STEM-CHANGING
VERBS
E-IE
O-UE
E-I
WHAT IS A STEM?
First, let’s find out
what a verb stem is!
WHAT IS A VERB STEM???
The stem of a verb is the portion remaining
after removing the –ar, -er or –ir
For example
•The stem of empezar is “EMPEZ”
•The stem of preferir is “PREFER”
Many verbs in Spanish have changes in their
stem when conjugated in the present tense.
They are called “stem changing verbs”.
Also called “boot” verbs, because the
stem change does NOT occur in the
nosotros and vosotros forms, creating
the shape of a boot .
There are three types “boot” verbs.
E-IE STEM CHANGING VERBS
Type 1
WHICH VERBS HAVE E-IE
STEM CHANGES?
Let’s look at a list of some
verbs that have e-ie stem
changes!
STEM-CHANGING VERBS (E - IE)
empezar
comenzar
pensar
cerrar
to begin
to begin
to think, plan
to close
entender
querer
to understand
to want
preferir
mentir
to prefer
to lie
Pay attention to verb endings as well!
The “e” in the stem will change to “ie” when the verb is
conjugated, but NOT in the nosotros and vosotros forms.
LET’S REVIEW OUR VERB ENDINGS
-ar endings
-er & -ir endings
o
amos
o
emos/ imos
as
ais
es
eis/ is
a
an
e
en
HOW DO WE CONJUGATE
E-IE STEM CHANGING
VERBS?
Let’s see some
examples!
QUERER (E
- IE) – TO WANT
Quiero
I want
Queremos
We want
Quieres
You want
Quiere
He/She wants
You Want
(formal)
Queréis
You all want
Quieren
They want
You all want
(formal)
PERDER (E - IE) – TO LOSE
pierdo
perdemos
pierdes
perdéis
pierde
pierden
CERRAR (E - IE) – TO CLOSE
cierro
cerramos
cierras
cerráis
cierra
cierran
NOW YOU TRY IT!
Conjuguemos…..
PRACTICAMOS
Empezar = to begin
1. Tú…
empiezas
4. Tú y Susana… (informal)
empezáis
2. Mis amigos y yo…
empezamos
5. Yo…
empiezo
3. Miguel y Elena…
empiezan
6. Paco…
empieza
PPRACTICAMOS
RACTICAMOS
PENSAR – TO PLAN, TO THINK
1. Mis padres y yo…
pensamos
4. Tú…
piensas
2. Yo…
pienso
5. Ana…
piensa
3. Ellos…
piensan
6. Vosotros…
pensáis
PPRACTICAMOS
RACTICAMOS
QUERER – TO WANT
1. Rafa, Miguel, Jose y
yo…
queremos
4. Tú…
quieres
2. Tú y tus amigos…
queréis
5. Yo…
quiero
3. Las chicas…
quieren
6. Usted…
quiere
PRACTICAMOS
PREFERIR = TO PREFER
1. Tú y Paco…
preferís
4. Los estudiantes…
prefieren
2. Mis amigos, tus
padres y yo…
preferimos
5. Tú…
prefieres
3. Yo…
prefiero
6. Rafael…
prefiere
O-UE
STEM CHANGING VERBS
Type 2
WHICH VERBS HAVE O-UE
STEM CHANGES?
Let’s look at a list of some
verbs that have o-ue stem
changes!
STEM-CHANGING VERBS (O - UE)
jugar (u - ue)
contar
costar
encontrar
recordar
volar
dormir
volver
devolver
almorzar
to play
to count, tell a story
to cost
to find, meet
to remember
to fly
to sleep
to return
to return something
to eat lunch
The “o” in the stem will change to “ue” when the verb is
conjugated, but NOT in the nosotros and vosotros forms.
HOW DO WE CONJUGATE
O-UE STEM CHANGING
VERBS?
Let’s see some
examples!
PODER (O - UE) – TO BE ABLE TO, CAN
puedo
podemos
puedes podéis
puede
pueden
PRACTICAMOS
STEM CHANGING VERBS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
I eat lunch
They eat lunch
You eat lunch
They find
We find
I sleep
You sleep
They sleep
O-UE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Almuerzo
Almuerzan
Almuerzas
Encuentran
Encontramos
Duermo
Duermes
Duermen
E-I STEM CHANGING VERBS
WHICH VERBS HAVE E-I
STEM CHANGES?
Let’s look at a list of some
verbs that have e-i stem
changes!
STEM-CHANGING VERBS (E - I)
servir
repetir
reír
sonreír
seguir
vestirse
to serve
to repeat
to laugh
to smile
to follow, continue
to dress
The “e” in the stem will change to “i” when the verb is conjugated,
but NOT in the nosotros and vosotros forms.
HOW DO WE CONJUGATE
E-I STEM CHANGING
VERBS?
Let’s see an
example!
PEDIR (E - I) – TO ASK FOR, TO ORDER
pido
pedimos
pides
pedís
pide
piden
PRACTICAMOS
STEM CHANGING VERBS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
I order
You order
We order
You all order (inf)
They serve
He serves
We serve
They serve
E-I
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Pido
Pides
Pedimos
Pedís
Sirven
Sirve
Servimos
Sirven
PRACTICAMOS TODOS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
I can
I eat lunch
You repeat
Marta sleeps
They follow
You find
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Puedo
Almuerzo
Repites
Duerme
Siguen
Encuentras
PRACTICAMOS TODOS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Miguel can
We return
You prefer
I want
It costs
They cost
He returns
We understand
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Puede
Volvemos
Prefieres
Quiero
Cuesta
Cuestan
Vuelve
Entendemos
PRACTICAMOS TODOS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Ana serves
You and I serve
Your friends can
I understand
My parents find
You and Ana eat lunch
They want
My friends and I sleep
The waiter orders
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Sirve
Servimos
Pueden
Entiendo
Encuentran
Almorzáis
Quieren
Dormimos
Pide
EL FIN