Some verbs ending in -ir that are irregular in simple present (presente de indicativo)
In simple present (presente de indicativo), some verbs ending in -ir, like pedir (to ask for), competir (to compete), and reír (to laugh), change the e for an i.
Pedir → Pido
To ask for → I ask for
Tú pides
Él/ella/usted pide
Nosotros/as pedimos
Vosotros/as pedís
Ellos/ellas/ustedes piden
Tú compites
Él/ella/usted compite
Nosotros/as competimos
Vosotros/as competís
Ellos/ellas/ustedes compiten
Tú ríes
Él/ella/usted ríe
Nosotros/as reímos
Vosotros/as reís
Ellos/ellas/ustedes ríen
El que ríe el último, ríe mejor.
He who laughs last, laughs best.
¿Pido al camarero una cerveza para ti?
Shall I ask the waiter to bring you a beer?
Other verbs that follow this irregular conjugation are vestir (to dress), despedir (to fire), concebir (to conceive), and derretir (to melt).
Notes:
- These verbs are regular with the pronouns nosotros/as (we) and vosotros/as (informal, plural “you”).
¡Nos derretimos de calor!
We are melting in this heat!
- Some verbs, like reír (to laugh), have an accent mark to stress the pronunciation.
Matías siempre ríe de las bromas de su hermana.
Matías always laughs at his sister's jokes.
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