Stem-Changing Verbs: "E">"I"
Notes:
- The written lesson is below.
- Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.
Remember, there are three types of infinitives: -ar, -er, -ir. Infinitives are made up of two parts: the ending and the stem. In the following examples, the stem is underlined and the ending is in bold.
hablar
comer
vivir
With regular verbs, the stem stays the same, and the ending changes as they are conjugated.
hablo | como | vivo |
hablas | comes | vives |
habla | come | vive |
hablamos | comemos | vivimos |
hablá¾±²õ | comé¾±²õ | vivòõ |
hablan | comen | viven |
With some verbs, the stem also changes when you conjugate them. In the present tense, there are three groups of stem-changing verbs:
o:ue
e:ie
e:i
With the third group of stem-changing verbs, the letter e in the stem changes to i in all forms except the nosotros and vosotros.
repetir
repito
repites
repiterepetimos
repetòõrepiten
Here’s another e:i stem changing verb. Compare it to the regular verb vivir. Notice that the endings are the same for regular verbs and stem-changing verbs.
competir (e:i)
vivir (regular -ir verb)
compito
vivocompites
vivescompite
vivecompetimos
vivimoscompetòõ
vivòõcompiten
viven
Here’s another e:i stem-changing verb. Notice how the stem doesn’t change in the nosotros and vosotros forms.
pedir (e:i)
pido
pides
pidepedimos
pedòõpiden
Here is a list of common e:i stem-changing verbs.
bendecir (*)
to blessimpedir
to impedecolegir
to deducemaldecir (*)
to cursecompetir
to competemedir
to measureconseguir
to get, obtainpedir
to ask for, to ordercorregir
to correctperseguir
to pursue, to persecutedecir (*)
to say, tell°ù±ððù
to laughdespedir
to dismiss, firerepetir
to repeatelegir
to electseguir
to follow, continuef°ù±ððù
to fryservir
to servegemir
to groan, moanson°ù±ððù
to smile
* Note: The verb “decir” and its derivative forms are irregular in the first person: yo digo, etc.
Let’s add a flashcard for e:i stem-changers:
Verb Flashcards
Complete List
e:i stem-changers (repetir)
repito
repites
repite
repetimos
repetòõ
repiten(decir (yo digo), despedir, medir, pedir, servir)