8.1 Preterite of stem-changing verbs
ANTE TODO
 As you learned in Lección 6, –ar and –er stemchanging verbs in the present have no stem change in
the preterite.
 The –ir stem-changing verbs in the present however, do
have a stem change.
 Study the charts in the next slide and observe where the
stem changes occur. These verbs are sometimes
referred to as Slipper Verbs (preterite), as opposed to
Boot Verbs (present). They take regular –ir preterite
endings.
8.1 Preterite of stem-changing verbs
servir (to serve) dormir (to sleep)
SINGULAR FORMS
yo
serví
dormí
tú
serviste
dormiste
sirvió
durmió
nosotros/as
servimos
dormimos
vosotros/as
servisteis
dormisteis
sirvieron
durmieron
Ud. / él / ella
PLURAL FORMS
Uds. / ellos / ellas
8.1 Preterite of stem-changing verbs
 Stem-changing –ir verbs, in the preterite only, have a
stem change in the third-person singular and plural forms.
The stem change consists of either e to i or o to u, and
occurs in the vowel closest to the ending. (preferir)
(ei)
pedir : pidió, pidieron
(o u)
morir (to die) : murió, murieron
8.1 Preterite of stem-changing verbs
 Preferir:
(e→ie present)
BOOT
(e→i preterite)
SLIPPER
Prefiero
Preferimos
Preferí
Preferimos
Prefieres
Prefiere
Preferís
Prefieren
Preferiste
Prefirió
Preferisteis
Prefirieron
8.1 Preterite of stem-changing verbs
 Some common –ir stem changing verbs in the
preterite are: (* means reflexive)









(ei)
servir (to serve)
pedir (to ask for, to order)
repetir (to repeat)
seguir (to follow)
conseguir (to obtain)
preferir (to prefer)
sentirse (to feel)
despedirse (to say goodbye)
vestirse (to get dressed)
(o u)
dormir (to sleep)
dormirse (to go/ fall sleep)*
morir (to die)
8.1 Preterite of stem-changing verbs
 When a verb is reflexive, you must include
the reflexive pronoun before the
conjugated verb.
vestirse
 me vestí
nos vestimos
 te vestiste
os vestisteis
 se vistió
se vistieron
8.1 Preterite of stem-changing verbs
¡INTÉNTALO! Cambia los infinitivos al pretérito.
1. Yo ____. (servir, dormir, pedir, preferir, repetir, seguir)
2. Usted ____. (morir, conseguir, pedir, sentirse, despedirse, vestirse)
3. Tú ____. (conseguir, servir, morir, pedir, dormir, repetir)
4. Ellas ____.(repetir, dormir, seguir, preferir, morir, servir)
5. Nosotros ____. (seguir, preferir, servir, vestirse, despedirse, dormirse)
6. Ustedes ____. (sentirse, vestirse, conseguir, pedir, despedirse, dormirse)
7. Él ____. (dormir, morir, preferir, repetir, seguir, pedir)
8.1 Preterite of stem-changing verbs
¡Salieron muy bien!