Verbs are not a separate topic at GCSE — they control your ability to communicate accurately in every task. This guide covers exactly what you need for Grades 7–9.
Practice free →Grade 4–6: present, preterite, future. Grade 7–8: add imperfect and conditional. Grade 9: also use perfect, pluperfect and at least one subjunctive phrase. Examiners assess tense range as a key criterion.
Ser, estar, tener, ir, hacer, poder, querer, saber, venir and decir appear in almost every exam task. These 10 verbs cover opinions, descriptions, abilities, movements, past events and plans.
GCSE mark schemes reward: accurate tense formation, a range of different tenses, complex sentences with conjunctions, opinions with justifications, and correct use of irregular verbs — especially ser/estar and ir in the preterite.
Reading a conjugation table does not build exam-ready recall. Type the form from memory, check it, and immediately correct wrong answers. Five minutes of active practice beats thirty minutes of reading.
Using ser instead of estar for location or emotions. Forgetting the accent on preterite yo and él forms (hablé, habló). Incorrect irregular preterites: fui (not fué), hice (not hacé), vine (not venié).
Reading grammar explains the rules — but only active recall builds exam-ready memory. Practice typing these forms with instant feedback.
Start practicing free →At minimum: present, preterite and future. For higher grades add imperfect, conditional and at least one subjunctive phrase. Using five or more tenses accurately is a key Grade 9 criterion.
Ser, estar, tener, ir, hacer, poder, querer, saber, venir and decir. These 10 high-frequency irregular verbs appear in virtually every GCSE task.
Use active recall — generate the form from a prompt rather than reading tables. Practicar Verbos provides typed practice with instant feedback, which builds the automatic recall needed under exam conditions.