Stem-Changing Verbs e → i

Spanish: Verbos con cambio de raíz e → i

Level: A2 Elementary

Category: verbs

Explanation

Some Spanish verbs change the "e" in their stem to an "i" when that syllable is stressed (carries the spoken emphasis). This happens only in the present indicative tense and affects every person except "nosotros" and "vosotros". For example, the verb "pedir" (to ask for/order) becomes "pido", "pides", "pide", "piden", but we say "pedimos" and "pedís" with no change. This pattern is very common with the third-conjugation verbs ending in "-ir", such as "pedir", "servir", "repetir", and "seguir". The reason "nosotros" and "vosotros" keep the original "e" is that in those forms the stress falls on the ending, not on the stem. So the stem stays unstressed and unchanged. Notice that "seguir" has a small spelling adjustment: to keep the hard "g" sound before the "o", the "u" is dropped in the "yo" form, giving "sigo" (not "siguo"). The other forms follow the regular e→i pattern: "sigues", "sigue", "seguimos", "seguís", "siguen". These verbs appear constantly in everyday situations, especially when ordering food, asking for things, or following directions, so mastering them will help you communicate naturally in cafés, restaurants, and shops.

Examples

• Yo pido un café con leche, por favor. - I order a coffee with milk, please.
• El camarero sirve la comida muy rápido. - The waiter serves the food very fast.
• ¿Puedes repetir el precio, por favor? - Can you repeat the price, please?
• Nosotros seguimos el mapa hasta el museo. - We follow the map to the museum.
• Ella pide la llave de la habitación. - She asks for the room key.