Some verbs in the present indicative change their stem during conjugation. They can be grouped into three main categories.
Present Indicative Conjugation
Rule 1. Before diving into the rules regarding the stem-changing verbs, it is important to review quickly the conjugations of the present indicative. Even though the verbs mentioned in this article are irregular in their stem, they still follow the regular conjugation of the present indicative.
- -ar ending verbs
| Subject Pronoun | Present Indicative Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| yo | -o | hablo |
| tú | -as | hablas |
| él, ella, usted | -a | habla |
| nosotros, nosotras | -amos | hablamos |
| vosotros, vosotras | -áis | habláis |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes | -an | hablan |
- -er ending verbs
| Subject Pronouns | Present Indicative Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| yo | -o | como |
| tú | -es | comes |
| él, ella, usted | -e | come |
| vosotros, vosotras | -éis | coméis |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes | -en | comen |
| nosotros, nosotras | -emos | comemos |
- -ir ending verbs
| Subject Pronouns | Present Indicative Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| yo | -o | vivo |
| tú | -es | vives |
| él, ella, usted | -e | vive |
| nosotros, nosotras | -imos | vivimos |
| vosotros, vosotras | -ís | vivís |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes | -en | viven |
First Group: o → ue Change
Rule 2. In some verbs, the o in the stem changes to ue. This is the case with verbs such as dormir, poder, almorzar, volver, encontrar, morir, mostrar and contar. These verbs change their stem in all forms except nosotros(as) and vosotros(as).
| Subject Pronouns | Verb Dormir |
|---|---|
| yo | duermo |
| tú | duermes |
| él, ella, usted | duerme |
| nosotros, nosotras | dormimos |
| vosotros, vosotras | dormís |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes | duermen |
Second Group: e → ie Change
Rule 2. In some verbs, the e in the stem changes to ie. This is the case with verbs such as pensar, cerrar, atravesar, comenzar, empezar, recomendar, sentarse, despertar, querer. These verbs change their stem in all forms except nosotros(as) and vosotros(as).
| Subject Pronouns | Pensar |
|---|---|
| yo | pienso |
| tú | piensas |
| él, ella, usted | piensa |
| nosotros, nosotras | pensamos |
| vosotros, vosotras | pensáis |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes | piensan |
Third Group: e → i Change
Rule 2. In some verbs, the e in the stem changes to i. This is the case with verbs such as pedir, elegir*, reír*, repetir, servir, vestirse. Just like verbs from other groups, these verbs change their stem in all forms except nosotros(as) and vosotros(as).
| Subject Pronouns | Querer |
|---|---|
| yo | quiero |
| tú | quieres |
| él, ella, usted | quiere |
| nosotros, nosotras | queremos |
| vosotros, vosotras | queréis |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes | quieren |
Quiz
1/3Cuando salgas ___________ (cerrar) la puerta.