Stem changing verbs e to i

1. 4.3 Stem-changing verbs: e → i
ANTE TODO
 You’ve already seen that many verbs in Spanish change
their stem vowel when conjugated.
 There is a third kind of stem-vowel change in some verbs,
such as pedir (to ask for; to request). In these verbs, the
stressed vowel in the stem changes from e to i.
INFINITIVE → VERB STEM → STEM CHANGE → CONJUGATED FORM
pedir ped- pid- pido

2. 4.3 Stem-changing verbs: e → i
 As with other stem-changing verbs you have learned,
there is no stem change in the nosotros/as or
vosotros/as forms in the present tense.
pedir (e:i)
SINGULAR FORMS PLURAL FORMS
yo pido nosotros/as pedimos
tú pides vosotros/as pedís
Ud. / él / ella pide Uds. / ellos / ellas piden

3. 4.3 Stem-changing verbs: e → i
 To help you identify verbs with the e:i stem change,
they will appear as follows throughout the text.
pedir (e:i)
 As you learned in Lección 2, preguntar means to ask a
question. Pedir, however, means to ask for something:
Ella me pregunta cuántos años tengo.
She asks me how old I am.
Él me pide ayuda.
He asks me for help.

4. 4.3 Stem-changing verbs: e → i
 The following are the most common e:i stem-changing verbs:
conseguir to get; to obtain
decir to say; to tell
repetir to repeat
seguir to follow; to continue;
to keep (doing something)
Pido favores cuando es necesario.
I ask for favors when it’s necessary.
Javier dice la verdad.
Javier is telling the truth.
Sigue esperando.
He keeps waiting.
Consiguen ver buenas películas.
They get to see good movies.

5. 4.3 Stem-changing verbs: e → i
¡ATENCIÓN!
 While decir follows the stem-change pattern of e to i, its
yo form is irregular: yo digo.
 You will learn other verbs whose yo forms end in ‒go in
Estructura 4.4. Here are some common expressions
with decir:
decir la verdad to tell the truth
decir mentiras to tell lies
decir que to say that
decir la respuesta to say the answer

6. 4.3 Stem-changing verbs: e → i
 The yo forms of seguir and conseguir have a spelling
change as well as the stem change e  i.
Sigo su plan.
I’m following their plan.
Consigo novelas en la librería.
I get novels at the bookstore.

7. 4.3 Stem-changing verbs: e → i
¡INTÉNTALO! Provide the correct forms of the verbs.
repetir (e:i)
1. Arturo y Eva ____.
2. Yo ____.
3. Nosotros ____.
4. Julia ____.
5. Sofía y yo ____.
6. Tú ____.
1 of 3 

8. 4.3 Stem-changing verbs: e → i
Answer Key
repetir (e:i)
1. Arturo y Eva repiten.
2. Yo repito.
3. Nosotros repetimos.
4. Julia repite.
5. Sofía y yo repetimos.
6. Tú repites.
1 of 3 

9. 4.3 Stem-changing verbs: e → i
¡INTÉNTALO! Provide the correct forms of the verbs.
decir (e:i)
1. Yo ____.
2. Él ____.
3. Tú ____.
4. Usted ____.
5. Ellas ____.
6. Nosotros ____.
 2 of 3 

10. 4.3 Stem-changing verbs: e → i
Answer Key
decir (e:i)
1. Yo digo.
2. Él dice.
3. Tú dices.
4. Usted dice.
5. Ellas dicen.
6. Nosotros decimos.
 2 of 3 

11. 4.3 Stem-changing verbs: e → i
¡INTÉNTALO! Provide the correct forms of the verbs.
seguir (e:i)
1. Yo ____.
2. Nosotros ____.
3. Tú ____.
4. Los chicos ____.
5. Usted ____.
6. Anita ____.
3 of 3

12. 4.3 Stem-changing verbs: e → i
Answer Key
seguir (e:i)
1. Yo sigo.
2. Nosotros seguimos.
3. Tú sigues.
4. Los chicos siguen.
5. Usted sigue.
6. Anita sigue.
3 of 3