Yo	voy	Voy a comer ahora.	I am going to eat now.
Tú	vas	¿Vas a venir a mi casa?	Are you going to come to my house?
Él/Ella/Usted	va	Él va al trabajo en autobús.	He goes to work by bus.
Nosotros/Nosotras	vamos	Vamos a la playa en verano.	We go to the beach in summer.
Vosotros/Vosotras	vais	¿Vais a ver la película nueva?	Are you (plural, informal) going to see the new movie?
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	van	Van a visitar a sus abuelos.	They are going to visit their grandparents.
Yo	voy	Voy de compras mañana.	I am going shopping tomorrow.
Tú	vas	Vas muy rápido.	You are going very fast.
Él/Ella/Usted	va	Va a llover pronto.	It is going to rain soon.
Nosotros/Nosotras	vamos	Vamos a celebrar su cumpleaños.	We are going to celebrate his/her birthday.
Vosotros/Vosotras	vais	Vais a tener un examen.	You (plural, informal) are going to have an exam.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	van	Van a empezar el proyecto.	They are going to start the project.
Yo	voy	Voy aprendiendo español.	I am learning Spanish.
Tú	vas	Vas mejorando cada día.	You are improving every day.

Preterite Tense Examples

The following table illustrates the use of “ir” in the preterite tense, describing completed actions in the past.

Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	fui	Yo fui al concierto ayer.	I went to the concert yesterday.
Tú	fuiste	Tú fuiste a la fiesta anoche.	You went to the party last night.
Él/Ella/Usted	fue	Ella fue a la playa el verano pasado.	She went to the beach last summer.
Nosotros/Nosotras	fuimos	Nosotros fuimos al restaurante nuevo.	We went to the new restaurant.
Vosotros/Vosotras	fuisteis	Vosotros fuisteis de vacaciones a Italia.	You (plural, informal) went on vacation to Italy.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	fueron	Ellos fueron al museo el domingo.	They went to the museum on Sunday.
Yo	fui	Fui muy feliz en mi cumpleaños.	I was very happy on my birthday (also could mean “I went”).
Tú	fuiste	Fuiste valiente.	You were brave (also could mean “You went”).
Él/Ella/Usted	fue	Fue un día maravilloso.	It was a wonderful day (also could mean “He/She went”).
Nosotros/Nosotras	fuimos	Fuimos los primeros en llegar.	We were the first to arrive (also could mean “We went”).
Vosotros/Vosotras	fuisteis	Fuisteis muy amables con nosotros.	You (plural, informal) were very kind to us (also could mean “You went”).
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	fueron	Fueron a casa temprano.	They went home early.
Yo	fui	Fui a la biblioteca a estudiar.	I went to the library to study.
Tú	fuiste	Fuiste al médico?	Did you go to the doctor?
Él/Ella/Usted	fue	Fue a comprar pan.	He/She went to buy bread.
Nosotros/Nosotras	fuimos	Fuimos de excursión a la montaña.	We went hiking in the mountains.
Vosotros/Vosotras	fuisteis	Fuisteis a ver a vuestros padres?	Did you (plural, informal) go to see your parents?
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	fueron	Fueron a un concierto de rock.	They went to a rock concert.
Yo	fui	Fui invitado a la boda.	I was invited to the wedding. (Also could mean I went).
Tú	fuiste	Fuiste el ganador.	You were the winner. (Also could mean you went).

Imperfect Tense Examples

The following table provides examples of “ir” in the imperfect tense, describing ongoing or habitual actions in the past.

Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	iba	Yo iba al parque todos los días.	I used to go to the park every day.
Tú	ibas	Tú ibas a clases de piano cuando eras niño.	You used to go to piano lessons when you were a child.
Él/Ella/Usted	iba	Ella iba al gimnasio por la mañana.	She used to go to the gym in the morning.
Nosotros/Nosotras	íbamos	Nosotros íbamos al cine los fines de semana.	We used to go to the cinema on weekends.
Vosotros/Vosotras	ibais	Vosotros ibais de camping en verano.	You (plural, informal) used to go camping in the summer.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	iban	Ellos iban a la iglesia los domingos.	They used to go to church on Sundays.
Yo	iba	Iba a visitarte pero no pude.	I was going to visit you but I couldn’t.
Tú	ibas	Ibas a llamarme ayer?	Were you going to call me yesterday?
Él/Ella/Usted	iba	Iba a ser doctor.	He/She was going to be a doctor.
Nosotros/Nosotras	íbamos	Íbamos a viajar por Europa.	We were going to travel around Europe.
Vosotros/Vosotras	ibais	Ibais a comprar una casa nueva?	Were you (plural, informal) going to buy a new house?
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	iban	Iban a estudiar medicina.	They were going to study medicine.
Yo	iba	Cuando era joven, iba mucho al teatro.	When I was young, I used to go to the theater a lot.
Tú	ibas	Ibas siempre con tu perro al parque.	You always used to go to the park with your dog.
Él/Ella/Usted	iba	Siempre iba vestido de negro.	He/She always used to go dressed in black.
Nosotros/Nosotras	íbamos	Íbamos juntos a la escuela.	We used to go to school together.
Vosotros/Vosotras	ibais	Ibais todos los veranos al mismo lugar.	You (plural, informal) used to go to the same place every summer.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	iban	Iban de compras cada fin de semana.	They used to go shopping every weekend.
Yo	iba	Iba pensando en ti.	I was thinking about you.
Tú	ibas	Ibas corriendo cuando te vi.	You were running when I saw you.

Future Tense Examples

The following table showcases examples of “ir” in the future tense (using “ir + a + infinitive”), expressing near future plans and intentions.

Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	voy a	Voy a estudiar español mañana.	I am going to study Spanish tomorrow.
Tú	vas a	Vas a viajar a México el próximo año.	You are going to travel to Mexico next year.
Él/Ella/Usted	va a	Ella va a cocinar la cena esta noche.	She is going to cook dinner tonight.
Nosotros/Nosotras	vamos a	Vamos a ver una película el sábado.	We are going to watch a movie on Saturday.
Vosotros/Vosotras	vais a	Vosotros vais a aprender mucho en este curso.	You (plural, informal) are going to learn a lot in this course.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	van a	Ellos van a comprar una casa nueva.	They are going to buy a new house.
Yo	voy a	Voy a llamar a mi madre.	I’m going to call my mother.
Tú	vas a	Vas a hacer ejercicio hoy?	Are you going to exercise today?
Él/Ella/Usted	va a	Va a empezar a trabajar pronto.	He/She is going to start working soon.
Nosotros/Nosotras	vamos a	Vamos a salir a cenar.	We are going to go out to dinner.
Vosotros/Vosotras	vais a	Vais a estudiar para el examen?	Are you (plural, informal) going to study for the exam?
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	van a	Van a llegar tarde.	They are going to arrive late.
Yo	voy a	Voy a escribir un libro.	I am going to write a book.
Tú	vas a	Vas a aprender a bailar salsa.	You are going to learn to dance salsa.
Él/Ella/Usted	va a	Va a visitar a su abuela.	He/She is going to visit his/her grandmother.
Nosotros/Nosotras	vamos a	Vamos a organizar una fiesta.	We are going to organize a party.
Vosotros/Vosotras	vais a	Vais a correr una maratón.	You (plural, informal) are going to run a marathon.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	van a	Van a construir una casa.	They are going to build a house.
Yo	voy a	Voy a intentar hacerlo.	I am going to try to do it.
Tú	vas a	Vas a conseguir tus sueños.	You are going to achieve your dreams.

Conditional Tense Examples

The following table demonstrates “ir” used in conditional sentences, expressing hypothetical actions or what someone would do under certain circumstances.

Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	iría a	Yo iría a la playa si tuviera tiempo.	I would go to the beach if I had time.
Tú	irías a	Tú irías a la fiesta si te invitaran.	You would go to the party if they invited you.
Él/Ella/Usted	iría a	Ella iría al cine contigo si no estuviera ocupada.	She would go to the cinema with you if she weren’t busy.
Nosotros/Nosotras	iríamos a	Nosotros iríamos de viaje si tuviéramos dinero.	We would go on a trip if we had money.
Vosotros/Vosotras	iríais a	Vosotros iríais a la montaña si hiciera buen tiempo.	You (plural, informal) would go to the mountain if the weather were good.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	irían a	Ellos irían a la ópera si les gustara la música clásica.	They would go to the opera if they liked classical music.
Yo	iría a	Iría a verte si pudiera.	I would come to see you if I could.
Tú	irías a	Irías a vivir a otro país?	Would you go to live in another country?
Él/Ella/Usted	iría a	Iría a la luna si tuviera la oportunidad.	He/She would go to the moon if he/she had the opportunity.
Nosotros/Nosotras	iríamos a	Iríamos a la guerra a defender nuestro país.	We would go to war to defend our country.
Vosotros/Vosotras	iríais a	Iríais a esquiar a los Alpes?	Would you (plural, informal) go skiing in the Alps?
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	irían a	Irían a rescatar a los animales.	They would go to rescue the animals.
Yo	iría a	Iría cantando por la calle.	I would go singing down the street.
Tú	irías a	Irías buscando tesoros.	You would go searching for treasures.
Él/Ella/Usted	iría a	Iría volando por el cielo.	He/She would go flying through the sky.
Nosotros/Nosotras	iríamos a	Iríamos bailando toda la noche.	We would go dancing all night.
Vosotros/Vosotras	iríais a	Iríais corriendo sin parar.	You (plural, informal) would go running nonstop.
Ellos/Ellas/Usted	irían a	Irían saltando de alegría.	They would go jumping for joy.

Subjunctive Mood Examples

The subjunctive mood is used to express desires, doubts, possibilities, and hypothetical situations. Here are some examples using “ir” in the subjunctive mood:

Pronoun	Conjugation (Present Subjunctive)	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	vaya	Es importante que yo vaya a la reunión.	It’s important that I go to the meeting.
Tú	vayas	Es necesario que tú vayas al médico.	It’s necessary that you go to the doctor.
Él/Ella/Usted	vaya	Espero que ella vaya a la fiesta.	I hope that she goes to the party.
Nosotros/Nosotras	vayamos	Es fundamental que nosotros vayamos juntos.	It’s essential that we go together.
Vosotros/Vosotras	vayáis	Es crucial que vosotros vayáis preparados.	It’s crucial that you (plural, informal) go prepared.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	vayan	Ojalá que ellos vayan de vacaciones.	I wish they would go on vacation.
Pronoun	Conjugation (Imperfect Subjunctive)	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo	fuera	Si yo fuera a la luna, te traería una estrella.	If I were to go to the moon, I would bring you a star.
Tú	fueras	Si tú fueras a España, visitarías Madrid.	If you were to go to Spain, you would visit Madrid.
Él/Ella/Usted	fuera	Si ella fuera al concierto, estaría muy feliz.	If she were to go to the concert, she would be very happy.
Nosotros/Nosotras	fuéramos	Si nosotros fuéramos a Italia, comeríamos mucha pasta.	If we were to go to Italy, we would eat a lot of pasta.
Vosotros/Vosotras	fuerais	Si vosotros fuerais a la fiesta, os divertiríais mucho.	If you (plural, informal) were to go to the party, you would have a lot of fun.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	fueran	Si ellos fueran a la montaña, esquiarían.	If they were to go to the mountain, they would ski.

Usage Rules for “Ir”

To use “ir” correctly, keep the following rules in mind:

• Expressing Movement: Use “ir” to indicate physical movement from one place to another. For example, “Voy a la tienda” (I am going to the store).
• Near Future: Use “ir + a + infinitive” to express the near future. For example, “Voy a comer” (I am going to eat).
• Commands: Use the imperative forms to give commands or instructions. For example, “Ve a la tienda” (Go to the store).
• Subjunctive Mood: Use the subjunctive forms in clauses that express doubt, desire, or uncertainty. For example, “Es importante que vayas” (It’s important that you go).
• Context with “Ser”: Be mindful that the preterite form of “ir” (fui, fuiste, fue, fuimos, fuisteis, fueron) is the same as “ser” (to be) in the preterite. Context is crucial to differentiate between the two.

Common Mistakes with “Ir”

Learners often make the following mistakes when using “ir”:

• Confusing “ir” and “ser” in the preterite: Remember that both verbs have the same forms in the preterite tense. Pay attention to the context to determine which verb is being used. For example, “Fui a la tienda” (I went to the store – ir) vs. “Fui feliz” (I was happy – ser).
• Incorrect Conjugation: “Ir” is irregular, so it’s important to memorize its conjugations in different tenses. Common errors include using regular endings instead of the irregular forms.
• Misusing the Subjunctive: The subjunctive mood can be tricky. Make sure to use it in the appropriate contexts, such as after expressions of doubt, desire, or necessity.
• Forgetting the “a” in the near future: When expressing the near future, always remember to include “a” between “ir” and the infinitive. For example, “Voy a comer” (I am going to eat), not “Voy comer.”

Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “ir”:

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, consider exploring the following topics related to “ir”:

• Idiomatic Expressions with “Ir”: Spanish has many idiomatic expressions that use “ir,” such as “ir de compras” (to go shopping), “ir bien/mal” (to go well/badly), and “¿Cómo te va?” (How’s it going?).
• “Ir” vs. Other Verbs of Motion: Understand the nuances between “ir” and other verbs of motion like “venir” (to come), “llegar” (to arrive), and “salir” (to leave).
• Regional Variations: Be aware that the usage and frequency of certain tenses and expressions with “ir” can vary across different Spanish-speaking regions.

FAQ

Conclusion

Mastering the verb “ir” is essential for effective communication in Spanish. From expressing simple movement to indicating future plans and hypothetical situations, “ir” plays a crucial role in everyday conversation.

By understanding its conjugations, usage rules, and common mistakes, you can confidently use “ir” to enhance your fluency and comprehension in Spanish.