Some verbs do not follow the pattern you have learned for regular present tense verbs, and must be memorized. For example, the yo forms of salir, tener, and venir are irregular: salgo, tengo, and vengo. In addition, for other forms of tener and venir as well as preferir and querer, when the stem vowel -e- is stressed, it becomes ie : tienes, vienes, prefieres, quieres, and so on. In the same manner, the stem vowel -o- in poder becomes ue when stressed: puedes. In vocabulary lists, these changes are listed in parentheses beside the infinitive verb: preferir (ie); poder (ue), and so on.

TENER (to have)
 

QUERER (to want)
 

PODER (to be able)
 

VENIR (to come)
 

PREFERIR (to prefer)
 

SALIR (to leave)
 

Examples of Present Tense: Stem Changing Verbs

• ¿Puede decirme cómo llamar directamente dentro de la ciudad?
• Lo siento. El señor García estáen una reunión. ¿Quiere dejar un recado?