Irregular verb pattern
Stem-changing verbs: e → i
A smaller group of -ir verbs whose stem vowel e changes to i — not just in the present tense but also in the preterite third person and the gerund.
The pattern rule
The stem vowel e changes to i wherever it is stressed, and also in the preterite third person (él/ellos) and the gerund. All e→i verbs are -ir verbs. Unlike e→ie verbs, the change is to a single i, not a diphthong.
Example: pedir (to ask for / to request) — Present
Irregular forms are highlighted in red. Regular forms for comparison are shown in grey where they differ.
| Pronoun | Actual form | Regular would be |
|---|---|---|
| yo | pido* | pedo |
| tú | pides* | pedes |
| él/ella | pide* | pede |
| nosotros | pedimos | ✓ |
| vosotros | pedís | ✓ |
| ellos/ellas | piden* | peden |
Frequently asked questions
What are e to i stem-changing verbs in Spanish?
E to i stem-changing verbs change the stem vowel e to i in stressed forms. They are all -ir verbs. Common examples include pedir (pido), servir (sirvo), seguir (sigo), and repetir (repito). Unlike e→ie verbs, the change only produces a single i.
How are e to i verbs different from e to ie verbs?
E→i verbs are exclusively -ir verbs, while e→ie verbs can be -ar, -er, or -ir. E→i verbs also affect the preterite third person (pidió, pidieron) and the gerund (pidiendo), whereas e→ie verbs are typically only affected in the present tense.
Is seguir an e to i stem-changing verb?
Yes — seguir (to follow/continue) is an e→i verb: sigo, sigues, sigue, seguimos, seguís, siguen. Note that the gu spelling is retained before a and o to preserve the hard g sound.
All 16 e → i verbs — ordered by frequency
Sorted by how commonly each verb appears in everyday Spanish. Start with rank #1 and work down.
Other irregular verb patterns
Practise these verbs with spaced repetition to actually remember them.