When you’re using certain verbs in the present tense, you gotta swap the last e in the root with ie for every form except nosotros/nosotras (and also vos and vosotros/vosotras).
For example, let’s take the verb querer (to want):
Instead of quer, the root becomes quier
How would you like to hear Damián, from Spain, recite this special conjugation just for you? It’s a great way to practice your Spanish listening skills!
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| yo | quiero |
| tú | quieres |
| usted | quiere |
| él ella | quiere |
| nosotros nosotras | queremos |
| ustedes | quieren |
| ellos ellas | quieren |
| vos | querés |
| vosotros vosotras | queréis |
IMPORTANT: Even though the root changes, the endings remain regular. That is, if the verb ends in AR, the endings are the same as for any other verb ending in AR. And the same applies to verbs ending in ER or IR.
Let’s check out some of these verbs! All of them follow the same E-IE pattern!
Get ready to hear Carina, also from Spain, read them aloud especially for you!
| # | Español | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | cerr + ar (cierr) | to close |
| 2 | comenz + ar (comienz) | to begin |
| 3 | defend + er (defiend) | to defend |
| 4 | despert + ar (despiert) | to wake up |
| 5 | empez + ar (empiez) | to start |
| 6 | encend + er (enciend) | to turn on |
| 7 | entend + er (entiend) | to understand |
| 8 | neg + ar (nieg) | to deny |
| 9 | pens + ar (piens) | to think |
| 10 | perd + er (pierd) | to lose |
| 11 | prefer + ir (prefier) | to prefer |
| 12 | quer + er (quier) | to want |
| 13 | sembr + ar (siembr) | to sow |
The Verb “Tener” (To Have)
If you wanna ace Spanish, you gotta know the verb tener. It doesn’t just follow this pattern, but there’s also a special irregularity when you use it with yo.
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| yo | tengo |
| tú | tienes |
| usted | tiene |
| él ella | tiene |
| nosotros nosotras | tenemos |
| ustedes | tienen |
| ellos ellas | tienen |
| vos | tenés |
| vosotros vosotras | tenéis |
The Verb “Venir” (To Come)
The verb venir also follows this rule and has a special irregularity with yo:
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| yo | vengo |
| tú | vienes |
| usted | viene |
| él ella | viene |
| nosotros nosotras | venimos |
| ustedes | vienen |
| ellos ellas | vienen |
| vos | venís |
| vosotros vosotras | venís |
