6.1.12
Irregular IR Verbs
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Stem Changing IR Verbs (E → IE)
In Spanish in the present tense some IR verbs change when conjugated. The 'e' in the infinitive becomes 'ie'. This does NOT happen in the 'vosotros' and 'nosotros' forms. Derivatives of these verbs follow the same pattern.

Stem changes (E → IE)
- When conjugated these IR verbs change from their infinitive form.
- The 'e' in the infinitive changes to 'ie' when conjugated.
- E.g. Sentir (to feel) becomes 'siento' (I feel).
- E.g. Siento, sientes, siente, sentimos, sentís, sienten.

Preferir - to prefer
- Prefiero - I prefer.
- Prefieres - you prefer.
- Prefiere - he/she prefers.
- Preferimos - we prefer.
- Preferís - you (plural) prefer.
- Prefieren - they prefer.

Sugerir - to suggest
- Sugiero - I suggest.
- Sugieres - you suggest.
- Sugiere - he/she suggests.
- Sugerimos - we suggest.
- Sugerís - you (plural) suggest.
- Sugieren - they suggest.

Mentir - to lie
- Miento - I lie.
- Mientes - you lie.
- Miente - he/she lies.
- Mentimos - we lie.
- Mentís - you (plural) lie.
- Mienten - they lie.

Advertir - to warn
- Advierto - I warn.
- Adviertes - you warn.
- Advierte - he/she warns.
- Advertimos - we warn.
- Advertís - you (plural) warn.
- Advierten - they warn.

Sentir - to feel
- Siento - I feel.
- Sientes - you feel.
- Siente - he/she feels.
- Sentimos - we feel.
- Sentís - you (plural) feel.
- Sienten - they feel.
Stem Changing IR Verbs (E → I)
In Spanish in the present tense some IR verbs change when conjugated. The 'e' in the infinitive becomes 'i'. This does NOT happen in the 'vosotros' and 'nosotros' forms. The endings follow the usual present tense IR pattern.

Stem changes (E → I)
- When conjugated these IR verbs change from their infinitive form.
- The 'e' in the infinitive changes to 'i' when conjugated.
- E.g. Pedir (to ask) becomes 'pido' (I ask).
- E.g. Pido, pides, pide, pedimos, pedís, piden.

Servir - to serve
- Sirvo - I serve.
- Sirves - you serve.
- Sirve - he/she serves.
- Servimos - we serve.
- Servís - you serve.
- Sirven - they serve.

Repetir - to repeat
- Repito - I repeat.
- Repites - you repeat.
- Repite - he/she repeats.
- Repetimos - we repeat.
- Repetís - you repeat.
- Repiten - they repeat.

Medir - to measure
- Mido - I measure.
- Mides - you measure.
- Mide - he/she measures.
- Medimos - we measure.
- Medís - you measure.
- Miden - they measure.

Seguir - to follow
- Sigo - I follow.
- Sigues - you follow.
- Sigue - he /she follows.
- Seguimos - we follow.
- Seguís - you follow.
- Siguen - they follow.
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Pedir - to ask
- Pido - I ask.
- Pides - you ask.
- Pide - he/she asks.
- Pedimos - we ask.
- Pedís - you ask.
- Piden - they ask.
Stem Changing Verbs (O → UE)
In Spanish in the present tense some IR verbs change when conjugated. The 'o' in the infinitive becomes 'ue'. This does NOT happen in the 'vosotros' and 'nosotros' forms. Derivatives of these verbs follow the same pattern.

Stem changes O → UE
- When conjugated these IR verbs change from their infinitive form.
- The 'o' in the infinitive changes to 'ue' when conjugated.
- E.g. Morir (to die) becomes 'muero' (I die).
- E.g. Muero, mueres, muere, morimos, morís, mueren.

Dormir - to sleep
- Duermo (I sleep).
- Duermes (you sleep).
- Duerme (he/she sleeps).
- Dormimos (we sleep).
- Dormís (you sleep).
- Duermen (they sleep).

Morir - to die
- Muero (I die).
- Mueres (you die).
- Muere (he/she dies).
- Morimos (we die).
- Morís (you die).
- Mueren (they die).
1The Basics
1.1Pronouns
2Current & Future Study & Employment
2.1School & Subjects
2.2School & Subjects - Translations (Foundation)
2.3School & Subjects - Translations (Higher)
2.4Education Post - 16
2.5Education Post - 16 - Translations (Foundation)
2.6Education Post - 16 - Translations (Higher)
3Identity & Culture
3.1Me, My Family & Friends
3.2Me, Family & Friends - Translations (Foundation)
3.3Me, Family & Friends - Translations (Higher)
3.4Technology in Everyday Life
3.5Tech in Everyday Life - Translations (Foundation)
3.6Tech in Everyday Life - Translations (Higher)
3.7Free Time Activities
3.8Free Time Activities - Translations (Foundation)
3.9Free Time Activities - Translations (Higher)
3.10Customs & Festivals in Spanish Speaking Countries
3.11Customs & Festivals - Translations (Foundation)
3.12Customs & Festivals - Translations (Higher)
4Areas of Interest
4.1Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region
4.2Home & Region - Translations (Foundation)
4.3Home & Region - Translations (Higher)
4.4Social Issues
4.5Social Issues - Translations (Foundation)
4.6Social Issues - Translations (Higher)
4.7Global Issues
4.8Global Issues - Translations
4.9Travel & Tourism
4.10Travel & Tourism - Translations
5Listening Practice
5.1Time Expressions - Listening
5.2Me, My Family & Friends - Listening
5.3Technology in Everyday Life - Listening
5.4Free-Time - Listening
5.5Customs & Festivals - Listening
5.6Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region - Listening
5.7Social Issues - Listening
5.8Travel & Tourism - Listening
5.9Education - Listening
5.10Food & Drink - Listening
5.11In the Home - Listening
5.12Colours - Listening
5.13Clothes & Accesories - Listening
5.14Measurements - Listening
5.15Materials - Listening
6Common Tenses
6.1Present Tense
6.2Preterite Tense
6.3Imperfect Tense
6.4Preterite vs Imperfect Tenses
6.5Future Tense
7Important Verbs
7.1To Be - 'Ser' & 'Estar'
7.2To Like - 'Gustar'
7.3To Have - 'Tener'
8Advanced Tenses
8.1The Simple Future
8.2Conditional Tense
8.3Continuous Tenses
8.5Present Subjunctive
8.6Imperfect Subjunctive
9Extra Grammar
9.1Articles
9.2Negatives
9.3Nouns
9.4Asking Questions
9.5Adjectives
9.8Pronouns
9.9By, With, From, Of
9.10Verbs
Jump to other topics
1The Basics
1.1Pronouns
2Current & Future Study & Employment
2.1School & Subjects
2.2School & Subjects - Translations (Foundation)
2.3School & Subjects - Translations (Higher)
2.4Education Post - 16
2.5Education Post - 16 - Translations (Foundation)
2.6Education Post - 16 - Translations (Higher)
3Identity & Culture
3.1Me, My Family & Friends
3.2Me, Family & Friends - Translations (Foundation)
3.3Me, Family & Friends - Translations (Higher)
3.4Technology in Everyday Life
3.5Tech in Everyday Life - Translations (Foundation)
3.6Tech in Everyday Life - Translations (Higher)
3.7Free Time Activities
3.8Free Time Activities - Translations (Foundation)
3.9Free Time Activities - Translations (Higher)
3.10Customs & Festivals in Spanish Speaking Countries
3.11Customs & Festivals - Translations (Foundation)
3.12Customs & Festivals - Translations (Higher)
4Areas of Interest
4.1Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region
4.2Home & Region - Translations (Foundation)
4.3Home & Region - Translations (Higher)
4.4Social Issues
4.5Social Issues - Translations (Foundation)
4.6Social Issues - Translations (Higher)
4.7Global Issues
4.8Global Issues - Translations
4.9Travel & Tourism
4.10Travel & Tourism - Translations
5Listening Practice
5.1Time Expressions - Listening
5.2Me, My Family & Friends - Listening
5.3Technology in Everyday Life - Listening
5.4Free-Time - Listening
5.5Customs & Festivals - Listening
5.6Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region - Listening
5.7Social Issues - Listening
5.8Travel & Tourism - Listening
5.9Education - Listening
5.10Food & Drink - Listening
5.11In the Home - Listening
5.12Colours - Listening
5.13Clothes & Accesories - Listening
5.14Measurements - Listening
5.15Materials - Listening
6Common Tenses
6.1Present Tense
6.2Preterite Tense
6.3Imperfect Tense
6.4Preterite vs Imperfect Tenses
6.5Future Tense
7Important Verbs
7.1To Be - 'Ser' & 'Estar'
7.2To Like - 'Gustar'
7.3To Have - 'Tener'
8Advanced Tenses
8.1The Simple Future
8.2Conditional Tense
8.3Continuous Tenses
8.5Present Subjunctive
8.6Imperfect Subjunctive
9Extra Grammar
9.1Articles
9.2Negatives
9.3Nouns
9.4Asking Questions
9.5Adjectives
9.8Pronouns
9.9By, With, From, Of
9.10Verbs
Practice questions on Irregular IR Verbs
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1How do you say 'they warn' in the present tense in Spanish?Multiple choice
- 2Complete the translations of these present tense verbs:Fill in the list
- 3¿Cómo diríais 'you repeat' en Español?Multiple choice
- 4How do you say 'you measure' in Spanish?Multiple choice
- 5¿Qué significa 'dormimos' en Inglés?Multiple choice
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