Spanish conjugation explanation

Stem change: -e- → -i- (present)

<p>For a specific group of Spanish verbs ending in <strong>-ir</strong>, the stem vowel <strong>e</strong> changes to <strong>i</strong> when stressed in the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/14/" target="_blank">Present Indicative</a>

<p>This change follows the "boot" pattern: it affects all singular forms (S/1, S/2, S/3) and the third person plural (P/3). The <strong>nosotros</strong> and <strong>vosotros</strong> forms do not change.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Common Verbs</div>

<p>Verbs that undergo this <strong>e &#8594; i</strong> change include:</p>

<ul>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/pedir/" title="Click to see conjugations for pedir" target="_blank">pedir</a>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/servir/" title="Click to see conjugations for servir" target="_blank">servir</a>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/repetir/" title="Click to see conjugations for repetir" target="_blank">repetir</a>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/medir/" title="Click to see conjugations for medir" target="_blank">medir</a>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/competir/" title="Click to see conjugations for competir" target="_blank">competir</a>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/despedir/" title="Click to see conjugations for despedir" target="_blank">despedir</a>

</ul>

<p>In the following table for

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/pedir/" title="Click to see conjugations for pedir" target="_blank">pedir</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/14/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

yo

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">pido<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tú

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">pides<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

él

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">pide<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nosotros

</span>pedimos

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vosotros

</span>pedís

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ellos

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">piden<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Examples</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ella siempre <span class="green_emphasis">pide</span> ensalada. (<span style="font-style: italic">She always asks for salad.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Esta llave no <span class="green_emphasis">sirve</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic">This key doesn't work / serves no purpose.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Los niños <span class="green_emphasis">repiten</span> las palabras. (<span style="font-style: italic">The children repeat the words.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Susana se <span class="green_emphasis">mide</span> el vestido. (<span style="font-style: italic">Susana tries on/measures the dress.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Spelling Changes + Stem Changes</div>

<p>Some verbs combine this <strong>e &#8594; i</strong> stem change with other spelling changes to preserve pronunciation. This often happens with verbs ending in <strong>-guir</strong> (like

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/seguir/" title="Click to see conjugations for seguir" target="_blank">seguir</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/elegir/" title="Click to see conjugations for elegir" target="_blank">elegir</a>

<ul>

<li>

<div><strong>seguir:</strong> to follow / to continue</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Yo <span class="green_emphasis">sigo</span> las instrucciones. (<span style="font-style: italic">I follow the instructions.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">(Note: The <strong>u</strong> is dropped in the <strong>yo</strong> form, and the <strong>e</strong> changes to <strong>i</strong>.)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>elegir:</strong> to choose</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Yo <span class="green_emphasis">elijo</span> este libro. (<span style="font-style: italic">I choose this book.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">(Note: The <strong>g</strong> changes to <strong>j</strong> in the <strong>yo</strong> form, and the <strong>e</strong> changes to <strong>i</strong>.)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Exceptions</div>

<p>Not all -ir verbs with an <strong>e</strong> in the stem follow this pattern. Many verbs (such as

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/sentir/" title="Click to see conjugations for sentir" target="_blank">sentir</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/pensar/" title="Click to see conjugations for pensar" target="_blank">pensar</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/preferir/" title="Click to see conjugations for preferir" target="_blank">preferir</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/spanish_diphthongization/" target="_blank">e → ie</a>