There are a few verbs that end in _-iën_. The [dieresis](#/lesson/SpellingAndPronunciation.08) over _e_ indicates that _e_ is the beginning of a new syllable. Normally, _ie_ is pronounced as _ee_ in the English verb _seek_, but _iën_ is pronounced as English _ee-ye_.
The stem of an -iën verb ends in _ie_
When we derive the stem of an -iën verb, we only subtract -n. We maintain -e but we remove the dieresis. For example:
Infinitive | ruziën
(to quarrel) | skiën
(to ski) | oliën
(to oil)
Stem | ruzie | skie | olie
Now that you know how to derive the stem from an infinitive, you will be able to conjugate a verb in all eight tenses. You will find that to do this properly, you cannot do without the knowledge about the stem you obtained in this section.