encender Present Conjugation
encender — turn on
Encender has an e>ie stem change in all forms except nosotros and vosotros: enciendo, enciendes, enciende...
encender Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use this for current habits or actions happening right now, like turning on the computer every morning or lighting a candle.
Notes on encender in the Present
This is a 'boot verb'. The 'e' in the stem changes to 'ie' in all singular forms and the third-person plural.
Example Sentences
Siempre enciendo la radio por la mañana.
I always turn on the radio in the morning.
yo
Ella enciende el horno para cocinar el pollo.
She turns on the oven to cook the chicken.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros encendemos las luces a las seis.
We turn on the lights at six.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Saying 'nosotros enciendemos'.
Correct: encendemos
Why: The stem change e>ie never applies to the 'nosotros' or 'vosotros' forms in the present indicative.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: encendí
Encender is regular in the preterite: encendí, encendiste, encendió, encendimos, encendisteis, encendieron.
Imperfect
yo: encendía
Encender is regular in the imperfect: encendía, encendías, encendía, encendíamos, encendíais, encendían.
Future
yo: encenderé
The future of encender is regular: encenderé, encenderás, encenderá, encenderemos, encenderéis, encenderán.
Conditional
yo: encendería
The conditional of encender is regular: encendería, encenderías, encendería, encenderíamos, encenderíais, encenderían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: encienda
The present subjunctive follows the e>ie stem change: encienda, enciendas, encienda, encendamos, encendáis, enciendan.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: encendiera
The imperfect subjunctive of encender is: encendiera, encendieras, encendiera, encendiéramos, encendierais, encendieran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: enciende
Use enciende (tú), encienda (usted), or encended (vosotros) to tell someone to turn something on.
Negative Imperative
yo: no enciendas
The negative imperative uses the present subjunctive: no enciendas, no encienda, no encendamos...