A number of common Spanish verbs (calentar, cerrar, comenzar, empezar, recomendar, sentarse) ending in ‑ar are semi-regular in El Presente because their stems change in some forms:
| CERRAR to close |
EMPEZAR to start |
RECOMENDAR to recommend |
|
| yo | cierro | empiezo | recomiendo |
| tú | cierras | empiezas | recomiendas |
|
él / ella / usted |
cierra | empieza | recomienda |
| nosotros / nosotras | cerramos | empezamos | recomendamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | cerráis | empezáis | recomendáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | cierran | empiezan | recomiendan |
Notice how the vowel -e- in the stem that is closer to the end of the word becomes-ie- except for the nosotros and vosotros forms.
Look at and listen to these examples:
Yo caliento las lentejas en la olla.
I heat the lentils in the pot.
Tú cierras siempre todo con llave.
You always lock everything.
Ella comienza las clases el próximo lunes.
She starts classes next Monday.
Nosotros comenzamos a practicar yoga hoy.
We start practicing yoga today.
¿Vosotras nos recomendáis este spa?
Do you recommend this spa?
Ellos se sientan juntos en el sofá.
They sit together on the couch.
Conjugate semi-regular pensar in El Presente (present tense)
See also:
- List of Common Spanish stem-changing (e > ie) verbs in the present tense
- Comprehensive List of Spanish stem-changing (e > ie) verbs in the present tense
Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics
Examples and resources
Yo caliento las lentejas en la olla.
I heat the lentils in the pot.
Nosotros comenzamos a practicar yoga hoy.
We start practicing yoga today.
Ellos se sientan juntos en el sofá.
They sit together on the couch.
Ella comienza las clases el próximo lunes.
She starts classes next Monday.
Tú cierras siempre todo con llave.
You always lock everything.
¿Vosotras nos recomendáis este spa?
Do you recommend this spa?
Q&A Forum 1 question, 1 answer
Why is the reflexive verb Te and the conjugated verb nosotros?
Hola Joseph
This "te" in "Te recomendamos que salgas con tiempo pues hay mucho atasco." (We recommend that you leave early because there is a lot of traffic.) is not a reflexive pronoun, it is an indirect object pronoun. It means "to you".
By using this other English translation "We recommend you to leave early because there is a lot of traffic, you will probably see it more clearly.
I hope this helps.
Un saludo
Inma
Why is the reflexive verb Te and the conjugated verb nosotros?
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