The Spanish verb “repetir” belongs to a group of verbs known as stem-changing verbs, which undergo specific vowel alterations at their stems. These alterations occur in three main verb tenses: the present tense (indicative and subjunctive), the imperfect tense (indicative), and the imperative affirmative form. The verb “repetir” follows a specific stem change pattern where the vowel “e” at the stem’s root changes to “i” in the present tense, to “ie” in the imperative affirmative form, and to “a” in the imperfect tense.
The Tricky Business of Stem-Changing Verbs: Mastering the Stem Changes of Repetir
When it comes to verb conjugation in Spanish, stem-changing verbs can be a bit of a headache. But don’t worry, we’ll break down the changes for the verb “repetir” (to repeat), so you can conquer this challenge with confidence.
Present Tense (Present Indicative)
- Stem: repi-
The stem “repi-” undergoes a vowel change from “e” to “i” in the following forms:
- yo repito (I repeat)
- tú repites (you repeat)
- nosotros repetimos (we repeat)
- vosotros repetís (you [plural] repeat)
Imperfect Tense (Past Imperfect Indicative)
- Stem: repet-
The entire stem “repet-” changes from “e” to “ie” in all forms:
- yo repetía (I was repeating)
- tú repetías (you were repeating)
- él/ella/usted repetía (he/she/you [formal] was repeating)
Future Tense (Simple Future Indicative)
- Stem: repet-
Just like the Imperfect, the stem “repet-” changes to “ie” in all forms:
- yo repetiré (I will repeat)
- tú repetirás (you will repeat)
- él/ella/usted repetirá (he/she/you [formal] will repeat)
Conditional Tense (Conditional Simple)
- Stem: repet-
Again, the stem “repet-” undergoes the “ie” change in all forms:
- yo repetiría (I would repeat)
- tú repetirías (you would repeat)
- él/ella/usted repetiría (he/she/you [formal] would repeat)
Present Perfect Tense (Present Perfect Indicative)
- Stem: repet-
The stem remains unchanged as “repet-” in all forms:
- yo he repetido (I have repeated)
- tú has repetido (you have repeated)
- él/ella/usted ha repetido (he/she/you [formal] has repeated)
Pluperfect Tense (Past Perfect Indicative)
- Stem: repet-
No surprises here, the stem “repet-” stays put in all forms:
- yo había repetido (I had repeated)
- tú habías repetido (you had repeated)
- él/ella/usted había repetido (he/she/you [formal] had repeated)
Future Perfect Tense (Simple Future Perfect Indicative)
- Stem: repet-
And one last time, the stem “repet-” stays true to its original form:
- yo habré repetido (I will have repeated)
- tú habrás repetido (you will have repeated)
- él/ella/usted habrá repetido (he/she/you [formal] will have repeated)
Conditional Perfect Tense (Conditional Perfect)
- Stem: repet-
The stem “repet-” remains unchanging in all forms:
- yo habría repetido (I would have repeated)
- tú habrías repetido (you would have repeated)
- él/ella/usted habría repetido (he/she/you [formal] would have repeated)
Question 1:
What is the stem change for the verb “repetir”?
Answer:
The stem change for the verb “repetir” is “e-i.” This means that the “e” in the stem changes to an “i” in all conjugated forms except for the “nosotros” and “vosotros” forms of the present indicative and present subjunctive.
Question 2:
What is the rule for applying the stem change for “repetir”?
Answer:
The stem change for “repetir” applies to all conjugated forms of the verb except for the “nosotros” and “vosotros” forms of the present indicative and present subjunctive. In these forms, the “e” in the stem remains unchanged.
Question 3:
Why is the stem change for “repetir” important?
Answer:
The stem change for “repetir” is important because it helps to distinguish between different forms of the verb. For example, the “yo” form of the present indicative is “repito,” while the “tú” form is “repites.” Without the stem change, these two forms would be identical, which could lead to confusion.
Awesome! Now you’ve got the hang of the stem-changing verb “repetir.” Remember, it’s all about that “i” to “e” swap. Keep practicing, and you’ll be a Spanish pro in no time. ¡Hasta luego! Thanks for sticking around, and don’t forget to drop by again for more Spanish goodness.