Conjugate stem changers in the present tense #butterflies? #whodidthis

Stem changing infinitives Stem changing infinitives are named for what they do– change in the stem. You are going to make some alteration of the stem before adding the verb endings. You will use the endings you already know. The hardest part of stem changers is knowing which ones change and which ones don’t.

Words this unit Almorzar (ue) to eat lunch Dormir (ue) to sleep Poder (ue) to be able to Volver (ue) to return Jugar (ue) to play (sport) Pedir (i) to ask for/order Servir (i) to serve Encontrar (ue) to find

Stem changers There are 4 different ways a stem changing infinitive can change (4 categories). The first is uue. It is the smallest category with only one infinitive jugar = to play (sports)

Jugar = to play (sports) Separate the stem and the infintive ending. Jug- is the stem Make the stem change uue The new stem is jueg- Put it in the conjugation box EXCEPT nosotros and vosotros. Nosotros and Vosotros do not make the stem change.

Jugar = to play sports Yo Jueg- Nosotros/as Jug- Tú Vosotros/as Él Ella jueg- Ud. Ellos Ellas jueg- Uds. Now just add the regular –ar endings.

Jugar = to play sports Yo Juego Nosotros/as Jugamos Tú Juegas Vosotros/as Jugáis Él Ella juega Ud. Ellos Ellas juegan Uds.

Stem changers The second category is one of the largest. It is oue. Encontrar = to find is a stem changer. It is the same steps as jugar. Other examples include: almorzar (to eat lunch), costar (to cost), dormir (to sleep), poder (can/to be able to), volver (to return)

Encontrar = to find First separate the stem from the infinitive ending. Encontr- is the stem. Make the stem change oue New stem encuentr- Put into box– remember it will look like a boot… they are called boot verbs as well.

Encontrar = to find encuentro encontramos encuentras encontráis encuentran

Poder- to be able to Puedo Podemos Puedes Podéis Puede Pueden

Stem changers The last category is a smaller one. It is ei. servir = to serve is a stem changer.

servir = to serve First separate the stem from the infinitive ending. serv- is the stem. Make the stem change ei New stem sirv- Put into box– remember it will look like a boot… they are called boot verbs as well.

servir = to serve sirvo servimos sirves servís sirve sirven

Pedir- to ask for/order Pido Pedimos Pides Pedís Pide Piden

ei There are some rules that can help you distinguish between e i and e ie. In order to be e i, the infinitive must end in –ir. Now, that could be other categories as well, but –ar and –er cannot be e i

Stem Changers I cannot give you a rule as to which verbs stem change and which ones don’t. These are just something that you have to learn as you continue to use Spanish.