Stemchanging Verbs StemChanging Verbs What is a stem

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 “ar”, “ir”, or “er” and what is left is the stem. escribir Stem = escrib ending=ir 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 change their stem in the NOSOTROS/VOSOTROS forms of the verb. Yo quiero = I want nosotros/as QUERemos = we want Tú quieres = you want él/ella/usted quiere = Ellos/ellas/ustedes quieren= he/she/you want They/you guys want

Let’s Practice conjugating an “e-ie” verb cerrar – to close Yo Tú él/ella/usted = I close = you (inf) close = he/she closes/you (fml) close. Nosotros/as Ellos/ellas/ustedes = we close = 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 Yo Tú él/ella usted pienso piensas piensa plural nosotros/as PENSamos vosotros/as PENsaís ellos/ellas ustedes piensan

Entender – to understand(e-ie stem changing verb) singular plural Yo entiendo nosotros entendemos tú entiendes vosotros entendéis él/ella/usted entiende Ellos/ellas/ustedes entienden

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.

As stated ear lier: There are 4 t ypes of stem -changing ve e-ie/e-i/o-ue. rbs: Here are 3 ty pes of them…. e ie pensar = to think e i querer = to want cerrar = to close entender = to understand preferir = to prefer empezar = to start 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 E I O UE EMPEZAR = TO BEGIN SERVIR = TO SERVE DORMIR = TO SLEEP