How do I use verb models to determine conjugations for verb entries in my Spanish dictionary?

I am using the 5th Edition of the University of Chicago's Spanish-English dictionary. In the front of the dictionary, there is a numbered list of verbs that are intended to be used as conjugation models. However, the instructions for correct usage of this table are very vague, they are not self-evident, and they appear to be different from any other text I have in my library. There are several points that I find confusing.





Point 1: Some numbers have several model verbs associated with them. For such numbers, (ie. 3) each associated verb is also assigned a letter. Thus, one would expect the verb entries in the dictionary to have both a number and letter to identify the verb model, where more than one model verb is associated with a number in the table. However, this is not always true. For instance, table entry number 3 has 2 verbs associated with it - 'sentir' and 'erguir'. These are sub-labeled a and b respectively. However, the model index referenced for 'reuitir' and 'adherir' only reference the number model number 3. Which sub-model is the correct model for these verbs? At other times, both the number and letter are given indicating a definite model (ie acoger 11b).





Point 2: Also, some verbs reference multiple models (ie 'almorzar references models 2 and 9). I'm not sure how to interpret that. I thought that this might mean that the conjugations of both models needed combined. However, often, when multiple models are given, the irregular/radical changing tenses listed in the table overlap so combining the models in this situation doesn't seem to work. 'almorzar' is a good example of this. Both models 2 and 9 are referenced but 2 and 9 have different conjugations for the Present Subjunctive and the Imperative. Here is a link to a page on the dictionary's web site showing the verb model table. http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/spanishdictionary/verbs.html Thanks in advance.|||Oh, my... you got in such a predicament. I have to recognize that the verb conjugations in Spanish are a little hard, for a native it might be natural, but it's not.





Okay...





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* Point 1:





In the cases you find different subsections or letters in a conjugation pattern or number, follow this rule. When you have a number and a letter like in 11.b just follow that pattern.





In the cases you just have a number, like in 3, most of time are the -guer -guir -quer -quir cases o some other ones similar to these.





For instance: adherir doesn't finish with -guir (as in erguir in 3.b) so it's 3.a, with perseguir is probably that in your table it says just 3. Perseguir finishes with -guir as erguir in 3.b, so for perseguir corresponds 3.b. Remember 3.b is just for verbs finished with -guir. The rest of the verbs: adherir, remitir, etc. go with 3.a.





The same is with 10.a verbs finishing with -ncer, 10.b with -cir, and 10.c with -ocer.





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* Point 2:





The different models correspond to different verb conjugations.





For example: Almorzar (to have lunch) with 2 refers to the "presente simple" tense: "yo almuerzo" (almuerzO as cuentO in the example of 2) in this case the verb is the main verb (I HAVE lunch) and it doesn't depend on other verb.





In the case 9, "me pidi贸 que almuerce con 茅l" (almuerCE as in abraCE of the example 9) in this case the verb is depending on another main verb (He ASKED me to have lunch with him), in this case the main verb is ASK and have lunch depends on that verb, so in the cases of depending verbs (known as "presente subjuntivo tense") you use this one.





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A little complicated, but it's okay with time and practice you'll get it.





Have a nice day.