Stem-changing Verbs Español II Sra. Andrews

Stem-Changing Verbs There are 4 different types of stem changing verbs: e- ie stem changers e – i stem changers o- ue stem changers u – ue stem changers * only 1 **A letter (always a vowel) in the stem changes.** The verbs will have the letter in a parenthesis. Ej. Pensar (ie)

e  ie e  i o  ue As stated: There are 4 types of stem-changing verbs: e-ie/e-i/o-ue. Here are 3 types of them…. e  ie pensar = to think querer = to want cerrar = to close entender = to understand preferir = to prefer empezar = to start tener = to have Comenzar = to begin Perder = to lose e  i 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 soñar = to dream

Stem-changing verbs give their stems the boot!

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. We change in all forms except nosotros and vosotros. Therefore…boot shape.

Verb endings If a verb ends in –ar, you add: o amos as áis a an

Pensar (e-ie) – to think How to conjugate: Cross of the “ar” ending and you are left with the stem “pens-”. Because pensar 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 EVER change their stem in the NOSOTROS/VOSOTROS forms of the verb.

pensar – to think (e – ie stem change) singular plural Yo pienso nosotros/as PENSamos Tú piensas vosotros/as PENsaís él/ella usted piensa ellos/ellas ustedes piensan

Verb endings If a verb ends in –er, you add: o emos es éis e en if a verb ends in –ir, you add: o imos es ís e en

Entender (e-ie) – to understand How to conjugate: Cross of the “er” ending and you are left with the stem “entend-”. Because entender 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 EVER change their stem in the NOSOTROS/VOSOTROS forms of the verb.

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

Servir (e-i) – to serve How to conjugate: Cross of the “ir” ending and you are left with the stem “serv-”. Because servir is an e-i stem changer, we have to change the “e” in the stem to “i” before we add our endings. IMPORTANT NOTE: Stem changing verbs NEVER EVER change their stem in the NOSOTROS/VOSOTROS forms of the verb.

Servir– to serve (e-i stem changing verb) singular plural Yo sirvo nosotros servimos tú sirves vosotros servís él/ella/usted sirve Ellos/ellas/ustedes sirven

There is only ONE “u-ue” verb. It is the verb jugar – to play. Yo juego nosotros JUGamos Tú juegas vosotros JUGáis él/ella/usted juega ellos/ellas/ustedes juegan

Let’s review - Steps to conjugating a stem-changing verb: Remove AR/ER/ or IR from the infinitive. 2) Change the stem in all forms EXCEPT NOSOTROS AND VOSOTROS. 3) Add the AR/ER/ or IR endings (depending on the type of verb) based on the subject. Now you are done!!! If you did it correctly, the stem changed forms of the verb are shaped like a boot.

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 EMPEZAR = TO BEGIN E  I PEDIR = TO ORDER/REQUEST O  UE DORMIR = TO SLEEP