⇒ Learners of Spanish often have trouble distinguishing when to use ir (to go) and irse (to leave)

⇒ Below you'll find some tips and examples to help you on your way to becoming the master of the ir / irse distinction.

⇒ Ir is an irregular, intransitive verb that is used to refer to a destination.

⇒ Ir often makes use of prepositions such as a, hacia, and hasta

Voy a la tienda. I am going to the store.

Fuimos hasta la esquina. We went to the corner.

⇒ Ir can also be used to indicate a mode of transportation where there is an unspoken or implied destination.

Van en avión. They are going (somewhere) by plane.

¿Vas a pie? Are going (somewhere) on foot?

⇒ Ir is used with a to form the periphrastic future. This future form uses the formula ir + a + verb in the infinitive.

Va a almorzar a las doce. He is going to have lunch at noon.

Voy a ir a la escuela mañana. I'm going to go to school tomorrow.

⇒ Irse is a pronominal verb that uses reflexive pronouns and tends to focus on the act of leaving a starting point or origin. The origin is presumed to be here (or wherever the subject is at the time).

⇒ Irse often makes use of prepositions such as de and desde

Tengo que irme de aquí. I have to leave here.

¿Te vas a las seis? Are you leaving at six?

¡No se vayan! Don't go!

¿Por qué te vas tan temprano? Why are you leaving so soon?

⇒ Ir would be incorrect in the above sentences because no destination is mentioned.