By Jami Sipe ©2010 Teacher’s Discovery

©2010 ©2010

Verbs that are also called

“Boot” or “Shoe Verbs”

Stem-Changing Verbs

A conjugated verb is made up of the verb stem and the verb ending.

Ejemplos: cantarcantar in the yo form becomes cantocanto – “cantcant” (the stem) plus “oo” (the yo form ending)

hablarhablar in the usted form becomes hablahabla – “hablhabl” (the stem) plus “aa” (the usted form ending)

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-ar-ar -er-er -ir-ir

The DifferencesStem-changing verbs are normal –arar, –erer and –irir verbs

Note: There is no stem change in the nosotros/as or vosotros/as forms.

The endings of the verb are still the same as other –arar, –erer and –ir ir verbs.

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EXCEPTEXCEPT that in the

yo, tú, usted, él, ella, ustedes, ellos yo, tú, usted, él, ella, ustedes, ellos and ellasellas forms,

The stem change occurs only in the “boot”:

the STEMSTEM changes.

Why the boot?Look at the following table –

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Can you see the bootboot or shoeshoe form?

yo

tú

usted, él, ella

ustedes, ellos, ellas

vosotros/as

nosotros/as

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quiero

quieres

quiere quieren

queréis*

queremos*

The stem of these verbs will change in the yo, tú, usted, él, ella, ustedes, ellos and ellas forms.

querer = to want, wish*Note: The stem changes in all forms except nosotros/as and vosotros/as.

Verbs whose stem changes from “E»IE”

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pienso

piensas

piensa piensan

pensáis*

pensamos*

Más “E»IE””*Note:The stem changes in all forms except nosotros/as andvosotros/as.

pensar = to think

merendar = to have a snack preferir = to prefer

cerrar = to close

empezar = to begin

entender = to understand

perder = to lose

comenzar = to begin

Other E»IE stem-changing verbs are:

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Más “E»IE”” Ejemplos:

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duermo

duermes

duerme duermen

dormís*

dormimos*

Verbs whose stem changes from “O»UE””

*Note: The stem changes in all forms exceptnosotros/asandvosotros/as.

These verbs will change from an oo to a ueue in the conjugated form: dormir = to sleep

probar = to taste, test and sample

almorzar = to eat lunch

morir = to die

devolver = to return (an item)

contar = to count, to tell

Other verbs are:

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Ejemplos:

“O»UE””

encontrar = to find poder = to be able, can

recordar = to remember volver = to return

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pido

pides

pide piden

pedís*

pedimos*

Verbs whose stem changes from “EE»I”

*Note:The stem changes in all forms exceptnosotros/asandvosotros/as.

These verbs change from an ee to an i.pedir = to ask for, to order

vestir = to dress

repetir = to repeat

medir = to measure

servir = to serve

Other verbs are:

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“E»I”” Ejemplos:

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juego

juegas

juega juegan

jugáis*

There is one common boot verb that changes from “U»UE.”

jugamos*

jugar = to play a sport or game*Note: The stem changes in all forms except nosotros/asandvosotros/as.

¡OJO!

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yo quieronosotros queremosella vuelvevosotros volvéistú pidesnosotros pedimosusted juegavosotros jugáis

I want we want

she returnsyou (pl. familiar – Spain) return

you (tú) ask forwe ask for

you (usted) playyou (pl. familiar – Spain) play

.

Credits

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Written by: Jami Sipe

Additional Information by: Suzanne Rutkowski

Adriana Miretti

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