Stem-Changing Verbs: "E">"I"

Notes:

1. The written lesson is below.
2. 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.

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
repite

repetimos
repetís

repiten

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
vivo

compites
vives

compite
vive

competimos
vivimos

competís
vivís

compiten
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
pide

pedimos
pedís

piden

Here is a list of common e:i stem-changing verbs.

bendecir (*)
to bless

impedir
to impede

colegir
to deduce

maldecir (*)
to curse

competir
to compete

medir
to measure

conseguir
to get, obtain

pedir
to ask for, to order

corregir
to correct

perseguir
to pursue, to persecute

decir (*)
to say, tell

reír
to laugh

despedir
to dismiss, fire

repetir
to repeat

elegir
to elect

seguir
to follow, continue

freír
to fry

servir
to serve

gemir
to groan, moan

sonreír
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
repetís
repiten

(decir (yo digo), despedir, medir, pedir, servir)