Radical Changing Verbs
Also called root-changing or stem changing ,1236 or boot verbs
because of the stress pattern . I will demonstrate.
This is an irregularity that almost exclusively affects the PRESENT
TENSE ONLY.
They change at the start of the verb(root/stem) because the vowel at
the start “stretches” due to stress on the vowel. I will demonstrate.
There are 3 types:
Type 1. o to ue ,u to ue , and e to ie
Eg volver -vuelvo , jugar –juego, pensar –pienso (see table and
“boot” diagram)
Type 2 e-ie , o to ue
Eg preferir –prefiero, dormir-duermo (remember that IR verbs are
trouble /sheep?) also changes required in the preterite 3rd person ,
and gerund (present participle /-ing-see previous lesson)
Type 3 e to ie
Eg decir-digo (also g trouble-see previous lesson)AND 3rd person
preterite and gerund as in group 2 (IR verbs again)
Gerunds :
volver –to return –volviendo-returning –no problem
Jugar –to play –jugando –playing –no problem/irregularity
BUT -IR VERBS that are radical changing are TROUBLESOME:
eg
Dormir –to sleep- durmiendo –sleeping
Preferir –to prefer-prefiriendo –preferring
Sentir-to feel –sintiendo –feeling
PRETERITE (simple past tense)
Dormir-durmió –he or she slept, durmieron –they slept (the rest is
normal ie dormí-I slept etc.
Preferir -prefirió –he preferred , prefirieron –they preferred (the rest
is normal eg preferí –I preferred) Confusing , but easier to say !
The subjunctive (past/imperfect)
Because it is based on the preterite (3rd person plural) , the mutation
continues with the –IR radical changing /boot verbs
Eg dormir -durmiese/durmiera , preferir –prefiriese/prefiriera
BUT this does not happen with the radical changing verbs which have
irregular forms in the preterite (called graves , no accent , very short ,
easy to spot)
Eg tuve (tener) tuviera/tuviese, quise (querer) quisiera
Now do the dice game in pairs with these infinitives in the present
tense until you can get the verb conjugated correctly without
cheating and with quick recall .Use verb books/boot table until you
can do without them.
Volver
Jugar
Pensar
Preferir
Dormir
Pedir
Decir
Tener
Querer
Poder
Empezar
Encontrar(se)
Cerrar
Acostarse
Ejercicios :
Rutina –describe un día normal en tu vida usando un máximo de
estos verbos : despertarse(ie), acostarse(ue), empezar (ie),dormir
(ue)
Luego vuelve a hacer el ejercicio , usando la forma de NOSOTROS
(not radical changing)
DEBERES : Salud! –do the same exercise twice (a) verbs in “they”
form , then in “we “ (nosotros) so you un-radical change them.