E to I Stem Changes in Spanish Preterite (Past) Tense

The Spanish Preterite tense is a key tool for describing past events. However, some verbs add a twist with an E to I stem change. Don’t worry, though! This guide will help you conquer this unique conjugation.

When Does the E to I Transformation Happen?

The E to I stem change appears in specific forms of certain verbs in the Preterite tense:

• Third person singular: él, ella, usted
• Third person plural: ellos, ellas, ustedes

All other forms stick with the original “e” in the stem.

Conjugation Cheat Sheet

For affected verbs, follow this simple pattern:

1. él/ella/usted: Replace “e” in the stem with “i”
2. ellos/ellas/ustedes: Replace “e” in the stem with “i”
3. All other forms: No change

Let’s use the verb “seguir” (to follow) as an example:

Subject Pronoun	Conjugation	Stem Change
yo	seguí	No change
tú	seguiste	No change
él/ella/usted	siguió	e → i
nosotros/as	seguimos	No change
ellos/ellas/ustedes	siguieron	e → i

Common Examples to Practice With

Here are five verbs that embrace the E to I stem change:

1. Seguir (to follow):
   • Él siguió el camino. (He followed the path.)
   • Ellos siguieron nuestro consejo. (They followed our advice.)
2. Sentir (to feel):
   • Ella sintió miedo. (She felt fear.)
   • Ustedes sintieron alegría. (You all felt joy.)
3. Pedir (to ask for/request):
   • Usted pidió ayuda. (You asked for help.)
   • Ellas pidieron más tiempo. (They asked for more time.)
4. Servir (to serve):
   • Ella sirvió la cena. (She served dinner.)
   • Ellos sirvieron en el ejército. (They served in the army.)

Remember, for yo, tú, and nosotros, the stem stays the same!

Synonyms:

• English: E to I Verbs Simple Past, Past Simple, Preterite Tense, Past Historic
• Spanish: Verbos de Cambio Radical E a I en Pretérito Indefinido, Pretérito Perfecto Simple, Pretérito