change to the stem (andare—io vado)
change in the normal ending (dare—io darò)
change to both stem and ending (rimanere—io rimasi).
Irregular Second Conjugation Verbs
There are only three first conjugation verbs (verbs ending in –are) that are irregular—andare, dare, and stare. Much more numerous, however, are the irregular verbs of the second conjugation (verbs ending in –ere). These verbs are usually divided into two groups:
—verbs in –ére, (cadere, dovere, valere). The majority of irregular changes occur in the root, generally in the present indicative and subjunctive (valg–o, valg–a).
—verbs in –’ere (accendere, accludere) in which the accent falls on the stem. Usually these irregular verbs have changes in the past remote and the past participle (acce–si, acce–so).
Consult the list of principal irregular second conjugation verbs for reference.
| EXAMPLES OF IRREGULAR -ERE VERBS | ||
| INFINITIVE | REMOTE PAST | |
| INDICATIVE | PAST PARTICIPLE | |
| contendere | io contesi | conteso |
| emergere | io emersi | emerso |
| tergere | io tersi | terso |
| discutere | io discussi | discusso |
| percuotere | io percossi | percosso |
| scindere | io scissi | scisso |
| attingere | io attinsi | attinto |
| frangere | io fransi | franto |
| vincere | io vinsi | vinto |
| affliggere | io afflissi | afflitto |
| leggere | io lessi | letto |
| trafiggere | io trafissi | trafitto |
| chiedere | io chiesi | chiesto |
| nascondere | io nascosi | nascosto |
| rispondere | io rimasi | risposto |
