Question 1

Why is it pido and pides instead of "pedo" and "pedes"?

Accepted Answer

Pedir (to ask for / to order) is a stem-changing verb. In the present tense, the e in the root of the word changes to an i for most people (I, you, he/she/it, they). So, yo pido is "I order" and tú pides is "you order". The only exception you will use regularly is the "we" form, which keeps the original e (pedimos).

Question 2

Why is there no Spanish word for "for" in "you ask for the menu"?

Accepted Answer

The verb pedir has "for" built right into its meaning. It translates perfectly to "to ask for" or "to request." English speakers often try to add a word like por or para after it, but in Spanish, you just connect the verb directly to the thing you want: pides el menú.

Question 3

How do I know whether pedir means "to order" or "to ask for"?

Accepted Answer

It depends entirely on the context! In a restaurant, requesting food is "ordering" (pedir la comida), while requesting the physical menu is just "asking for" it (pedir el menú). Spanish uses the same verb because both are simply requests.

Question 4

Do I have to include the words yo and tú in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Not strictly! You could just say pido la comida y pides el menú because the verb endings already tell us who is doing the action. However, keeping yo and tú is very common when you want to emphasize a contrast, like saying "I will handle this part, and you handle that part."

Yo pido la comida y tú pides el menú.

Breakdown of Yo pido la comida y tú pides el menú.

Questions & Answers about Yo pido la comida y tú pides el menú.

Learn Yo pido la comida y tú pides el menú and more in Spanish