Spanish conjugation explanation
Stress mark on i
<p>In Spanish, whenever a <strong>stressed <span style="font-style: italic;">i</span></strong> follows a <strong>strong vowel</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">a</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">e</span>, or <span style="font-style: italic;">o</span>), we must place a <strong>stress mark</strong> (acute accent) on the <span style="font-style: italic;">i</span>.</p>
<p>This accent mark is necessary to show that the <span style="font-style: italic;">i</span> forms its own syllable and does not merge with the previous vowel to form a diphthong.</p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Affected Verbs</div>
<p>This rule applies to verbs where the stem ends in <span style="font-style: italic;">a</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">e</span>, or <span style="font-style: italic;">o</span>. Common examples include:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/caer/" title="Click to see conjugations for caer" target="_blank">caer</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to fall</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/creer/" title="Click to see conjugations for creer" target="_blank">creer</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to believe</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/leer/" title="Click to see conjugations for leer" target="_blank">leer</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to read</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/o%C3%ADr/" title="Click to see conjugations for oír" target="_blank">oír</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to hear</span>)</li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/traer/" title="Click to see conjugations for traer" target="_blank">traer</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to bring</span>)</li></ul>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">1. Past Participles</div>
<p>The <strong>Past Participle</strong> of these verbs always carries an accent on the <span style="font-style: italic;">i</span> of the ending <span style="font-style: italic;">-ido</span>, because the stem vowel is strong.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/caer/" title="Click to see conjugations for caer" target="_blank">caer</a>
→ <span class="green_emphasis">caído</span></li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/leer/" title="Click to see conjugations for leer" target="_blank">leer</a>
→ <span class="green_emphasis">leído</span></li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/o%C3%ADr/" title="Click to see conjugations for oír" target="_blank">oír</a>
→ <span class="green_emphasis">oído</span></li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/traer/" title="Click to see conjugations for traer" target="_blank">traer</a>
→ <span class="green_emphasis">traído</span></li></ul>
<p>Here is
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/caer/" title="Click to see conjugations for caer" target="_blank">caer</a>
in the Past Participle:</p><div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/24/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Participio pasivo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_compound_conjugation conjugations_table single_form">
<div class="data_compound_conjugations_form conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form"></span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">caído<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">2. The Preterite</div>
<p>In the
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/18/" target="_blank">Preterite</a>
, the accent is needed on the <span style="font-style: italic;">yo</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">tú</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">nosotros</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic;">vosotros</span> forms. This ensures the emphasis remains on the ending.</p><p>Note: The third-person forms (singular and plural) use a different rule (
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/spanish_i_to_y/" target="_blank">i becomes y</a>
) and do not take this accent.</p><p>Here is
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/creer/" title="Click to see conjugations for creer" target="_blank">creer</a>
in the Preterite:</p><div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/18/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Pretérito perfecto simple</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>creí
</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">creíste<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
él
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">creyó<span class="irregularity_circle">●</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">
nosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">creímos<span class="irregularity_circle">●</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">
vosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">creísteis<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ellos
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">creyeron<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">3. Special Case: -ir Verbs</div>
<p>For <strong>-ir</strong> verbs like
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/o%C3%ADr/" title="Click to see conjugations for oír" target="_blank">oír</a>
or<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/re%C3%ADr/" title="Click to see conjugations for reír" target="_blank">reír</a>
, this rule extends even further because the stress naturally falls on the <span style="font-style: italic;">i</span> in more forms.</p><p><strong>Infinitive:</strong> Unlike <span style="font-style: italic;">-er</span> verbs, <span style="font-style: italic;">-ir</span> verbs with a vowel stem carry an accent in the infinitive to separate the vowels (e.g., <span class="green_emphasis">oír</span>, <span class="green_emphasis">reír</span>, <span class="green_emphasis">sonreír</span>, <span class="green_emphasis">freír</span>).</p>
<p><strong>Present Indicative:</strong> The <span style="font-style: italic;">nosotros</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">vosotros</span> forms require an accent.</p>
<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">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
yo
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oigo<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
tú
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oyes<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
él
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oye<span class="irregularity_circle">●</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">
nosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oímos<span class="irregularity_circle">●</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">
vosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oís<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ellos
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oyen<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p><strong>Imperative:</strong> The <span style="font-style: italic;">vosotros</span> command also requires the accent.</p>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/22/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Imperativo afirmativo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">---</span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(tú)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oye<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(usted)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oiga<span class="irregularity_circle">●</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><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oigamos<span class="irregularity_circle">●</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">
(vosotros)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oíd<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
(ustedes)
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oigan<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Why do we need this accent?</div>
<p>In Spanish phonetics, vowels are divided into <strong>strong</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">a, e, o</span>) and <strong>weak</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">i, u</span>).</p>
<p>When a weak vowel meets a strong vowel, they automatically combine to form a single syllable called a <strong>diphthong</strong>. In a diphthong, the emphasis naturally falls on the strong vowel (e.g., <span style="font-style: italic;">baile</span> is pronounced <em>bai-le</em>).</p>
<p>However, in the conjugations above, we want to stress the <span style="font-style: italic;">i</span>. To force the <strong>weak i</strong> to stand apart from the <strong>strong vowel</strong> and carry the stress itself (creating a <strong>hiatus</strong>), we must mark it with an acute accent.</p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">cr<span class="green_emphasis">e</span><span class="green_emphasis">í</span> → pronounced <span style="font-style: italic;">cre-í</span> (two syllables)</div>