Stem-changing Verbs
Stem-Changing Verbs
What is a stem changing verb?
Remember that a verb has two parts:
1) the stem 2) the “ar”/”er”/”ir” ending.
Example:
Comer – to eat (cross out the ending “er” and what is
left is the stem.
comer
Stem
“er” ending
In a stem changing verb, the stem changes though the
endings follow the regular “ar”/”er”/or “ir” pattern.
Stem-Changing Verbs
There are 4 different types of stem changing verbs:
1) e-ie stem changers
2) e – i stem changers
3) o-ue stem changers
4) u – ue stem changers
Let’s take a look at e-ie stem changers and how to
conjugate them:
Querer = to want. It is an e-ie stem changing verb. It
also has the endings for “er” verbs.
Querer (e-ie) – to want
How to conjugate:
•
Cross of the “er” ending and you are left with the stem “quer”.
Because querer is an e-ie stem changer, we have to change the “e”
in the stem to “ie” before we add our endings.
•
IMPORTANT NOTE: Stem changing verbs NEVER EVER change their
stem in the NOSOTROS/VOSOTROS forms of the verb.
Yo quiero = I want
nosotros/as QUERemos = we want
Tú quieres = you want
él/ella/usted quiere =
he/she/you want
Ellos/ellas/ustedes quieren=
They/you guys want
Let’s Practice conjugating an “e-ie” verb
cerrar – to close
Yo
Tú
él/ella/usted
cierro = I close
cierras = you (fr) close
cierra = he/she closes/you (fml)
close.
Nosotros/as
Ellos/ellas/ustedes
cerramos = we close
cierran = they/you all close
Boot Verbs
Stem-changing verbs are often referred to as
“boot verbs”. This is because the forms of the
verb that change the stem make the shape
of a boot
pensar – to think (e – ie stem change)
singular
Yo
pienso
Tú
él/ella
usted
piensas
piensa
plural
nosotros/as
PENSamos
vosotros/as
PENsaís
ellos/ellas
ustedes
piensan
Entender – to understand(e-ie stem changing verb)
singular
plural
Yo entiendo
nosotros entendemos
tú entiendes
vosotros entendéis
él/ella/usted
entiende
Ellos/ellas/ustedes
entienden
IMPORTANT Note: When one verb follows another, the
FIRST VERB is conjugated and the second verb is in the
INFINITIVE form.
EXAMPLES:
¿Tú quieres mirar la television o leer un libro?
Do you want to watch TV or to read a book?
Paula prefiere llevar el vestido azul.
Paula prefers to wear the blue dress.
Ella empieza estudiar sus apuntes.
She begins to study her notes.
Let’s review - Steps to conjugating a stem-changing
verb
1) Cross off AR/ER/ or IR from the infinitive.
2) Write the pronouns (yo, tú, etc…)
3) Change the stem to the changed stem in everything EXCEPT
NOSOTROS AND VOSOTROS.
4) Add the AR/ER/ or IR endings (depending on the type of
verb.
5) Translate pronouns and all forms of the verb into English.
Now you are done!!! If you did it correctly, the stem changed
forms of the verb are shaped like a boot.
e  ie
pensar = to think
querer = to want
cerrar = to close
entender = to
understand
preferir = to prefer
empezar = to
understand
ei
servir = to serve
pedir = to order
seguir = to follow
competir = to
compete
o  ue
almorzar = to eat
lunch
poder = to be able/can
encontrar = to find
dormir = to sleep
volver = to return
There is only ONE “u-ue” verb. It is the verb jugar – to
play.
Yo juego
nosotros JUGamos
Tú juegas
él/ella/usted juega
ellos/ellas/ustedes
juegan
Vamos a practicar:
Conjugate the following stem-changing verbs. When done,
draw a boot around the ones that changed the stem
(everything EXCEPT NOSOTROS/VOSOTROS)
Remember – the er/ir/ar endings will remain the same as you
have previously learned.
E IE
EMPEZAR = TO BEGIN
EI
SERVIR = TO SERVE
O  UE
DORMIR = TO SLEEP
A quick review of regular verb endings:
***Please write in your packet:
Regular “er” verb endings
Yo - o
Tú - es
él/ella/usted - e
Regular “ir” verb endings
Yo - o
Tú - es
él/ella/usted - e
Nosotros/nosotras - emos
Ellos/ellas/ustedes - en
Nosotros/nosotras - Imos
Ellos/ellas/ustedes - en
A quick review of regular verb endings:
***Please write in your packet:
Regular “ar” verb endings
Yo - o
Tú - as
él/ella/usted - a
Nosotros/nosotras - amos
Ellos/ellas/ustedes - an
And thAt’s All there is to it!!!
Remember:
1) Identify and use correct
verb endings.
2) Change stem as indicated,
(*except in nosotros and
vosotros).
3) Draw boot around verb to
double check your
conjugations.
4) AND ALWAYS remember to
conjugate correctly in
sentences.