soler
M077 DefectiveSoler — defective + o→ue (to usually do)
Defective + o→ue
1
verbs
Difficulty
Summary
SOLER expresses habit ("to usually do"). In standard usage it is treated as defective: learners mainly use present and imperfect forms (suelo, sueles... / solía, solías...). Other simple tenses are generally avoided.
Technical explanation
Defective pattern with stem change o→ue in stressed present forms:
- Present indicative: suelo, sueles, suele, solemos, soléis, suelen.
- Imperfect indicative: solía, solías, solía, solíamos, solíais, solían.
- Present subjunctive: suela, suelas, suela, solamos, soláis, suelan.
- Imperfect subjunctive: soliera, solieras, soliera, soliéramos, solierais, solieran.
- Imperative: not used.
- Preterite, future, conditional, and compound perfect series: usually avoided in modern usage.
In Spain, soler is taught as a semi-auxiliary of frequency and appears most naturally with infinitive: suelo leer, solíamos salir.
Examples
- I usually read before sleeping (Suelo leer antes de dormir).
- When we were children, we used to go to that square (De niños solíamos ir a esa plaza).
- It is unusual for him to arrive late (Es raro que suela llegar tarde).
Verbs in this model
Current model verbs in the app:
Teacher guide (Spain)
Book-style practical notes adapted to current Peninsular usage.
1) Core model
The productive model is essentially this verb.
2) High-value classroom chunks
Prioritize these structures in class and drills.
3) Related defective families (different profile)
Commonly explained apart from soler.
4) Teaching recommendation
Avoid forcing rare forms; in communicative practice, keep soler in frequent habitual patterns.
Present Indicative
yo
suelo
tú
sueles
él/ella
suele
Pattern cheat sheet
Most-used tenses for this model, with an optional comparison against the regular pattern.
Indicativo — Indicative
Presente
Present Indicative
yo
suelo
tú
sueles
él/ella
suele
Pretérito perfecto compuesto
Present Perfect Indicative
This tense is not yet supported for this verb/model.
Pretérito imperfecto
Imperfect Indicative
yo
solía
tú
solías
él/ella
solía
Pretérito pluscuamperfecto
Pluperfect Indicative
This tense is not yet supported for this verb/model.
Pretérito perfecto simple
Preterite Indicative
This tense is not yet supported for this verb/model.
Pretérito anterior
Preterite Anterior
This tense is not yet supported for this verb/model.
Futuro simple
Future Indicative
This tense is not yet supported for this verb/model.
Futuro perfecto
Future Perfect Indicative
This tense is not yet supported for this verb/model.
Condicional simple
Conditional
This tense is not yet supported for this verb/model.
Condicional compuesto
Conditional Perfect
This tense is not yet supported for this verb/model.
Subjuntivo — Subjunctive
Presente de subjuntivo
Present Subjunctive
yo
suela
tú
suelas
él/ella
suela
Pretérito perfecto
Present Perfect Subjunctive
This tense is not yet supported for this verb/model.
Imperfecto
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo
soliera (soliese)
tú
solieras (solieses)
él/ella
soliera (soliese)
Pluscuamperfecto
Pluperfect Subjunctive
This tense is not yet supported for this verb/model.
Futuro
Future Subjunctive
This tense is not yet supported for this verb/model.
Futuro perfecto
Future Perfect Subjunctive
This tense is not yet supported for this verb/model.
Imperativo — Imperative
Imperativo afirmativo
Imperative
This tense is not yet supported for this verb/model.
Imperativo negativo
Negative Imperative
This tense is not yet supported for this verb/model.
Tense availability
Supported for this model (informational). Open a verb page to view full conjugation tables by tense.
Supported
No forms in these tenses for this verb
These tenses are generally not used with this defective verb.
Open a verb page to switch between tenses and see full tables.
Open a sample verb from this modelWhat this model teaches
Verbs following this model
1 verbUnlock full access
- Complete conjugation tables for all tenses
- Unlimited practice drills
- Full verb lists for every model
- Progress tracking & mastery scores