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The main form of the verb is called the infinitive. The infinitive consists of two parts: the ending and the stem. The ending is the last two letters. There are only three different endings: -ar, -er, and -ir. The stem is everything else, except the ending.

hablar: ending = ar, stem = habl
comer: ending = er, stem = com
vivir: ending = ir, stem =viv

Some spanish verbs are called stem-changers because when they are conjugated, the stem changes in a predictable way. In one group of stem-changing verbs, the letter e in the stem changes to i in all but the nosotros and vosotros forms. This particular type of stem-changing verb is found only in -ir verbs.

pedir

yo pido
tú pides
él, ella, Ud. pide

nosotros/as pedimos
vosotros/as pedís

ellos, ellas, Uds. piden

For a more complete discussion of verbs that change e:i click here.

Here are some common e:i stem-changing verbs.

competir
to compete

concebir
to conceive

despedir
to fire

impedir
to impede

medir
to measure

pedir
to ask for

°ù±ðñ¾±°ù
to scold, quarrel

repetir
to repeat

servir
to serve

³Ù±ðñ¾±°ù
to color, dye, stain

vestir
to dress