This lesson was recorded on location in Lima, Peru.

So, did anyone notice anything peculiar about the conjugation of the verb “agradecer”?

Max,

Consider the first person singular:

from “agradecer”, “agradezco”.

Now, compare this to a ‘regular’ 2nd conjugation verb:

from “correr”, “corro”.

What do you notice about the inflection here?

Joseph

Max,

Great observation! That’s just the difference that I was thinking of! Now you can see that “agradecer” is a so-called “irregular” verb; we call it irregular because it doesn’t follow the normal paradigms for the conjugation. Other verbs that are irregular in this way are:

aborrecer (to hate), agradecer (to thank), aparecer (to appear), complacer (to please, to gratify), conocer (to know, to be acquainted with), crecer (to grow), establecer (to establish), merecer (to deserve), nacer (to be born), obedecer (to obey), ofrecer (to offer), permanecer (to remain), pertenecer (to belong), yacer (to lie down)

Learning that the verbs in this group are conjugated this way is also vaulable because their are other irregularities in other tenses, the patterns of which they will all follow. But for know, it will be good for you to learn the conjugation of each of these verbs in the Present Tense of the Indicative Mood. Remember, when you’re practicing your conjugations, you should start with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd person singular and then move on to the plural. Once you get this down, then you can practice in the 1st for the singular and the plural, and then the 2nd in the singular and plural and finally the 3rd in the singular and then the plural. Good luck!

Joseph

Soy de acuerdo con Max, esta es un lindo sitio web!
Agradezco sus lecciones!!

Max,

First of all, I’m really glad that you’re enjoying the course. It’s great to see that you’re learning!

I just wanted to point something out so that you don’t form a bad habit. You say “gracias a usted”, which is correct, if you want to talk to me formally (however, you don’t need to ). But, if you want to practice speaking formally, of course, it’s fine.

However, if you say “gracias a usted”, then in the next phrase, you should say “tiene”, instead of “tienes”, because “tiene” is conjugated to the third person singular of the present indicative, while “tienes” is conjugated to the second person singular of the present indicative.

The form of address “usted” belongs to the third person singular: “usted tiene”.
The form of address “tú” belongs to the second person singular: “tú tienes”.

I hope this clears it up. You’re doing a great job! ¡Gracias por el comentario!

Joseph