miente
myehn-teh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Mi hermano siempre miente cuando le pregunto dónde estuvo.
A2My brother always lies when I ask him where he was.
Usted miente, señor, los documentos dicen lo contrario.
B1You are lying, sir; the documents say the opposite.
¡Miente! No puedes decir la verdad si te metes en problemas.
B2Lie! You can't tell the truth if you're going to get in trouble. (Affirmative command to a friend)
💡 Grammar Points
Stem Change (E to IE)
The verb 'mentir' changes the 'e' in its root to 'ie' (e.g., mE-ntir becomes mIEnte) in most present tenses, except for 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'.
Dual Use
'Miente' can mean 'he/she/it lies' or 'you (formal) lie' (indicative present), OR it can be the command form for 'you' (tú command).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "Él menta (Incorrect, using the regular verb pattern)."
Correction: Él miente (Correct, remember the 'e' changes to 'ie').
⭐ Usage Tips
Sounding Natural
In casual conversation, 'miente' is often used to express disbelief: '¡No, miente!' (No way, you're lying!).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: miente
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'miente' as an affirmative command?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'miente' means 'he/she lies' or if it's a command?
Context is key! If 'miente' is preceded by a subject (like 'él' or 'mi jefe'), it's a statement. If it starts the sentence, especially with an exclamation mark, or is followed by another command, it's likely the informal command ('tú') meaning 'lie!'
If 'miente' is the present tense, what is the base form of the verb?
The base form (infinitive) is 'mentir.' Remember that 'mentir' is irregular, so the 'e' changes to 'ie' in many of its conjugations, including 'miente.'