Few verbs show up as often in everyday Spanish as ir (to go), and few cause as many mistakes for learners. If you have ever stared at a sentence like "Mañana ___ al mercado" and wondered which form belongs in the blank, this guide is for you. Below you will find the full conjugation of ir, a simple three-step method for filling in blanks correctly, two practice sets with answer keys, common traps to avoid, and answers to the questions students ask most often.
Why Ir Deserves Your Full Attention
Ir is one of the most irregular and useful verbs in the Spanish language. You need it to talk about where you are going, how you travel, and even what you are going to do tomorrow. Because it is irregular, the verb does not follow the normal -ar endings, so memorizing its forms is unavoidable.
Beyond movement, ir appears in everyday expressions such as:
- ir de compras — to go shopping
- ir en coche / en autobús — to go by car / by bus
- ir a + infinitive — going to do something
- ¡va! — an exclamation meaning "okay!" or "go ahead!"
The Present Tense of Ir
Most fill-in-the-blank exercises focus on the present tense, so learn these forms until they feel automatic:
| Subject | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| yo | voy | Yo voy a la escuela. |
| tú | vas | Tú vas al gimnasio. Even so, |
| él / ella / usted | va | Ella va al hospital. Plus, |
| nosotros / nosotras | vamos | Nosotros vamos a la playa. |
| vosotros / vosotras | vais | Vosotros vais al cine. |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | van | Ellos van a la fiesta. |
The official docs gloss over this. That's a mistake.
Notice that every form is different. There is no pattern to lean on, which is why ir is often called one of the "big three" irregular verbs alongside ser and estar The details matter here. Which is the point..
A Three-Step Method for Filling in the Blanks
Before you try the exercises, use this simple strategy every time:
- Find the subject. Ask yourself: who is doing the action? Look for clues like yo, tú, ella, nosotros, mis amigos, la profesora.
- Check the time marker. Words such as todos los días (every day), ahora (now), ayer (yesterday), or mañana (tomorrow) tell you which tense to use.
- Look at what follows the blank. If you see a + infinitive (a estudiar, a viajar),
Continuing the three‑step approach
If the blank is followed by a + infinitive (for example, a estudiar or a viajar), you must pair the correct form of ir with the particle a and the verb in its infinitive shape. Still, first locate the subject (step 1) and then select the conjugation that matches that subject (voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van). The resulting construction will read, for instance, Yo voy a estudiar or Nosotros vamos a viajar.
When the sentence does not contain an infinitive after the blank, you simply need the present‑tense form that agrees with the subject. In that case the time marker alone tells you which person you are dealing with, and you choose the corresponding ir form directly.
Practice Set 1
Fill in the blank with the proper present‑tense form of ir.
1. Mañana __________ (yo) __________ al supermercado Worth keeping that in mind..
