Stem-Changing Stem-Changing VerbsVerbs

Review: The Parts of a VerbReview: The Parts of a Verb

Every verb has two parts:1. the stem 2. the ending

Ex: hablar infinitive -ar ….. ending habl ….. stem

Stem-Changing VerbsStem-Changing Verbs

Some verbs have changes in the stem.

These verbs have an extra step to conjugate them.1. change the stem (e ie o ue

e i)2. drop the ending (–ar, –er, or –ir)3. add a new ending to match the

subject

yo nosotrosnosotras

tú vosotrosvosotras(Spain)

Ud.élella

Uds.ellosellas

The forms in the orange area have a stem change. The nosotros and vosotros forms do not have a stem change; the stem stays the same.

Stem-Changing VerbsStem-Changing Verbs

yo nosotrosnosotras

tú vosotrosvosotras(Spain)

Ud.élella

Uds.ellosellas

You might notice that the forms that change fall into an area of the conjugation chart that looks a bit like a…

Stem-Changing VerbsStem-Changing Verbs

yo nosotrosnosotras

tú vosotrosvosotras(Spain)

Ud.élella

Uds.ellosellas

For this reason many people call stem-changing verbs “boot verbs.” Only the forms inside the “boot” have a stem change.

Stem-Changing VerbsStem-Changing Verbs

There are three kinds of stem-changing verbs in the present tense:1. oue(–ar, –er, & –ir verbs)2. eie (–ar, –er, & –ir verbs)3. ei (only –ir verbs)

The verb jugar is one exception; it has a uue stem change.

If there is more than one vowel in the stem, it is the last vowel in the stem that changes.

Stem-Changing VerbsStem-Changing Verbs

yo almuerzo

nosotrosnosotras

almorzamos

tú almuerzas

vosotrosvosotras(Spain)

almorzáis

Ud.élella

almuerza

Uds.ellosellas

almuerzan

Now let’s look at some examples:almorzar– to have lunch OUE

Stem-Changing VerbsStem-Changing Verbs

yo cierro nosotrosnosotras

cerramos

tú cierras vosotrosvosotras(Spain)

cerráis

Ud.élella

cierra Uds.ellosellas

cierran

cerrar– to close EIE

Stem-Changing VerbsStem-Changing Verbs

yo sirvo nosotrosnosotras

servimos

tú sirves vosotrosvosotras(Spain)

servís

Ud.élella

sirve Uds.ellosellas

sirven

servir– to serve EI

Stem-Changing VerbsStem-Changing Verbs

El finEl fin