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Present tense (diphthong verbs)

In certain Spanish verbs, the vowel -e, -i, -o, -u turns into a diphthong (= double vowel: -ie-, -ue-). This vowel change is called diphthongization.

The different types of diphthongization are the following:

Vowel change: e->-ie  example: pensar   verb form: yo pienso (I think)

Vowel change: i->ie     example: adquirir       verb form: adquiero (I acquire)

Vowel change: o->ue     example: poder     verb form: yo puedo (I can)

Vowel change: u->ue     example: jugar     verb form: yo juego (I play)

The vowel change can only occur in the stem of the verb (e.g., we get the stem of the verb "jugar" by removing the -ar ending -> jug). 

Note that it occurs when the stressed syllable is in the stem.

A syllable is always stressed when its vowel has an acute accent (') over it.

Thus, verb forms like "haré" (= I will do) wil keep their stem unchanged (because the stress is outside their stem).

For all other words, the stressed syllable is determined by the last letter of the word:

. if the word ends in a vowel and -s or -n, the stress is on the second to last syllable.

. if the word ends in a consonant other than -s and -n, the stress is on the last syllable. 

According to these rules, the only verb forms that are stressed in their stems are the singular forms and the third-person plural form of the present indicative, the present subjunctive and the imperative.

Example with the verb "pensar" (= to think) conjugated in the present tense:

Yo pienso

Tú piensas

Él/Ella/usted piensa

Nosotros/-as pensamos (no diphthong)

Vosotros/-as pensáis (no diphthong)

Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes piensan

EXERCISE : From the drop-down menu, choose a single vowel or a diphthong as appropriate! 

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1. PrefeieI don't knowro jugar con él porque jueuI don't knowga mejor. I prefer to play with him because he plays better.

2. Hoy no me seieI don't knownto bien y me dueoI don't knowle mucho la cabeza. Today I don't feel well and my head hurts a lot.

¿QuieeI don't know réis ir a la playa conmigo? Do you want to go to the beach with me?

¿A qué hora sueoI don't knowles acostarte los días de clase? What time do you usually go to bed on school days?

5. Este coche cueoI don't knowsta demasiado, no poueI don't knowdo comprármelo. This car costs too much, I can't afford it.

¿Por qué mieeI don't knowntes tanto? Why do you lie so much?

No encoueI don't knowntramos las llaves por ningún lado. The keys are nowhere to be found.

¿RecueoI don't knowrdáis los años de vuestra infancia? Do you remember your childhood years?

Un abogado defieeI don't knownde a su cliente en el tribunal. A lawyer defends his client in court.

¡Roberto, la casa está helada, enceieI don't knownde la calefacción, por favor! Roberto! The house is freezing, please turn on the heating!