Stem Change: E → I

The third stem change is e → i. Unlike the other two, it only happens in -ir verbs, and it is easy to recognize once you know which verbs are involved.

How it works

In the present indicative, the stem vowel e becomes i in every form except nosotros. It follows the same boot pattern as e → ie and o → ue.

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The e → i change only happens in -ir verbs. There is no -ar or -er verb in this group. If you see an -ar verb with an e in the stem, it is either regular or changes e → ie, never e → i.

Pedir — to ask for, to order

SubjectConjugation
yopido
túpides
él / ella / ustedpide
nosotros / nosotraspedimos
ellos / ellas / ustedespiden

Yo pido un jugo de naranja.

I'll order an orange juice.

Ella siempre pide ayuda cuando la necesita.

She always asks for help when she needs it.

¿Qué piden los niños para la cena?

What are the kids asking for for dinner?

Common e → i verbs

InfinitiveMeaningYo form
servirto servesirvo
repetirto repeatrepito
seguirto follow, to continuesigo
conseguirto get, to obtainconsigo
vestirto dressvisto
medirto measuremido
reírto laughrío
sonreírto smilesonrío
elegirto chooseelijo
corregirto correctcorrijo

El mesero sirve la comida caliente.

The waiter serves the food hot.

¿Puedes repetir la pregunta?

Can you repeat the question?

Nosotros seguimos las instrucciones.

We follow the instructions.

Spelling quirks

A few verbs in this group have extra spelling adjustments in the yo form on top of the e → i change:

  • seguir → sigo (drops the silent u)
  • conseguir → consigo
  • elegir → elijo (g → j before o)
  • corregir → corrijo

These adjustments exist to preserve the sound of the infinitive. See the -ger / -gir spelling and -guir / -uir spelling pages for more detail.

Yo elijo el vestido azul.

I choose the blue dress.

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Reír and sonreír add a written accent on the í throughout: río, ríes, ríe, reímos, ríen. This protects the two-syllable pronunciation.

Common mistakes

❌ Yo pedo un café.

Wrong: the stem change is e → i, giving pido.

✅ Yo pido un café.

Correct: the e in the stem changes to i in stressed forms.

❌ Nosotros pidimos la cuenta.

Wrong: nosotros does not stem-change in the present.

✅ Nosotros pedimos la cuenta.

Correct: the nosotros form keeps the original e.

❌ Ella serve la comida.

Wrong: the stem vowel must change to i in the third person.

✅ Ella sirve la comida.

Correct: sirve, not serve, in stressed forms.

❌ Yo repeto la pregunta.

Wrong: treating repetir as e → ie instead of e → i.

✅ Yo repito la pregunta.

Correct: repetir follows the e → i pattern, not e → ie.

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