Inklingo
A frustrated person kneeling beside a large red sofa, lifting a cushion and looking underneath with a worried expression, searching for a lost object.

perder Present Conjugation

perder — to lose

A1irregular (e:ie stem-change) -er★★★★★
Quick answer:

Perder is an e-to-ie stem-changing verb (pierdo, pierdes, pierde, pierden) except for nosotros and vosotros.

perder Present Forms

yopierdo
túpierdes
él/ella/ustedpierde
nosotrosperdemos
vosotrosperdéis
ellos/ellas/ustedespierden

When to Use the Present

Use the present tense for current habits, general truths (like losing patience), or things happening right now.

Notes on perder in the Present

This is a 'boot verb.' The 'e' changes to 'ie' in all forms except nosotros (perdemos) and vosotros (perdéis).

Example Sentences

  • Siempre pierdo el paraguas.

    I always lose my umbrella.

    yo

  • Si no te apuras, pierdes el tren.

    If you don't hurry, you'll miss the train.

    tú

  • Nosotros nunca perdemos la esperanza.

    We never lose hope.

    nosotros

Common Mistakes

  • Mistake: Saying 'pierdemos' instead of 'perdemos'.

    Correct: perdemos

    Why: The stem change never applies to the nosotros or vosotros forms in the present indicative.

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Related Tenses

Preterite

yo: perdí

The preterite of perder is regular: perdí, perdiste, perdió, perdimos, perdisteis, perdieron.

Imperfect

yo: perdía

The imperfect of perder is regular: perdía, perdías, perdía, perdíamos, perdíais, perdían.

Future

yo: perderé

The future of perder is regular: perderé, perderás, perderá, perderemos, perderéis, perderán.

Conditional

yo: perdería

The conditional of perder is regular: perdería, perderías, perdería, perderíamos, perderíais, perderían.

Present Subjunctive

yo: pierda

The present subjunctive follows the e-to-ie change: pierda, pierdas, pierda, perdamos, perdáis, pierdan.

Imperfect Subjunctive

yo: perdiera

The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'perdier-' stem: perdiera, perdieras, perdiera, perdiéramos, perdierais, perdieran.

Affirmative Imperative

yo: pierde

Direct commands to lose or not lose: pierde (tú), pierda (usted), perdamos (nosotros), perded (vosotros), pierdan (ustedes).

Negative Imperative

yo: no pierdas

Negative commands use 'no' + present subjunctive: no pierdas, no pierda, no perdamos, no perdáis, no pierdan.