descender Present Conjugation
descender — to go down
Descender is an e-to-ie stem-changer in the present tense (except for nosotros and vosotros).
descender Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense to describe current movement downward, dropping temperatures, or a plane beginning its approach to landing.
Notes on descender in the Present
This is a radical-changing verb. The 'e' in the stem changes to 'ie' in all forms except nosotros (descendemos) and vosotros (descendéis).
Example Sentences
La temperatura desciende rápidamente por la noche.
The temperature drops quickly at night.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros descendemos la montaña con cuidado.
We go down the mountain carefully.
nosotros
Los precios de los vuelos descienden en invierno.
Flight prices go down in winter.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'descendo' for the yo form.
Correct: desciendo
Why: The stem must change from e to ie in the first person singular.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'descender' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: descendí
Descender is completely regular in the preterite: descendí, descendiste, descendió.
Imperfect
yo: descendía
The imperfect of descender is regular: descendía, descendías, descendía.
Future
yo: descenderé
The future tense uses the full infinitive 'descender' as the stem: descenderé, descenderás.
Conditional
yo: descendería
The conditional is regular: descendería, descenderías, descendería.
Present Subjunctive
yo: descienda
The present subjunctive follows the e-to-ie stem change: descienda, desciendas.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: descendiera
Formed from the 3rd person plural preterite: descendiera, descendieras.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: desciende
The imperative uses 'desciende' for informal commands and 'descienda' for formal ones.
Negative Imperative
yo: no desciendas
Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive forms: no desciendas.