Pedir is an irregular verb in the present tense and some other forms, primarily involving a stem change from e to i. It follows a regular conjugation pattern for other tenses, but you should be mindful of stem changes and irregular forms.
Conjugations
Regular stem: pedir
Stem change: e → i (in specific forms)
Present Indicative
- Used for current actions, habits, and general statements.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Person</th>
<th>Spanish</th>
<th>English</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>yo</td>
<td>pido</td>
<td>I ask for</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>tú</td>
<td>pides</td>
<td>you ask for</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>él/ella</td>
<td>pide</td>
<td>he/she asks for</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>nosotros</td>
<td>pedimos</td>
<td>we ask for</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ellos/ellas</td>
<td>piden</td>
<td>they ask for</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Preterite Indicative
- Used to talk about completed actions in the past.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Person</th>
<th>Spanish</th>
<th>English</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>yo</td>
<td>pedí</td>
<td>I asked for</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>tú</td>
<td>pediste</td>
<td>you asked for</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>él/ella</td>
<td>pidió</td>
<td>he/she asked for</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>nosotros</td>
<td>pedimos</td>
<td>we asked for</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ellos/ellas</td>
<td>pidieron</td>
<td>they asked for</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Imperfect Indicative
- Describes past habits or ongoing past actions.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Person</th>
<th>Spanish</th>
<th>English</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>yo</td>
<td>pedía</td>
<td>I used to ask for</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>tú</td>
<td>pedías</td>
<td>you used to ask for</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>él/ella</td>
<td>pedía</td>
<td>he/she used to ask for</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>nosotros</td>
<td>pedíamos</td>
<td>we used to ask for</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ellos/ellas</td>
<td>pedían</td>
<td>they used to ask for</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Future Indicative
- Describes actions that will happen.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Person</th>
<th>Spanish</th>
<th>English</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>yo</td>
<td>pediré</td>
<td>I will ask for</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>tú</td>
<td>pedirás</td>
<td>you will ask for</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>él/ella</td>
<td>pedirá</td>
<td>he/she will ask for</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>nosotros</td>
<td>pediremos</td>
<td>we will ask for</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ellos/ellas</td>
<td>pedirán</td>
<td>they will ask for</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Present Subjunctive
- Used to express doubts, desires, or hypothetical situations.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Person</th>
<th>Spanish</th>
<th>English</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>yo</td>
<td>pida</td>
<td>I ask for (subjunctive)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>tú</td>
<td>pidas</td>
<td>you ask for (subjunctive)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>él/ella</td>
<td>pida</td>
<td>he/she asks for (subjunctive)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>nosotros</td>
<td>pidamos</td>
<td>we ask for (subjunctive)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ellos/ellas</td>
<td>pidan</td>
<td>they ask for (subjunctive)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Affirmative Imperative
- Used for giving direct commands or requests.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Person</th>
<th>Spanish</th>
<th>English</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>tú</td>
<td>pide</td>
<td>ask for</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>usted</td>
<td>pida</td>
<td>ask for (formal)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>nosotros</td>
<td>pidamos</td>
<td>let’s ask for</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ustedes</td>
<td>pidan</td>
<td>ask for (plural)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Usage
Pedir + Noun (to ask/request something)
- Use pedir directly followed by a noun to request or ask for that thing.
Pedir + de + Noun (to ask for something from a specific place or person)
- Use pedir de to specify who or where you are asking something from. This is less common and more formal.
Examples
- Pedir + noun:
- Pido agua.* — I ask for water.
- Pide ayuda.* — He asks for help.
- Pedir + de + noun:
- Pedí de la cocina.* — I asked for (something) from the kitchen.
- Piden de su jefe.* — They ask from their boss.
Common Phrases
- Pedir permiso — to ask for permission
- Pedir disculpas — to apologize (literally, to ask for forgiveness)
- Pedir consejo — to ask for advice
- Pedir la cuenta — to ask for the bill (in a restaurant)
<p>
Phrases with <em>pedir</em> often appear in everyday contexts—knowing these makes your requests more natural.
</p>
Tips
- Stem change: Remember the e → i change in certain forms (e.g., pido, pides, pide; but not pedimos)—
- Pronouns: Use indirect object pronouns (me, te, le, nos, les) when specifying who is receiving the request:
- Le pido un favor.* (I ask him/her for a favor.)
- Politeness: To be polite, use the subjunctive or conditional forms:
- Quisiera pedir...* (I would like to ask...)
- Context: For ordering food or making requests in restaurants, pedir is the standard verb.
- Preterite emphasis: In past tense, stem-changing also occurs in third person (pidió, pidieron).
- Not to be confused with: preguntar means "to ask a question," while pedir means "to ask for something."
I will ask for help if I need it.
Pediré ayuda si la necesito.
"Pediré" is the correct first-person singular future form. The other options have spelling mistakes or additional unwanted words.
We ask for advice from our parents. — Nosotros _____ consejo a nuestros padres.
pedimos
"Pedimos" is the correct first-person plural present indicative and matches "nosotros."
Ask for the bill (formal).
Pida la cuenta.
"Pida" is the correct form for the formal command (usted). "Pide" is informal, "Pidió" is past, and "Pidan" is plural.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
