Spanish Stem-Changing Verbs

e→ieo→ue

e→i

Take notes on stem changing verbs and copy all the

vocabulary

There is a fairly large group of verbs in Spanish that undergo changes in their stem when conjugated in the present tense.

These changes occur only in the first and second persons singular and third persons singular and plural.

When a line is drawn around the forms that change, the resulting shape vaguely resembles a boot or high-top shoe; thus, these verbs are sometimes informally called “boot” or “shoe”

verbs.

There are three types or classes of “boot” verbs.

Los verbos que cambian e→ieWrite the verbs in your notebook Tener Querer Pensar Empezar Comenzar Perder Preferir Cerrar Entender Merendar Mentir Recomendar *Nevar

To have To want To think To begin (start) To begin (start) To lose To prefer To close To understand To have a snack To lie To recommend To snow

*nevar is only conjugated in the third person singular “it” (same conjugation as the “he/she” form: nieva

Stem-changing verbs give their stems the

boot!

Querer

Querer

First, let’s just add all the correct endings.

Verb endings

If a verb ends in –ar, you add:

oasaamosan

Verb endings

If a verb ends in –er, you add:

oeseemosen

if a verb ends in –ir, you add:

oese imosen

So, since “querer” ends en “er” (querer), which endings will we add?

The “er” endings:

o

es

e

emos

en

Querer - endings

quer quer

quer

quer quer

o emos

e

es

en

Now, let’s add our stem change.

Remember, only the e in the stem can change.

querer

perder

If there are two e’s in the stem, the second one always changes.

preferir

empezar

Now let’s change the stems. Remember, e can change to ie only

within the boot. This means the nosotros form never changes!

Querer

quier quer

quier

quier quier

o emos

e

es

en

The u→ue and o→ue verbs work the same way.Write the words in your notebook Poder

Jugar Dormir Soñar Volver Devolver Almorzar Contar Costar Encontrar Recordar Probar colgar *llover

to be able to (can) to play to sleep to dream to return (to a place) to return (a thing) To have lunch To count/ To tell stories To cost To find To remember /To recall To try / to taste To hang something To rain

*costar is only conjugated in the “he” and “they forms” cuesta, cuestan**llover is only conjugated in the “it-he” form: llueve

First, find the o or u in the stem that is going to change

Poder

Jugar

Dormir

Soñar

Volver

Devolver

Almorzar

Contar

Costar

Encontrar

Recordar

probar

Then, decide which verb endings you will use. For jugar:

o as a amos an

For poder:

o es e emos en

Then change it in the boot

juego jugamos

juegas

juega juegan

Poder

p__d pod

p__d

p__d p__d

o

es

e

emos

en

ue

ue

ue

ue

Stop here, now conjugate

the verbs in the handout

The e→i verbs work the same way.

Servir

Pedir

Sonreir

Reirse

Repetir

Seguir

Competir

to serve

To ask for (service, request, favor)

To smile

To laugh

To repeat

To continue / to follow (with directions)

To compete

First, find the e in the stem that is going to change Servir

Pedir

Sonreir

Reir

Repetir

seguir

Now, let’s add our stem change.

Remember, only the e in the stem can change.

servir

seguir

If there are two e’s in the stem, the second one always changes.

repetir

Servir - endings

serv serv

serv

serv serv

o imos

e

es

en

Now let’s change the stems. Remember, e can change to i only

within the boot. This means the nosotros form never changes!

Servir

sirv serv

sirv

sirv sirv

o imos

e

es

en