Spanish Yo-Go Verbs

Tener→tengo, hacer→hago, poner→pongo. The 12 essential verbs with irregular -go in yo form.

What are yo-go verbs?

These verbs are regular in all forms EXCEPT yo — where they add -go.

The other forms conjugate normally. Only the first person singular is irregular.

The 12 yo-go verbs

Verbyo formtú (regular!)Meaning
tenertengotienesto have
venirvengovienesto come
decirdigodicesto say
hacerhagohacesto do/make
ponerpongoponesto put
salirsalgosalesto leave/go out
traertraigotraesto bring
caercaigocaesto fall
oíroigooyesto hear
valervalgovalesto be worth
suponersupongosuponesto suppose
componercompongocomponesto compose

Why this matters for the subjunctive

Present subjunctive is built from the yo form!

tengo → tenga, tengas, tenga, tengamos, tengan
hago → haga, hagas, haga, hagamos, hagan
salgo → salga, salgas, salga, salgamos, salgan
digo → diga, digas, diga, digamos, digan
This is why yo-go verbs have irregular subjunctive forms.

Compound yo-go verbs (same pattern!)

Verbs built from yo-go bases keep the same irregularity

poner → pongo → componer → compongo, suponer → supongo, proponer → propongo
tener → tengo → mantener → mantengo, obtener → obtengo, contener → contengo
venir → vengo → convenir → convengo, prevenir → prevengo
traer → traigo → atraer → atraigo, distraer → distraigo

Commands also affected!

Negative tú = subjunctive = from yo form:
No hagas eso. (Don't do that.) | No salgas. (Don't leave.)
No pongas eso ahí. | No digas nada.

Quick quiz

1. tener → yo _____ (present)

2. hacer → yo _____ (present)

3. salir → yo _____ (present)

4. Subjunctive of hacer (yo) = _____.

5. poner → yo pongo → subjunctive: que yo _____.

6. suponer → yo _____. (compound of poner)

7. mantener → yo _____. (compound of tener)

8. No _____ eso. (Don't do that — neg. tú command)

9. traer → yo _____.

10. oír → yo _____.

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