B1 Spanish grammar

Stem-Changing Present Subjunctive Forms in Spanish

Present-tense stem changes continue in the subjunctive. -Ir verbs also use reduced changes in nosotros and vosotros, while spelling changes preserve pronunciation.

Stem-changing present subjunctive

yo present stem → opposite-vowel subjunctive endings

-Ar and -er boot verbs keep an unchanged nosotros/vosotros stem; -ir verbs use reduced e→i or o→u changes there.

-Ar and -er boot changes

Person	pensar	volver
yo	piense	vuelva
tú	pienses	vuelvas
él / ella / usted	piense	vuelva
nosotros	pensemos	volvamos
vosotros	penséis	volváis
ellos / ellas / ustedes	piensen	vuelvan

Nosotros and vosotros return to the unchanged stem.

-Ir stem changes

Person	pedir	dormir
yo	pida	duerma
tú	pidas	duermas
él / ella / usted	pida	duerma
nosotros	pidamos	durmamos
vosotros	pidáis	durmáis
ellos / ellas / ustedes	pidan	duerman

-Ir verbs keep a reduced change in nosotros and vosotros.

stem-changing present subjunctive: Keep -ar and -er boot changes

E→ie and o→ue changes appear outside nosotros and vosotros, which return to the unchanged stem.

Quiero que pienses, pero que pensemos juntos.

I want you to think, but for us to think together.Pensar changes for tú but not nosotros.

Quick check

That they can:

Use reduced changes in -ir nosotros forms

Stem-changing -ir verbs use e→i or o→u in nosotros and vosotros while keeping full changes elsewhere.

Espero que duermas y que durmamos bien.

I hope you sleep and that we sleep well.Dormir uses duerma outside and durmamos inside nosotros.

Preserve sound with spelling changes

Use c→qu, g→gu, and z→c before e endings so pronunciation remains stable.

Es necesario que busques y llegues pronto.

It is necessary that you look and arrive early.Busques and llegues preserve the hard consonant sounds.

Common mistakes

Quiero que piensamos juntos.

Quiero que pensemos juntos.

Nosotros does not use ie in an -ar boot verb.

Espero que dormamos bien.

Espero que durmamos bien.

O→ue -ir verbs reduce to o→u in nosotros.

Espero que lleges pronto.

Espero que llegues pronto.

G becomes gu before e to keep the sound.

Ready to practise stem-changing present subjunctive?

Complete an eight-question round and save skill-level progress for future review.

Practice stem-changing present subjunctive

Subjunctive stem changes FAQ

What does subjunctive stem changes cover?

Present-tense stem changes continue in the subjunctive. -Ir verbs also use reduced changes in nosotros and vosotros, while spelling changes preserve pronunciation.

What is the first rule to remember?

E→ie and o→ue changes appear outside nosotros and vosotros, which return to the unchanged stem.

What is another important B1 pattern?

Stem-changing -ir verbs use e→i or o→u in nosotros and vosotros while keeping full changes elsewhere.

How can I practise stem-changing present subjunctive?

Complete the focused round, review each correction, and repeat the lesson when its skills become due again.

Continue learning

Present subjunctiveStart from the present yo form, remove -o, and add the opposite-vowel subjunctive endings.Irregular subjunctiveLearn the fully irregular present subjunctive forms of ser, ir, haber, saber, estar, and dar.Indicative or subjunctiveChoose the indicative for presented information and the subjunctive when a clause is framed through influence, reaction, doubt, or non-specific reference.Complete B1 Spanish grammar courseSee every B1 unit and continue through the course in order.Spanish tense guidesCompare the major tense systems used throughout this course.