alentar Present Conjugation
alentar — to encourage
Alentar is a stem-changing verb where 'e' becomes 'ie' in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
alentar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense to describe a current habit of supporting someone or to state that you are currently cheering for a team or person.
Notes on alentar in the Present
This is an e > ie stem-changing verb. The change happens in the 'boot' forms: aliento, alientas, alienta, and alientan.
Example Sentences
Yo siempre aliento a mis amigos en sus proyectos.
I always encourage my friends in their projects.
yo
Tú alientas al equipo desde la grada.
You cheer for the team from the stands.
tú
Nosotros alentamos a los corredores en la meta.
We encourage the runners at the finish line.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'alento' instead of 'aliento'.
Correct: aliento
Why: Alentar follows the stem-change rule where the stressed 'e' becomes 'ie'.
Mistake: Using 'alientamos' for nosotros.
Correct: alentamos
Why: Stem changes never occur in the nosotros or vosotros forms in the present indicative.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: alenté
Alentar is completely regular in the preterite; it does NOT have a stem change here.
Imperfect
yo: alentaba
The imperfect of alentar is regular: alentaba, alentabas, alentaba, alentábamos, alentabais, alentaban.
Future
yo: alentaré
The future tense is regular: alentaré, alentarás, alentará, alentaremos, alentaréis, alentarán.
Conditional
yo: alentaría
The conditional of alentar is regular: alentaría, alentarías, alentaría, alentaríamos, alentaríais, alentarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: aliente
The present subjunctive of alentar features the e > ie stem change: aliente, alientes, aliente, alentemos, alentéis, alienten.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: alentara
The imperfect subjunctive of alentar is regular: alentara, alentaras, alentara, alentáramos, alentarais, alentaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: alienta
The imperative uses 'alienta' (tú) and 'aliente' (usted/ustedes), maintaining the stem change.
Negative Imperative
yo: no alientes
The negative imperative uses the present subjunctive: no alientes, no aliente, no alentemos, no alentéis, no alienten.