desmentir Present Conjugation
desmentir — to deny
Desmentir follows the e > ie stem change in the 'boot' forms: desmiento, desmientes, desmiente, and desmienten.
desmentir Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense to deny rumors, refute claims, or state that a piece of information is currently false or inaccurate.
Notes on desmentir in the Present
This is a stem-changing verb. The 'e' in the second syllable changes to 'ie' in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Example Sentences
El presidente desmiente los rumores de su renuncia.
The president denies the rumors of his resignation.
él/ella/usted
Yo desmiento categóricamente esas acusaciones.
I categorically deny those accusations.
yo
Ellos desmienten que la empresa esté en quiebra.
They deny that the company is bankrupt.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'desmentimos' with a stem change like 'desmientimos'.
Correct: The correct form is desmentimos.
Why: Nosotros and vosotros forms never take the stem change in the present indicative.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: desmentí
Desmentir has a third-person stem change (e > i): desmintió and desmintieron.
Imperfect
yo: desmentía
Desmentir is completely regular in the imperfect: desmentía, desmentías, desmentía...
Future
yo: desmentiré
Desmentir is regular in the future; just add endings to the infinitive: desmentiré, desmentirás.
Conditional
yo: desmentiría
The conditional is regular: desmentiría, desmentirías, desmentiría...
Present Subjunctive
yo: desmienta
Desmentir changes e > ie in most forms, but e > i in nosotros/vosotros: desmienta, desmintamos.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: desmintiera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'desminti-' stem: desmintiera, desmintieras...
Affirmative Imperative
yo: desmiente
Give commands to deny something: desmiente (tú), desmienta (usted).
Negative Imperative
yo: no desmientas
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no desmientas, no desmienta.