duermes
DWER-mess
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
¿Duermes bien, amigo?
A1Do you sleep well, friend?
Siempre duermes hasta tarde los sábados.
A2You always sleep in late on Saturdays.
Si duermes ahora, no tendrás sueño esta noche.
B1If you sleep now, you won't be tired tonight.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'tú' Form
This form, 'duermes,' is only used when you are talking directly to one person you know well (like a friend or child). If you are talking to an elder or someone formally, you would use 'usted duerme'.
The Stem Change Rule (o → ue)
The verb 'dormir' is tricky because the 'o' changes to 'ue' in the present tense forms, like 'duermo' and 'duermes.' This happens in most forms except 'nosotros' and 'vosotros,' where it stays 'dormimos' and 'dormís'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "¿Tú dormes aquí?"
Correction: ¿Tú duermes aquí? The 'o' must change to 'ue' when you use the 'tú' form in the present tense.
Using the Wrong Pronoun
Mistake: "Él duermes mucho."
Correction: Él duerme mucho. 'Duermes' is only for 'tú' (you); for 'él' (he), you must use 'duerme'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Asking a Question
In Spanish, you often drop the pronoun 'tú' in questions. Just saying '¿Duermes?' is the most natural way to ask 'Are you sleeping?'
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: duermes
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'duermes'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'dormir' change its spelling to 'duermes'?
This is called a 'stem change' or 'boot verb' rule. In the present tense, the 'o' in the middle of the verb often changes to 'ue' when the stress falls on that part of the word. You see this change in 'yo,' 'tú,' 'él/ella/usted,' and 'ellos/ellas/ustedes.'
If I want to ask 'Are you sleeping?' formally, what do I say?
If you are addressing someone formally (using 'usted'), you would say '¿Usted duerme?' or simply '¿Duerme?'