Some Spanish -iar verbs in the Spanish present subjunctive take an accent (liar, enviar, criar)

Take the fastest path to fluent Spanish

Learn about Spanish -iar verbs in El Presente de Subjuntivo 

Most verbs that end in -iar in Spanish have a regular conjugation in El Presente de Subjuntivo e.g. cambiar, estudiar, apreciar, copiar. However, a few verbs follow the regular conjugation but also need a written accent in most forms of El Presente de Subjuntivo. Some common verbs that follow this rule are:

  • enviar (to send)
  • liar (to roll/to wrap)
  • criar (to raise/to bring up)
  • fotografiar (to photograph)

Here is how they are conjugated in El Presente de Subjuntivo:

  enviar liar criar fotografiar
yo envíe líe críe fotografíe
envíes líes críes fotografíes
él/ella/usted envíe líe críe fotografíe
nosotros/-as enviemos liemos criemos   fotografiemos
vosotros/-as enviéis lieis crieis fotografiéis
ellos/-as/ustedes envíen líen críen fotografíen

 

Here are some example sentences using these verbs in El Presente de Subjuntivo:

Cuando envíes el paquete, guarda el recibo.When you send the package, keep the receipt. [you = tú]

No lieis así el cigarrillo.Don't roll the cigarette like that. [you = vosotros]

Mi marido quiere que criemos conejos en la granja.My husband wants us to raise rabbits in the farm.

Espero que ella nos fotografíe bien y tengamos unas buenas fotos de la boda.I hope she will photograph us well [take good photos of us] so we have good photos of our wedding.

Cuando líen todos los paquetes, deben ponerlos aquí.When you wrap all the parcels, you must put them here. [you = ustedes]

Have a look at the table below that shows how most regular -iar verbs, (like cambiar and copiar) are conjugated and compare them to the table  above that shows the verbs that need the written accent on nearly all the forms.

  cambiar copiar
yo cambie copie
cambies copies
él/ella/usted cambie copie
nosotros/-as cambiemos copiemos
vosotros/-as cambiéis copiéis
ellos/-as/ustedes cambien copien

No cambies la emisora, que me gusta este programa.Don't [you] change the radio station, I like this program. [you = tú]

Como copiéis en el examen me enfadaré mucho con vosotros.If you copy in the exam I will be very cross with you. [you = vosotros]

Es mejor que nos cambiemos de ropa. Es una fiesta elegante.We'd better change our clothes. It's an elegant party.

Quiero que copies todo ese texto en tu cuaderno.I want you to copy all that text in your notebook. [you = tú]

Here is a list of -iar Spanish verbs that need a written accent in El Presente and El Presente de Subjuntivo 

This irregularity also affects their conjugation in El Presente. For this, see Some Spanish -iar verbs in the present tense take an accent (liar, enviar, criar)

See also:

 

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

Mi marido quiere que criemos conejos en la granja.My husband wants us to raise rabbits in the farm.
Es mejor que nos cambiemos de ropa. Es una fiesta elegante.We'd better change our clothes. It's an elegant party.
Espero que ella nos fotografíe bien y tengamos unas buenas fotos de la boda.I hope she will photograph us well [take good photos of us] so we have good photos of our wedding.
Cuando envíes el paquete, guarda el recibo.When you send the package, keep the receipt. [you = tú]
Quiero que copies todo ese texto en tu cuaderno.I want you to copy all that text in your notebook. [you = tú]
Como copiéis en el examen me enfadaré mucho con vosotros.If you copy in the exam I will be very cross with you. [you = vosotros]
Cuando líen todos los paquetes, deben ponerlos aquí.When you wrap all the parcels, you must put them here. [you = ustedes]
No cambies la emisora, que me gusta este programa.Don't [you] change the radio station, I like this program. [you = tú]
No lieis así el cigarrillo.Don't roll the cigarette like that. [you = vosotros]
Thinking...