Conjugate regular -er and -ir verbs in the present subjunctive in Spanish (El Presente de Subjuntivo)

When conjugating regular -er and -ir Spanish verbs in El Presente de Subjuntivo they must follow a pattern and this includes a change of vowel at the end of each conjugation.

Learn how to conjugate regular -er and -ir Spanish verbs in  El Presente de Subjuntivo

To conjugate regular -er and -ir Spanish verbs in El Presente de Subjuntivo , the stem is the same as the yo form of the present indicative (e.g. yo bebo) and -o is replaced with:

yo -a
-as
él / ella / Ud. -a
nosotros / nostotras  -amos
vosotros / vosotras -áis
ellos / ellas / Uds.   -an
Read and listen to these examples:

Es mejor que yo coma despacio.It is better if I eat slowly.

No quiero que tú bebas cerveza.I don't want you to drink beer.

Espero que vivas feliz en tu apartamento nuevo.I hope you live happily in your new flat. [you = tú]

No escribáis en ese papel, por favor.Don't write on that piece of paper, please. [referring to "vosotros"]

Espero que vivan felices.I hope they live happily.

Quizás ellos abran el regalo más tarde.They may open the present a bit later.

¡No leamos hoy!Let's not read today!

Espero que reciban muchos regalos.I hope you receive lots of presents. [you = ustedes]

Two common verbs that follow this pattern are comer and vivir.

Learn how to conjugate comer and vivir in El Presente de Subjuntivo in Spanish

  COMER
to eat
VIVIR
to live
 yo coma viva
  comas vivas

él / ella
usted

coma viva
nosotros 
nosotras
comamos vivamos
vosotros 
vosotras
comáis viváis
ellos / ellas
ustedes
coman vivan

 

Notice all these forms for -er and -ir verbs have switched to using the vowel -a- (whereas -ar verbs switch to using -e-)!

See Conjugate regular -ar verbs in the present subjunctive in Spanish (El Presente de Subjuntivo)

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Examples and resources

No quiero que tú bebas cerveza.I don't want you to drink beer.
Espero que vivan felices.I hope they live happily.
Quizás ellos abran el regalo más tarde.They may open the present a bit later.
¡No leamos hoy!Let's not read today!
Es mejor que yo coma despacio.It is better if I eat slowly.
Espero que reciban muchos regalos.I hope you receive lots of presents. [you = ustedes]
Espero que vivas feliz en tu apartamento nuevo.I hope you live happily in your new flat. [you = tú]
No escribáis en ese papel, por favor.Don't write on that piece of paper, please. [referring to "vosotros"]
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