Irregular Verbs in Present Tense (Part 3)

In this topic we will we will learn and practice using more Irregular Spanish Verbs in Present Tense.

The majority of Spanish verbs in Present Tense are Regular Verbs. ‘Regular’ signifies that such verbs follow the same pattern and are conjugated (endings changed) in the same way. We learned the conjugation rules for Regular Verbs earlier in the course. This is great, but unfortunately there are also Irregular Spanish Verbs in Present Tense.

Irregular verbs do not follow the same one-size-fits-all, easy-to-learn patterns as the Regular verbs. With Irregular verbs you have to remember each specific conjugation. There are Irregular verbs in every tense (present, past, future, etc). In this topic we will look specifically at Irregular Spanish Verbs in Present Tense.

With Irregular Verbs it is helpful to group them into five categories. Each category is a collection of similarly Irregular Verbs that follow the same conjugation pattern. In this topic we will analyse the second of these categories.

Irregular Spanish verbs in the present tense that change E to I

All of these verbs follow the same pattern of switching E to I for all persons except Nosotros/as and Vosotros/as when conjugated in Present Tense.

Pedir: To ask for/To order
Servir: To serve
Vestirse: To get dressed
Reír: To laugh
Freír: To fry

Let’s look more closely at one of these verbs…

Pedir (To ask for/To order)

(Yo) pido: I ask for
(Tú) pides: You ask for (informal)
(Usted) pide: You ask for (formal)
(Él/ella) pide: He/She asks for
(Nosotros/as) pedimos: We ask for
(Vosotros/as) pedís: You ask for (group/informal)
(Ustedes) piden: You ask for (group/formal)
(Ellos/as) piden: They ask for

Here are some example sentences using this type of irregular Spanish verbs:

María siempre pide un té con leche cuando va a la cafetería: Maria always asks for a tea with milk when she goes to the cafe.
Elena fríe toda su comida: Elena fries all of her food.
Los niños piden dinero a mis padres a menudo: The children ask my parents for money often.
Los niños ríen con mucha frecuencia: The children laugh a lot.
Mi hijo siempre pide Lego en Navidad: My son always asks for Lego at Christmas.
Todos los días me visto después de desayunar: Every day I get dressed after breakfast.
¿Qué pides normalmente cuando cenas en un restaurante italiano?: What do you normally order when you have dinner in an Italian restaurant?
Mi hija se viste a las ocho de la mañana: My daughter gets dressed at eight in the morning.
Cuando tengo sed, pido agua con gas: When I’m thirsty, I ask for sparkling water.
En este bar sirven comida deliciosa: In this bar they serve delicious food.

Coming across Irregular Verbs for the first time can be a frustrating experience. You have just learned the clear and consistent patterns for conjugating regular verbs and then you learn that there are many other rogue verbs knocking about.

Don’t worry, give yourself time. Don’t expect to remember the Irregular Verbs right away. Little by little you will become more familiar with them as you see and hear them more as will have happened with Ser, Estar, Tener, and Querer.