Irregular Verbs, Stem-Changing Verbs: e - ie, e - i, o - ue

Some verbs in Spanish undergo changes in their stem when conjugated. These changes occur only in the singular and the

3rd person plural conjugations.

When a line is drawn around the forms that change, the resulting shape vaguely resembles a boot; thus, these

verbs are sometimes called “boot”verbs.

There are three types of “boot” verbs.

entender

entiendoentiendesentiende

entendemosentendéisentienden

Type 1: e - ieWe’ll use entender, to understand, as an example of this type.

Here are some other common e - ie verbs:

empezar, comenzar to begin

pensar (+ infinitive) to think; to plan (to do something)

perder to lose

querer to want, to love

preferir to prefer

servir

sirvosirvessirve

servimosservíssirven

Type 2: e - iWe’ll use servir, to serve, as an example of this type.

Note: All e - i verbs are -ir verbs.

Here are some other common e - i verbs:

repetir to repeat, to have a second helping

pedir to ask for, to request

medir to measure, to be a certain height

almorzar

almuerzoalmuerzasalmuerza

almorzamosalmorzáisalmuerzan

Type 3: o - ueWe’ll use almorzar, to have lunch, as an example of this type.

jugar

juegojuegasjuega

jugamosjugáisjuegan

The verb jugar, to play (games or sports), follows the same pattern as o - ue verbs, but the change is u - ue.

Here are some other common o - ue verbs:

volver to return, to come back

costar* to cost

dormir to sleep

encontrar to find

poder to be able; can

recordar to remember

soñar (con) to dream (about)

*Costar is normally used only in the third persons.

The verbs querer and preferirExpressing desires and

preferences

Querer and preferir are important stem-changing verbs that have multiple uses.

quieroquieresquiere

queremosqueréisquieren

querer

When referring to a thing, querer means to want.

¿Quiere un sándwich de pollo?

Sí, y quiero papas fritas también, por

favor.

querer

When referring to a person, querer means to love.

quieroquieresquiere

queremosqueréisquieren

Quiero mucho a su hija, señor

Vega.

prefieroprefieresprefiere

preferimospreferísprefieren

preferir

Preferir, of course, means to prefer.

¿Quiere un sándwich de pollo? No señor,

prefiero una hamburguesa.

Both querer and preferir can be used with an infinitive directly after them

Rafael quiere caminar, pero su novia prefiere patinar.

Rafael wants to walk, but his girlfriend prefers to skate.

quieroquieresquiere

queremosqueréisquieren

We start with an appropriate conjugation of querer or preferir . . .and then add any infinitive.

estudiarescribirviajarbailar

leercomeraprenderdormir

estudiar

piensopiensaspiensa

pensamospensáispiensan

Thinking and planningThe verb pensar is another very useful stem-

changing verb.

Thinking and planningPensar basically means “to think.”

En el parque, pienso y descanso.

In the park, I think and rest.

Thinking and planning

¿En qué piensas?

Pensar en means “to think about.”

Gabriela siempre piensa en sus estudios.

Pensamos en el bienestar de la familia.

Gabriela is always thinking about her studies.

We’re thinking about the wellbeing of the family.

What are you thinking about?

Thinking and planningPensar de means “to think of”

(to have an opinion about.)¿Qué piensas de las novelas de Márquez?

What do you think of Márquez’s novels?

Pensar que means “to think that” (in answer to the above question, for

example.)Yo pienso que sus novelas son maravillosas.I think that his novels are wonderful.

pensar + infinitive =to plan to do something

Thinking and planningPensar also has a special use . . .

Pensamos escuchar música en el parque esta tarde.

We’re planning to listen to music in the park this afternoon.

Notice!

Remember, when one verb immediately follows another, only the first verb is conjugated."I plan to study" - Pienso estudiar

If two verbs go walking,The first does the talking!

Practice: Thinking and planning

Translate the following to Spanish:1.We eat lunch in the school, and she eats

lunch in the park.2.He wants a pizza, but they prefer to buy

burritos.3.When I sleep, I dream.4.Does the boy lose books a lot?5.She can't send texts in class, but we can

talk after class.

FIN