Stem-changing Verbs in the Simple Present Tense

We’re still digging into the conjugations of the present tense, but now it gets more tricky: stem changing verbs in the simple present tense.

Some verbs, like sentir – to feel and saber – to know, change their ‘stems’ or the first part of the verb. 

If you followed the regular rules for sentir you would get “Yo sente“, but the correct conjugation is “Yo siento“.

Similarly, if you follow the regular rules for saber, you would get “Yo sabe“, but the correct conjugation is “Yo sé“. 

There’s good news and bad news here. The stem changing verbs in simple present tense are used a lot so you’ll have plenty of practice in using them once you’ve learned them. The bad news is that they are used so much that you can’t get away with not learning them.

Ser (to be):

• Yo soy (I am)
• Tú eres (You are)
• Él/Ella/Usted es (He/She/You is)
• Nosotros/Nosotras somos (We are)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes son (They/You all are)

Ir (to go):

• Yo voy (I go)
• Tú vas (You go)
• Él/Ella/Usted va (He/She/You go)
• Nosotros/Nosotras vamos (We go)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes van (They/You all go)

Tener (to have):

• Yo tengo (I have)
• Tú tienes (You have)
• Él/Ella/Usted tiene (He/She/You have)
• Nosotros/Nosotras tenemos (We have)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes tienen (They/You all have)

Hacer (to do/make):

• Yo hago (I do/make)
• Tú haces (You do/make)
• Él/Ella/Usted hace (He/She/You do/make)
• Nosotros/Nosotras hacemos (We do/make)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes hacen (They/You all do/make)

Decir (to say/tell):

• Yo digo (I say/tell)
• Tú dices (You say/tell)
• Él/Ella/Usted dice (He/She/You say/tell)
• Nosotros/Nosotras decimos (We say/tell)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes dicen (They/You all say/tell)

Sentir (to feel)

• Yo siento (I feel)
• Tú sientes (You feel)
• Él/Ella/Usted siente (He/She/You feel)
• Nosotros/Nosotras sentimos (We feel)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes sienten (They/You all feel)

Saber (to know)

• Yo sé (I know)
• Tú sabes (You know)
• Él/Ella/Usted sabe (He/She/You know)
• Nosotros/Nosotras sabemos (We know)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes saben (They/You all know)

Mastering these stem-changing verbs can be hard at first, but with a little, regular practice, they’ll become natural.

They’ll become so familiar that the right conjugation just comes out naturally when you speak.

Mastering these stem-changing verbs can be hard at first, but with a little, regular practice, they’ll become natural.

They’ll become so familiar that the right conjugation just comes out naturally when you speak.

Check out our series of Complete Spanish Grammar articles – everything you’ll ever need to know about Spanish grammar.

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