tropezar Present Conjugation
tropezar — to trip
The present of tropezar has an e-to-ie stem change (tropiezo) in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
tropezar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense to talk about being clumsy in general, your current physical state, or things you frequently bump into or trip over.
Notes on tropezar in the Present
This is a 'boot verb.' The 'e' in the stem changes to 'ie' in the yo, tú, él/ella, and ellos forms. The nosotros and vosotros forms remain regular.
Example Sentences
Siempre tropiezo con esa alfombra.
I always trip over that rug.
yo
¿Por qué tropiezas tanto hoy?
Why are you tripping so much today?
tú
Mi perro tropieza con sus propias patas.
My dog trips over his own paws.
él/ella/usted
Casi nunca tropezamos en este camino.
We almost never trip on this path.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'tropezo' for the yo form.
Correct: tropiezo
Why: Tropezar is a stem-changing verb; the 'e' must become 'ie' when stressed.
Mistake: Saying 'tropiezamos' for nosotros.
Correct: tropezamos
Why: Stem changes never occur in the nosotros or vosotros forms in the present indicative.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: tropecé
The preterite of tropezar is regular except for the yo form, which changes to 'tropecé' to keep the sound right.
Imperfect
yo: tropezaba
Tropezar is completely regular in the imperfect tense: tropezaba, tropezabas, tropezaba...
Future
yo: tropezaré
The future tense is fully regular: tropezaré, tropezarás, tropezará...
Conditional
yo: tropezaría
The conditional is fully regular: tropezaría, tropezarías, tropezaría...
Present Subjunctive
yo: tropiece
The present subjunctive follows the e-to-ie stem change and the z-to-c spelling change (tropiece).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: tropezara
The imperfect subjunctive is regular based on the preterite stem: tropezara, tropezaras...
Affirmative Imperative
yo: tropieza
The imperative uses 'tropieza' for 'tú' and 'tropiece' for 'usted'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no tropieces
The negative imperative uses the present subjunctive forms: no tropieces, no tropiece...