referir Present Subjunctive Conjugation
referir — to refer
Referir has a stem change (e > ie) and a special change in the nosotros/vosotros forms (e > i).
referir Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use this when you want someone to refer to a topic, or when you doubt that someone is referring to a specific person in the present.
Notes on referir in the Present Subjunctive
This is a 'boot verb' plus a 'nosotros change'. The 'e' becomes 'ie' in most forms (refiera), but changes to a simple 'i' in the nosotros (refiramos) and vosotros (refiráis) forms.
Example Sentences
Espero que ella se refiera a mi trabajo y no a mi persona.
I hope she refers to my work and not to my person.
él/ella/usted
Es importante que nosotros nos refiramos a los hechos.
It is important that we refer to the facts.
nosotros
Dudo que ellos se refieran a este problema.
I doubt they are referring to this problem.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'referamos' for nosotros.
Correct: refiramos
Why: In the present subjunctive, -ir stem-changing verbs change the 'e' to 'i' in the nosotros form instead of keeping the infinitive vowel.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: refiero
Referir is an e > ie stem-changing verb, except for the nosotros and vosotros forms.
Preterite
yo: referí
Referir is mostly regular but has a 'slipper' stem change (e > i) in the third-person forms.
Imperfect
yo: refería
Referir is completely regular in the imperfect: refería, referías, refería...
Future
yo: referiré
Referir is completely regular in the future tense: infinitive + endings.
Conditional
yo: referiría
Referir is regular in the conditional: infinitive + -ía, -ías, -ía...
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: refiriera
The stem changes to 'refiri-' for all persons in this past-tense hypothetical form.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: refiere
The imperative uses the e > ie stem change for 'tú' and 'usted', but 'i' for 'nosotros'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no refieras
The negative imperative uses the present subjunctive forms with 'no'.