Conjugate stem-changing (e > ie) -er verbs in the present tense in Spanish (El Presente)

Written by qualified Spanish expert Ana Matilla MA, BA

Last updated: 2023-12-01

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There are some common Spanish verbs that are stem-changing where the -e becomes -ie in some forms in the present tense.

Learn how to conjugate -er stem-changing verbs in El Presente in Spanish

A number of common Spanish verbs (perder, defender, encender) ending in -er are stem-changing semi-regular in El Presente because the stem changes for some forms:

	PERDER to lose	DEFENDER to defend	ENCENDER to switch on
yo	pierdo	defiendo	enciendo
tú	pierdes	defiendes	enciendes
él / ella / usted	pierde	defiende	enciende
nosotros / nosotras	perdemos	defendemos	encendemos
vosotros / vosotras	perdéis	defendéis	encendéis
ellos / ellas / ustedes	pierden	defienden	encienden

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 nunca pierdo la paciencia.I never lose my patience.

Tú defiendes a tu hermana de todos los peligros.You defend your sister from anything dangererous.

Ella enciende la radio todas las mañanas.She turns on the radio every morning.

Nosotros defendemos nuestras ideas.We defend our ideas.

Vosotros a veces perdéis el autobús.You sometimes miss the bus.

Ellos encienden las velas de la tarta.They light the candles on the cake.

Ustedes defienden su teoría muy bien.You defend your theory very well.

Useful verbs that also follow this pattern are querer (to want) and entender (to understand). You can practise them here:

For more verbs that follow this pattern, see:

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