Spanish Verb Conjugation: Present Tense: E to IE Stem-Changing Verbs

AR	cerrar	to close	schließen, zumachen
	comenzar	to begin, commence	beginnen, anfangen
	pensar	to think	denken
ER	defender	to defend	schützen, verteidigen
	entender	to understand, comprehend	verstehen, kapieren
	tender	to spread, extend, stretch out	ausbreiten
IR	convertir	to convert	umwandeln, bekehren
	hervir	to boil	kochen
	preferir	to prefer	vorziehen, bevorzugen

In some forms the -e nearest the end of the stem becomes an -ie.

Drop the -ar, the -er, or the -ir: That's the stem !!

To see the present tense conjugated forms of these verbs, click on a pronoun below:

The nosotros & vosotros forms do not require the stem change in the present tense.

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: Stem-changing verbs: E -> IE

Yo form

To make this form, drop the -ar, -er, or -ir.

Look for the E nearest the end of the stem, and change it to IE.

Add the normal ending for present tense conjugation.

This is important to realize, because the present tense yo form is the basis for forming present subjunctive forms.

AR					deutsch
cerrar	cierro	I close	I do close	I'm closing	ich schließe
comenzar	comienzo	I start, begin	I do start, begin	I'm starting, beginning	ich fange an
pensar	pienso	I think	I do think	I'm thinking	ich denke

ER
defender	defiendo	I defend	I do defend	I'm defending	ich verteidige
entender	entiendo	I understand	I do understand	I'm understanding	ich kapiere
tender	tiendo	I spread out	I do spread out	I'm spreading out	ich breite aus

IR
convertir	convierto	I convert	I do convert	I'm converting	ich bekehre
hervir	hiervo	I boil	I do boil	I'm boiling	ich koche
preferir	prefiero	I prefer	I do prefer	I'm preferring	ich ziehe vor

What do they have in common now ?

The stem (verb minus AR, ER or IR) tells you the action.

Using the -o ending says I am doing this action, and it's going on NOW.

Each verb form in Spanish matches a specific pronoun, so Spanish doesn't need to use the pronoun.

That means: each of the conjugated forms you see says ALL of the given "meaning."

The YO is understood, because of the ending.

You don't need to say YO. If you do add the YO, it usually adds emphasis, saying I dooo ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: Stem-changing verbs: E -> IE

Tú form

To make this form, drop the -ar, -er, or -ir.

Look for the E nearest the end of the stem, and change it to IE.

Add the normal ending for present tense conjugation.

This is important to realize, because the present tense yo form is the basis for forming present subjunctive forms.

AR					deutsch
cerrar	cierras	you close	you do close	you're closing	du schließt
comenzar	comienzas	you start, begin	you do start, begin	you're starting, beginning	du fängst an
pensar	piensas	you think	you do think	you're thinking	du denkst

ER
defender	defiendes	you defend	you do defend	you're defending	du verteidigst
entender	entiendes	you understand	you do understand	you're understanding	du kapierst
tender	tiendes	you spread out	you do spread out	you're spreading out	du breitest aus

IR
convertir	conviertes	you convert	you do convert	you're converting	du bekehrst
hervir	hierves	you boil	you do boil	you're boiling	du kochst
preferir	prefieres	you prefer	you do prefer	you're preferring	du ziehst vor

What do they have in common now ?

The stem (verb minus AR, ER or IR) tells you the action.

Using the -as or -es ending says you are doing this action, and it's going on NOW.

Each verb form in Spanish matches a specific pronoun, so Spanish doesn't need to use the pronoun.

That means: each of the conjugated forms you see says ALL of the given "meaning."

The TÚ is understood, because of the ending.

You don't need to say TÚ. If you do add the TÚ, it usually adds emphasis, saying you dooo ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: Stem-changing verbs: E -> IE

Él form

To make this form, drop the -ar, -er, or -ir.

Look for the E nearest the end of the stem, and change it to IE.

Add the normal ending for present tense conjugation.

This is important to realize, because the present tense yo form is the basis for forming present subjunctive forms.

AR					deutsch
cerrar	cierra	he closes	he does close	he's closing	er schließt
comenzar	comienza	he starts, begins	he does start, begin	he's starting, beginning	er fängt an
pensar	piensa	he thinks	he does think	he's thinking	er denkt

ER
defender	defiende	he defends	he does defend	he's defending	er verteidigt
entender	entiende	he understands	he does understand	he's understanding	er kapiert
tender	tiende	he spreads out	he does spread out	he's spreading out	er breitet aus

IR
convertir	convierte	he converts	he does convert	he's converting	er bekehrt
hervir	hierve	he boils	he does boil	he's boiling	er kocht
preferir	prefiere	he prefers	he does prefer	he's preferring	er zieht vor

What do they have in common now ?

The stem (verb minus AR, ER or IR) tells the action.

Using the -a or -e ending says he is doing this action, and it's going on NOW.

Each verb form in Spanish matches a specific pronoun, so Spanish doesn't need to use the pronoun.

That means: each of the conjugated forms you see says ALL of the given "meaning."

The ÉL is understood, because of the ending.

You don't need to say ÉL. If you do add the ÉL, it usually adds emphasis, saying he doooes ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: Stem-changing verbs: E -> IE

Ella form

To make this form, drop the -ar, -er, or -ir.

Look for the E nearest the end of the stem, and change it to IE.

Add the normal ending for present tense conjugation.

This is important to realize, because the present tense yo form is the basis for forming present subjunctive forms.

AR					deutsch
cerrar	cierra	she closes	she does close	she's closing	sie schließt
comenzar	comienza	she starts, begins	she does start, begin	she's starting, beginning	sie fängt an
pensar	piensa	she thinks	she does think	she's thinking	sie denkt

ER
defender	defiende	she defends	she does defend	she's defending	sie verteidigt
entender	entiende	she understands	she does understand	she's understanding	sie kapiert
tender	tiende	she spreads out	she does spread out	she's spreading out	sie breitet aus

IR
convertir	convierte	she converts	she does convert	she's converting	sie bekehrt
hervir	hierve	she boils	she does boil	she's boiling	sie kocht
preferir	prefiere	she prefers	she does prefer	she's preferring	sie zieht vor

What do they have in common now ?

The stem (verb minus AR, ER or IR) tells the action.

Using the -a or -e ending says she is doing this action, and it's going on NOW.

Each verb form in Spanish matches a specific pronoun, so Spanish doesn't need to use the pronoun.

That means: each of the conjugated forms you see says ALL of the given "meaning."

The ELLA is understood, because of the ending.

You don't need to say ELLA. If you do add the ELLA, it usually adds emphasis, saying she doooes ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: Stem-changing verbs: E -> IE

Usted form

To make this form, drop the -ar, -er, or -ir.

Look for the E nearest the end of the stem, and change it to IE.

Add the normal ending for present tense conjugation.

This is important to realize, because the present tense yo form is the basis for forming present subjunctive forms.

AR					deutsch
cerrar	cierra	you close	you do close	you´re closing	Sie schließen
comenzar	comienza	you start, begin	you do start, begin	you´re starting, beginning	Sie fangen an
pensar	piensa	you think	you do think	you´re thinking	Sie denken

ER
defender	defiende	you defend	you do defend	you´re defending	Sie verteidigen
entender	entiende	you understand	you do understand	you´re understanding	Sie kapieren
tender	tiende	you spread out	you do spread out	you´re spreading out	Sie breiten aus

IR
convertir	convierte	you convert	you do convert	you´re converting	Sie bekehren
yourvir	hierve	you boil	you do boil	you´re boiling	Sie kochen
preferir	prefiere	you prefer	you do prefer	you´re preferring	Sie ziehen vor

What do they have in common now ?

The stem (verb minus AR, ER or IR) tells the action.

Using the -a or -e ending says a You is doing this action, and it's going on NOW.

Each verb form in Spanish matches a specific pronoun, so Spanish doesn't need to use the pronoun.

That means: each of the conjugated forms you see says ALL of the given "meaning."

The USTED is understood, because of the ending.

You don't need to say USTED. If you do add the USTED, it usually adds emphasis, saying You dooo ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: Stem-changing verbs: E -> IE

Nosotros & Nosotras form

To make this form, drop the -ar, -er, or -ir.

This is important to realize, because the present tense form is the basis for forming present subjunctive forms.

The nosotros form of these verbs is not affected, and follows the normal pattern for -ar verb conjugation.

AR					deutsch
cerrar	cerramos	we close	we do close	we're closing	wir schließen
comenzar	comenzamos	we start, begin	we do start, begin	we're starting, beginning	wir fangen an
pensar	pensamos	we think	we do think	we're thinking	wir denken

The nosotros form of these verbs is not affected, and follows the normal pattern for -er verb conjugation.

ER
defender	defendemos	we defend	we do defend	we're defending	wir verteidigen
entender	entendemos	we understand	we do understand	we're understanding	wir kapieren
tender	tendemos	we spread out	we do spread out	we're spreading out	wir breiten aus

The nosotros form of these verbs is not affected, and follows the normal pattern for -ir verb conjugation.

IR
convertir	convertimos	we convert	we do convert	we're converting	wir bekehren
hervir	hervimos	we boil	we do boil	we're boiling	wir kochen
preferir	preferimos	we prefer	we do prefer	we're preferring	wir ziehen vor

The stem (verb minus AR, ER or IR) tells you the action.

Using the -mos ending says we are doing this action, and it's going on NOW.

Each verb form in Spanish matches a specific pronoun, so Spanish doesn't need to use the pronoun.

That means: each of the conjugated forms you see says ALL of the given "meaning."

The NOSOTROS is understood, because of the ending.

You don't need to say NOSOTROS. If you do add the NOSOTROS, it usually adds emphasis, saying we dooo ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: Stem-changing verbs: E -> IE

Vosotros & Vosotras form

To make this form, drop the -ar, -er, or -ir.

This is important to realize, because the present tense form is the basis for forming present subjunctive forms.

AR					deutsch
cerrar	cerráis	y'all close	y'all do close	y'all are closing	ihr schließt
comenzar	comenzáis	y'all start, begin	y'all do start, begin	y'all are starting, beginning	ihr fangt an
pensar	pensáis	y'all think	y'all do think	y'all are thinking	ihr denkt

The vosotros form of these verbs is not affected, and follows the normal pattern for -ar verb conjugation.

ER
defender	defendéis	y'all defend	y'all do defend	y'all are defending	ihr verteidigt
entender	entendéis	y'all understand	y'all do understand	y'all are understanding	ihr kapiert
tender	tendéis	y'all spread out	y'all do spread out	y'all are spreading out	ihr breitet aus

The vosotros form of these verbs is not affected, and follows the normal pattern for -er verb conjugation.

IR
convertir	convertís	y'all convert	y'all do convert	y'all are converting	ihr bekehrt
hervir	hervís	y'all boil	y'all do boil	y'all are boiling	ihr kocht
preferir	preferís	y'all prefer	y'all do prefer	y'all are preferring	ihr zieht vor

The vosotros form of these verbs is not affected, and follows the normal pattern for -ir verb conjugation.

The stem (verb minus AR, ER or IR) tells you the action.

Using the -áis, -éis, or -ís ending says y'all are doing this action, and it's going on NOW.

Each verb form in Spanish matches a specific pronoun, so Spanish doesn't need to use the pronoun.

That means: each of the conjugated forms you see says ALL of the given "meaning."

The VOSOTROS is understood, because of the ending.

You don't need to say VOSOTROS. If you do add the VOSOTROS, it usually adds emphasis, saying y'all dooo ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: Stem-changing verbs: E -> IE

Ellos form

To make this form, drop the -ar, -er, or -ir.

Look for the E nearest the end of the stem, and change it to IE.

Add the normal ending for present tense conjugation.

This is important to realize, because the present tense yo form is the basis for forming present subjunctive forms.

AR					deutsch
cerrar	cierran	they close	they do close	they're closing	sie schließen
comenzar	comienzan	they start, begin	they do start, begin	they're starting, beginning	sie fangen an
pensar	piensan	they think	they do think	they're thinking	sie denken

ER
defender	defienden	they defend	they do defend	they're defending	sie verteidigen
entender	entienden	they understand	they do understand	they're understanding	sie kapieren
tender	tienden	they spread out	they do spread out	they're spreading out	sie breiten aus

IR
convertir	convierten	they convert	they do convert	they're converting	sie bekehren
hervir	hierven	they boil	they do boil	they're boiling	sie kochen
preferir	prefieren	they prefer	they do prefer	they're preferring	sie ziehen vor

What do they have in common now ?

The stem (verb minus AR, ER or IR) tells the action.

Using the -an or -en ending says they are doing this action, and it's going on NOW.

This form of the verb is valid for Ellos, Ellas, and Ustedes.

That means: You should probably cover your bases and include the Ellos to communicate concerning a mixed-gender or specifically masculine group.

The Ellos is then understood in your continued conversation, because of the ending.

You don't need to say ellos over and over again. If you do add the ellos, it usually adds emphasis, saying they dooo ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: Stem-changing verbs: E -> IE

Ellas form

To make this form, drop the -ar, -er, or -ir.

Look for the E nearest the end of the stem, and change it to IE.

Add the normal ending for present tense conjugation.

This is important to realize, because the present tense yo form is the basis for forming present subjunctive forms.

AR					deutsch
cerrar	cierran	they close	they do close	they're closing	sie schließen
comenzar	comienzan	they start, begin	they do start, begin	they're starting, beginning	sie fangen an
pensar	piensan	they think	they do think	they're thinking	sie denken

ER
defender	defienden	they defend	they do defend	they're defending	sie verteidigen
entender	entienden	they understand	they do understand	they're understanding	sie kapieren
tender	tienden	they spread out	they do spread out	they're spreading out	sie breiten aus

IR
convertir	convierten	they convert	they do convert	they're converting	sie bekehren
hervir	hierven	they boil	they do boil	they're boiling	sie kochen
preferir	prefieren	they prefer	they do prefer	they're preferring	sie ziehen vor

What do they have in common now ?

The stem (verb minus AR, ER or IR) tells the action.

Using the -an or -en ending says they are doing this action, and it's going on NOW.

This form of the verb is valid for Ellos, Ellas, and Ustedes.

That means: You should probably cover your bases and include the Ellas to communicate concerning a specifically feminine group.

The Ellas is then understood in your continued conversation, because of the ending.

You don't need to say ellas over and over again. If you do add the ellas, it usually adds emphasis, saying they dooo ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES

Present tense: Stem-changing verbs: E -> IE

Ustedes form

To make this form, drop the -ar, -er, or -ir.

Look for the E nearest the end of the stem, and change it to IE.

Add the normal ending for present tense conjugation.

This is important to realize, because the present tense yo form is the basis for forming present subjunctive forms.

AR					deutsch
cerrar	cierran	y'all close	y'all do close	y'all are closing	Sie schließen
comenzar	comienzan	y'all start, begin	y'all do start, begin	y'all are starting, beginning	Sie fangen an
pensar	piensan	y'all think	y'all do think	y'all are thinking	Sie denken

ER
defender	defienden	y'all defend	y'all do defend	y'all are defending	Sie verteidigen
entender	entienden	y'all understand	y'all do understand	y'all are understanding	Sie kapieren
tender	tienden	y'all spread out	y'all do spread out	y'all are spreading out	Sie breiten aus

IR
convertir	convierten	y'all convert	y'all do convert	y'all are converting	Sie bekehren
hervir	hierven	y'all boil	y'all do boil	y'all are boiling	Sie kochen
preferir	prefieren	y'all prefer	y'all do prefer	y'all are preferring	Sie ziehen vor

What do they have in common now ?

The stem (verb minus AR, ER or IR) tells the action.

Using the -an or -en ending says you are doing this action, and it's going on NOW.

This form of the verb is valid for Ellos, Ellas, and Ustedes.

That means: You should probably cover your bases and include the Ustedes to address a group of "Y'all," - and when you've got their attention, just leave the pronoun off.

The USTEDES is then understood in your continued conversation, because of the ending.

You don't need to say USTEDES over and over again. If you do add the USTEDES, it usually adds emphasis, saying Y'ALL dooo ...

A look at other forms:

YO	TÚ	ÉL	ELLA	USTED
NOSOTROS	VOSOTROS	ELLOS	ELLAS	USTEDES