Stem-changing verbs
-ar, -er stem-changing verbs:
almorzar (ue) to
have lunch
colgar (ue) to hang
contar (ue) to
count, to tell,
narrate a story
costar (ue) to cost
jugar (ue) to play
sports/games
poder** (ue) to be
able
resolver (ue) to
solve, resolve
torcerse (ue) to
twist/sprain (one’s
ankle…)
volver (ue) to
return
querer** (ie) to
want, love
recomendar (ie) to
recommend
entender (ie) to
understand
regar (ie) to water
(plants)
atender (ie) to
look after, tend
despertarse (ie)
to wake up
pensar (ie) to
think
sentarse (ie) to
sit down
probar (ue) to
taste, try
mostrar (ue) to
show
doler (ue) to hurt
(like gustar)
devolver (ue) to
return
empezar (ie) to
begin
perder (ie) to lose
sonar (ue) to ring
(phone), go off
(alarm clock)
encontrar (ue) to
find encontrarse
(ue) con to meet up
with someone
volar (ue) to fly
acordarse (ue) de
to remember
Rules for –ar, -er stem-changing verbs:
Present indicative – stem change occurs in all persons except nosotros/as,
vosotros/as
Preterit indicative – NO STEM CHANGE. Spelling changes for –zar (z  c), -gar
(g  gu) for yo form. Also, some are IRREGULAR.**
Imperfect indicative – NO STEM CHANGE
Present subjunctive – stem change occurs in all persons except nosotros/as,
vosotros/as (SAME AS PRESENT INDICATIVE)
-ir stem-changing verbs:
dormir (ue, u) to
sleep dormirse to fall
asleep
repetir (i) to repeat
sentirse (ie,i) to
feel sentir to be
sorry, regret, feel
divertirse (ie, i) to
have fun/ a good time
invertir (ie, i) to
invest
pedir (i) to ask for,
order
preferir (ie, i) to
prefer
servir (i) to serve
vestirse (i) to get
dressed
reírse (i) to laugh
despedirse(i) to say
good-bye
seguir (i) to
continue, follow
morirse (ue, u) to die
Rules for –ir stem-changing verbs:
Present indicative – 1st stem change (eg. dormir (ue*, u) occurs in all
persons except nosotros/as, vosotros/as
Preterit indicative – 2nd stem change (eg. dormir (ue, u*) occurs only in 3rd
person singular (él, ella, Ud.) and 3rd person plural (ellos/as, Uds.)
Imperfect indicative – NO STEM CHANGE
Present subjunctive – 1st stem change occurs in all persons except
nosotros/as, vosotros/as. 2nd stem change occurs in nosotros/as,
vosotros/as