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\u201cAsk and You Shall Receive\u201d is one of those age-old sayings that everyone repeats but no one really applies. How do you know what to ask for? How do you know if it\u2019s the right time to ask? What happens if someone says no to your request? Most difficult of all, how do you ask for something in a different language? In this article, we\u2019ll go over the Spanish verb pedir<\/strong><\/em>, meaning to ask<\/em>. More specifically, we\u2019ll look at pedir<\/em> conjugation. By the end, you\u2019ll know exactly how to ask for what you need, no matter the circumstances.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll also look at some of the interesting differences in meaning within the verb pedir<\/em>, and some common idioms and expressions using the verb, to add some ease in your day-to-day conversations. Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve been reading all the articles for Spanish conjugation on this blog, you\u2019ll already know that many of the verbs we cover are irregular. Pedir <\/strong><\/em>is yet another verb that likes to break common conjugation rules for verbs ending in -ir<\/em>, -er<\/em>, and –ar<\/em>. This is what makes pedir <\/strong><\/em>irregular. While you might be used to irregular verbs already, it\u2019s important to go over the specifics of each of them. That\u2019s because unlike regular verbs, you can\u2019t really predict how it will be conjugated based on your knowledge of other verbs. Let me give you an example:<\/p>\n The Spanish verb vivir<\/strong>, meaning to live<\/em>, also ends in \u201cir\u201d but is a regular verb. That\u2019s because no matter how it is conjugated, its stem never changes, remaining \u201cviv\u201d for all tenses and subjects. For example: yo viv<\/strong>o (I live<\/em>), t\u00fa viv<\/strong>es (you live<\/em>), el\/ella viv<\/strong>e (he\/she lives)<\/em>\u2026 as you can see, the stem of the verb always remains the same, no matter how the verb is conjugated.<\/p>\n This rule doesn\u2019t work for pedir<\/strong>. Instead of its stem always being \u201cped\u201d, it changes depending on different subjects and verb tenses. For instance, to say \u201cI ask\u201d<\/em>, you say \u201cyo pido\u201d<\/strong>. We\u2019ll go over the intricacies of this verb in considerable detail below. While it may seem like a daunting task to learn all these irregular verbs by heart, the Cloze Collection at the end of this blog post is a really good tool to practice with. Soon, you\u2019ll have memorized pedir<\/em> so well that conjugating it will just be like muscle memory!<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking to practice conjugating other irregular Spanish verbs, why not try some of the Cloze Collections on other articles? Check out \u201cdormir\u201d (to sleep<\/em>)<\/a>, \u201cvenir\u201d (to come)<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>and \u201co\u00edr\u201d (to hear<\/em>)<\/a> for some more practice.<\/p>\n Unlike in English, where there is a difference between asking <\/em>and ordering<\/em>, both of these verbs collapse into a single one in Spanish. Pedir <\/strong>can mean \u201cto ask\u201d, \u201cto order\u201d, \u201cto call for\u201d and even \u201cto apologize\u201d! That\u2019s why pedir <\/strong>is such a valuable verb to know, because it is so versatile that you\u2019ll be able to use it in lots of different contexts.<\/p>\n Now, let\u2019s look at a few example sentences for the different meanings of pedir:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cNo te olvides de pedir ayuda si la necesitas\u201d <\/strong>-> Don\u2019t forget to ask for help if you need it. <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cLa novia de Jack se sent\u00eda<\/strong> triste, entonces Jack le pidi\u00f3 una pizza para alegrarla\u201d <\/strong>-> Jack\u2019s girlfriend felt sad, so he ordered her a pizza to help her feel better. <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cLa fiesta est\u00e1 lejos, mejor pedimos un taxi\u201d <\/strong>-> The party is far away, it\u2019s best if we call a cab <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cLe tuve que pedir perd\u00f3n a Mar\u00eda, porque sin querer le he roto el m\u00f3vil\u201d <\/strong>-> I had to apologize to Mar\u00eda because I accidentally broke her phone<\/em>.<\/p>\n Another note of caution that is good to keep in mind between Spanish and English is that the Spanish verb \u201cordenar\u201d <\/strong>sounds a lot like \u201cto order\u201d <\/em>in English.\u00a0Don\u2019t let this similarity fool you though. Ordenar <\/strong>means \u201cto organize<\/em>\u201d, not \u201cto order\u201d<\/em>. When you want to say \u201cto order<\/em>\u201d, make sure to use pedir<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Now, let\u2019s move on to some of the more potentially confusing aspects of Spanish verb conjugation. After all, it\u2019s best to get the harder stuff out of the way so that the rest just seems like a breeze. Let\u2019s look at pedir<\/strong>\u2019s verbals. The only reason verbals can be confusing is because, despite their name, verbals exist when verbs don\u2019t act like verbs <\/strong>in a specific sentence. Instead, they can act like nouns, adjectives, or adverbs<\/strong>. So, if you ever encounter a sentence where you notice an unconjugated version of the verb \u201cpedir\u201d, alongside a conjugated version of another verb, odds are pedir <\/strong>is operating using its verbals<\/strong>. Let\u2019s go over three of pedir\u2019s verbals: the infinitive <\/em>(infinitivo), the gerund <\/em>(gerundio), and the participle (participio<\/strong>).<\/p>\n The infinitive of the verb \u201cpedir\u201d is simply \u201cpedir\u201d.<\/strong> Easy, right? That\u2019s because you use it in sentences when pedir<\/em> is just a qualifying word for another active verb.<\/p>\n For example: \u201c\u00bfMam\u00e1, puedo pedir un libro nuevo?\u201d<\/strong> means \u201cMom, can I order a new book?\u201d In this case, the acting verb is \u201cpoder\u201d (to be able to<\/em>), rather than \u201cpedir\u201d.<\/p>\n The gerund of \u201cpedir\u201d is \u201cpidiendo\u201d (asking<\/em>).<\/strong> We use it when the active verb in a sentence is \u201cestar\u201d (to be<\/em>).<\/p>\n For example: \u201cJoe tiene un problema con su coche. Ahora est\u00e1 pidiendo la ayuda de un mec\u00e1nico\u201d<\/strong>, meaning \u201cJoe has a problem with his car. Now he\u2019s asking for help from a mechanic\u201d.<\/p>\n The participle of \u201cpedir\u201d is \u201cpedido\u201d (asked<\/em>), and we use it when the active verb in a sentence is \u201chaber\u201d (to have)<\/em>.<\/p>\n For example: \u201cTenemos que irnos, \u00bfHas pedido ya la cuenta?\u201d<\/strong>, means \u201cWe have to go. Have you already asked for the bill?\u201d\u00a0In this case, the verb haber is conjugated to \u201chas\u201d (have you)<\/em>, and pedido remains the same no matter how haber <\/strong>is conjugated.<\/p>\n Verbals can be quite difficult, so well done for taking them on so soon. Now let\u2019s move onto the fun part (at least for us): Pedir<\/em> conjugation tables!<\/p>\n The fact that pedir<\/strong> is irregular shouldn\u2019t scare you away from being able to conjugate it properly. Pedir conjugation can be easily mastered with the right foundation. The following conjugation tables and sentence examples should give you the right building blocks to start using this verb correctly.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s start with how to use \u201cpedir\u201d when voicing a command. Maybe you want to tell someone to order something for you, or to ask for something on your behalf. Maybe in an emergency, there isn\u2019t much time to ask for something politely, so you need to command someone to help you. Let\u2019s look into this.<\/p>\n<\/a>What Kind of Verb is Pedir<\/em>?<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Ordering, Asking, Calling: The Different Meanings of Pedir<\/em>.<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>Pedir<\/em> Verbals<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Infinitivo (infinitive)<\/em><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Gerundio (gerund<\/em>)<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Participio (participle)<\/h3>\n
<\/a>All-Levels Pedir<\/em> Conjugation<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\n<\/a>No Harm in Asking: Imperative Pedir<\/em> Conjugation<\/h2>\n