The "e to i" Change
We have seen verbs that change from e to ie or o to ue. Another common group of stem-changing verbs in the present tense changes the vowel e to i.
Let's look at the verb pedir (to ask for / to order). Just like the other stem-changing verbs, this change happens for all subjects except nosotros.
| Subject | Pedir (to ask for / to order) |
|---|---|
| yo | pido |
| tú | pides |
| él, ella, usted | pide |
| nosotros | pedimos |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes | piden |
| I order the food and you ask for the menu. | Yo pido la comida y tú pides el menú. |
| You guys order dinner at the restaurant. | Ustedes piden la cena en el restaurante. |
Notice how the nosotros form keeps the original e in the stem, while the other verb — sirve, from servir (to serve), which the next section introduces — makes the change:
| The waiter serves the fish, but we order the chicken. | El mesero sirve el pescado, pero nosotros pedimos el pollo. |
Serving and Repeating
Other common verbs that follow this exact same e to i pattern include servir (to serve) and repetir (to repeat).
| The waiter serves my brother's dish. | El mesero sirve el plato de mi hermano. |
| He repeats the important message. | Él repite el mensaje importante. |
| She serves the meat with rice. | Ella sirve la carne con arroz. |
Dining Out
These verbs are especially useful in a restaurant or hospitality setting when talking about ordering food, asking for utensils, or paying the bill.
| They ask for a fork and a knife. | Ellos piden un tenedor y un cuchillo. |
| They ask for the bill and pay the tip. | Ellos piden la cuenta y pagan la propina. |
| The waiter serves the plate with a fork and a knife. | El mesero sirve el plato con un tenedor y un cuchillo. |
Your questions are stored by us to improve Elon.io