Present tense: spelling-change verbs and other uses of the present

What it is

You already know the present tense and its stem changes (quiero, puedo, pido). This topic adds the last small irregularities of the present, which only look irregular: a letter changes so that the sound stays the same, or a written accent shows where the stress falls. It also rounds off how the present is used: Spanish speakers use it for timetables, for plans that are already fixed and for quick offers.

How to form it

1. The spelling changes, the sound doesn't. Before the ending -o, some consonants switch letters to keep their sound:

Only the yo form changes the letter, because it is the only ending that starts with -o. Two of these verbs, elegir and seguir, also change e → i, as you saw with pedir.

2. Verbs in -uir add a y. Whenever the ending doesn't start with i, a y appears between the stem and the ending:

The same happens with destruir, contribuir and huir.

3. A written accent on i or u. Some verbs in -iar and -uar stress the i or the u in every form except nosotros, and Spanish writes that stress: envío, envías, envía, enviamos, envían; continúo, continúas, continúa, continuamos, continúan. Others stress the syllable before: cambio, estudio, limpio. You can't tell from the infinitive, so learn the common ones in two groups:

• with an accent: enviar, confiar, guiar, esquiar, continuar, actuar, graduarse
• without: cambiar, estudiar, limpiar, copiar, averiguar

When to use it

Besides habits and facts, the present also covers:

• timetables: El autobús sale a las ocho.
• plans that are already fixed: El sábado jugamos al fútbol. Mañana te llamo.
• offers and quick suggestions: ¿Te ayudo? ¿Abro la ventana?
• step-by-step instructions: Primero eliges el asiento y después pagas.

• Siempre elijo el asiento de la ventana.I always choose the window seat.g → j, e → i
• Ahora te envío la dirección.I'll send you the address right now.accent on the i
• El precio incluye el desayuno.The price includes breakfast.-uir → y

Contrasts and traps

• The accent can change the word: continuo is the adjective "continuous"; continúo means "I continue".
• Construimos has no y: its ending starts with i.
• Sigo also means "I'm still": Sigo en la oficina (I'm still at the office).
• The forms are the same in Spain and Latin America; only vos has its own: vos elegís, construís, enviás.

If you also speak Portuguese

The verbs look almost identical, and that is the trap: Portuguese escolho, elejo, construo, envio, continuo become Spanish escojo, elijo, construyo, envío, continúo. Watch the j, the y and the written accent.