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:

Escribir – to write (cross out the ending “er” and what is

left is the stem.

escribir Stem = escrib ir = 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

Tú quieres = you want

él/ella/usted quiere =

he/she/you want

nosotros/as QUERemos = we 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

Nosotros/as

Ellos/ellas/ustedes

cierro = I close

cierras = you (fr) close

cierra = he/she closes/you (fml)

close.

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 plural

Yo pienso nosotros/as

PENSamos

Tú piensas

vosotros/as

PENsaís

él/ella

usted piensa

ellos/ellas

ustedes

piensan

singular plural

Yo entiendo

nosotros entendemos

tú entiendes vosotros entendéis

él/ella/usted

entiende

Ellos/ellas/ustedes

entienden

Entender – to understand(e-ie stem changing verb)

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 start

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