Stem-changing verbs in Spanish: -ir verbs with e > ie change in the present subjunctive (El Presente de Subjuntivo)

Take the fastest path to fluent Spanish

 

Spanish verbs with stem changing e>ie or o>ue in El Presente have the same irregularity in El Presente de Subjuntivo. There is a vowel change in all forms except the nosotros and vosotros forms.

Learn about Spanish -ir stem-changing verbs with e to i change in El Presente de Subjuntivo

Spanish-ir e>ie verbs are different because they have an e > i vowel change in the first and second person plural (nosotros and vosotros) in El Presente de Subjuntivo.

Have a look at the following table showing three of these e>ie verbs:

  PREFERIR
to prefer
MENTIR
to lie
SENTIR
to feel
 yo prefiera

mienta

sienta

  prefieras

mientas

sientas

él / ella
usted

prefiera

mienta

 

sienta

nosotros 
nosotras
prefiramos

mintamos

sintamos

vosotros 
vosotras
prefiráis

mintáis

sintáis

ellos / ellas
ustedes
prefieran

mientan

sientan

Notice how for all these verbs, the vowel -e- from the infinitive that is closer to the end of the word becomes -i-  in the nosotros and vosotros forms.

Listen to these examples :

Ha dicho eso para que nos sintamos mejor.He said that to make us feel better.

No os sintáis obligados a venir.Don't feel obliged to come.

No mintamos más.Let's not lie any more.

Want to make sure your Spanish sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics

Examples and resources

Yo haré lo que ustedes prefieran.I will do whatever you prefer.
No mintamos más.Let's not lie any more.
Ha dicho eso para que nos sintamos mejor.He said that to make us feel better.
No os sintáis obligados a venir.Don't feel obliged to come.
Thinking...