Lesson 34 · 8:58
Why quiero has an ie
Stem changes as a stress effect: e becomes ie only in a stressed syllable, so quiero but queremos, with pensar and empezar.
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Show notes
What you learn
- e → ie only when that syllable is stressed: quiero / queremos, tienes / tenemos
- New verbs: pensar (to think), empezar (to start)
- Pienso que… = I think that… (que is never dropped)
- Tangent: English shifts vowels with stress too (PHOtograph / phoTOgraphy)
Sentences you can say
- Pienso que sí. (I think so.)
- Queremos empezar mañana.
Watch out for
"Quieremos" → the stress moved off that syllable, so plain e: Queremos.