Basic Verbs

1. ir

   To go

   Usage

   The key motion verb; combine it with a destination (ir a Santiago)

   Grammar Note

   Irregular: vou / vas / vai / imos / ides / van. The near future is ir + infinitive without "a" (Vou comer)

2. vir

   To come

   Usage

   Motion towards the speaker; the counterpart of ir

   Grammar Note

   Irregular: veño / ves / vén / vimos / vindes / veñen

3. comer

   To eat

   Usage

   The basic verb for eating. Taking lunch is xantar and having dinner is cear

   Grammar Note

   Regular -er verb: como / comes / come / comemos / comedes / comen

4. beber

   To drink

   Usage

   The verb for drinking water, wine or any other beverage

   Grammar Note

   Regular -er verb: bebo / bebes / bebe / bebemos / bebedes / beben

5. comprar

   To buy

   Usage

   The basic shopping verb. Mercar is a synonym

   Grammar Note

   Regular -ar verb: compro / compras / compra / compramos / comprades / compran

6. ver

   To see

   Usage

   Covers both seeing and looking. Handy when sightseeing

   Grammar Note

   Irregular: vexo / ves / ve / vemos / vedes / ven (not Spanish "veo")

7. agardar

   To wait

   Usage

   The usual verb for waiting. Esperar is a synonym

   Grammar Note

   Regular -ar verb: agardo / agardas / agarda. "Agarde un momento" means "Please wait a moment"

8. Quero ir

   I want to go

   Usage

   Add a destination to say where you want to go

   Grammar Note

   querer + infinitive means "want to". The subject "eu" is dropped. The form is quero, not Spanish "quiero"

9. Quero comer

   I want to eat

   Usage

   Say it when you are hungry or looking for a place to eat

   Grammar Note

   querer + infinitive. A softer request is "Quería comer" (I would like to eat)

10. Quero isto

    I want this

    Usage

    Point at the item and say you want this one

    Grammar Note

    isto is near the speaker, iso is near the listener (Spanish esto/eso)

11. Non necesito iso

    I don't need that

    Usage

    Use it to decline something you do not need, such as a street offer

    Grammar Note

    "non" goes before the verb. necesitar takes its object directly, with no preposition. Precisar is a synonym

12. Estou buscando isto

    I'm looking for this

    Usage

    Show a photo or a name and say what you are searching for

    Grammar Note

    estar + gerund gives the progressive. The short form "Busco isto" also works

13. Teño

    I have it

    Usage

    A one-word answer meaning "I have it". Use it to reply to a question

    Grammar Note

    First person of the irregular verb ter: teño / tes / ten / temos / tedes / teñen (not Spanish "tengo")

14. Non teño

    I don't have it

    Usage

    A short reply meaning "I don't have it"

    Grammar Note

    Put "non" before teño to negate it. teño is the first person of ter

15. Quero sacar diñeiro

    I'll withdraw money

    Usage

    State your intent at an ATM or a bank. A cash machine is a "caixeiro automático"

    Grammar Note

    diñeiro is spelled with ñ (not Portuguese "dinheiro" nor Spanish "dinero"). Cartos is a synonym

16. Quero facer unha reserva

    I'd like to make a reservation

    Usage

    Say it at a hotel or restaurant when you want to book

    Grammar Note

    facer is the Galician form (Spanish hacer, Portuguese fazer). unha agrees with the feminine noun reserva

17. Pode axudarme?

    Could you help me?

    Usage

    A polite request for help to a stranger or staff (to vostede). To a friend: "Podes axudarme?"

    Grammar Note

    The pronoun "me" attaches to the infinitive without a hyphen (axudarme), unlike Portuguese ajudar-me

18. Dígame, por favor

    Please tell me

    Usage

    Used to ask for information, or by staff meaning "how can I help?" (to vostede)

    Grammar Note

    The formal imperative uses the subjunctive form (Diga). To a friend: "Dime". The pronoun attaches without a hyphen

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