The verb “jugar” (to play) is a bit of a rebel in the Spanish language. It’s the only verb that undergoes a U to UE stem change in the Simple Present Tense. Don’t worry, though – once you understand the pattern, you’ll be using it like a native speaker!
How the Stem Change Works
In the Simple Present Tense, the “u” in “jugar” transforms into “ue” for most conjugations. This change is like a secret code that unlocks the correct way to use the verb. The only exception is “nosotros” (we), which keeps the original “u.”
Conjugation Made Easy
Let’s see how this works in action:
- Yo juego (I play)
- Tú juegas (You play)
- Él/Ella/Usted juega (He/She/You formal play)
- Nosotros jugamos (We play) – no change
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes juegan (They/You all play)
Let’s Play!
Now that you know the conjugation, let’s see how to use “jugar” in real-life scenarios:
- “Yo juego al fútbol los domingos.” (I play soccer on Sundays.)
- “¿Tú juegas ajedrez?” (Do you play chess?)
- “Ella juega con su perro en el parque.” (She plays with her dog in the park.)
Important Things to Remember
- Tense Matters: This stem change only happens in the Simple Present Tense and the Present Subjunctive. In other tenses, “jugar” follows the regular -ar verb conjugation patterns.
- “A” for Games: When you’re talking about playing a specific game, use the preposition “a” (e.g., “jugar al tenis” – to play tennis).
Expand Your Spanish Vocabulary
- “Jugar” by itself: Means “to play” in general.
- “Jugar a + [game]”: Means “to play a specific game.”
- “Jugar con + [object/person]”: Means “to play with something or someone.”
Speak Spanish with Confidence
By understanding this unique stem change, you’ll be able to use “jugar” correctly in various contexts. Whether discussing your favorite sports, games, or leisure activities, you’ll sound like a natural Spanish speaker!
Synonyms:
- English: U to UE Irregular Verb in Present Simple
- Spanish: Verbo Irregular U a UE en Presente Simple, Presente de Indicativo, Presente