Stem-changing subjunctive (-ir)

Stem-changing -ir verbs in the subjunctive

In the present subjunctive, stem-changing -ir verbs have a special quirk. Unlike -ar and -er verbs, they undergo a stem change in the nosotros and vosotros forms.

There are three patterns:

Verbs with e -> ie / i changes

Verbs like sugerir (to suggest), advertir (to warn), and preferir (to prefer) change e to ie in most forms. For nosotros and vosotros, the e changes to i.

SubjectSugerir (e -> ie / i)
yosugiera
túsugieras
él/ella/ustedsugiera
nosotros/assugiramos
vosotros/assugiráis
ellos/ellas/ustedessugieran
I want the boss to suggest a strict rule.
Quiero que el jefe sugiera una norma estricta.
It is probable that we suggest a different dessert for dinner.
Es probable que sugiramos un postre distinto para la cena.
I advise you to always warn the children about the danger.
Te aconsejo que siempre adviertas del peligro a los niños.
Hopefully you all warn us if your mother is very strict.
Ojalá nos advirtáis si vuestra madre es muy estricta.

Verbs with e -> i changes

For verbs like medir (to measure), reír (to laugh), and pedir (to ask for), the e in the stem changes to i in all forms, including nosotros and vosotros.

SubjectMedir (e -> i)
yomida
túmidas
él/ella/ustedmida
nosotros/asmidamos
vosotros/asmidáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesmidan
I demand that she measure the window of the bedroom.
Exijo que ella mida la ventana del dormitorio.
Hopefully we measure the exact centimeters of this table.
Ojalá midamos los centímetros exactos de esta mesa.
The doctor wants us to ask for a strict diet.
El médico quiere que pidamos una dieta estricta.

Verbs with o -> ue / u changes

Verbs like dormir (to sleep) change o to ue in most forms. For nosotros and vosotros, the o changes to u.

SubjectDormir (o -> ue / u)
yoduerma
túduermas
él/ella/ustedduerma
nosotros/asdurmamos
vosotros/asdurmáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesduerman
Hopefully we sleep well tonight, I almost never rest.
Ojalá durmamos bien esta noche, casi nunca descanso.
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