Conjugate stem changers in the present tense -original PowerPoint was created by Ms. Martin of Tri- Center Community Schools

Stem changing verbs Stem changing verbs 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 present tense –ir endings you already know (o, es, e, imos, en) The hardest part of stem changers is knowing which ones change and which ones don’t.

Stem changers There are 4 different ways a stem changing verb can change (4 types). You have already learned three types of stem changing verbs: uue (jugar), oue (like dormir), and eie (like preferir).

Stem changers The last category is a smaller category. It is ei. Push link for a video on the four types of present tense stem changers. servir = to serve is a stem changer. It follows the same steps as the other stem changing verbs that you have learned.

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 sirve sirven

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 . MR C VeSPeRS is also a way to help if you are needing a pneumonic device.

MR. C VeSPeRS M- medir (to measure) R – reír (to laugh) C – conseguir (To get/ to obtain) V – vestir(se) (to dress)….in this chapter S- servir (to serve)….in this chapter P – pedir (to ask for)….in this chapter R- repetir ( to repeat)….in this chapter S- seguir (to follow/ to continue)….in this chapter

MR. C VeSPeRS does not include all the stem changers in this category MR. C VeSPeRS does not include all the stem changers in this category. Other infinitives are Sonreír (to smile) and freír (to fry)….in this chapter.

Of the e to i stem-changing verbs that appear in this chapter; pedir, servir, repetir, and verstirse all following the given rules. You must be careful on seguir as in the Yo form you need to drop the –uir, not just the –ir before adding your proper –ir present tense endings. Freír follows the given rules but you need to keep the accent on all the “I”s. Let’s practice seguir and freír.

seguir = to follow First separate the stem from the infinitive ending. segu- is the stem. Make the stem change ei New stem is sigu- except in the 4th box. Put into box– remember it will look like a boot… they are called boot verbs as well. Also remember that the YO form is irregular.

seguir = to follow sigo***(had to drop –uir) seguimos sigues sigue siguen

freír = to fry First separate the stem from the infinitive ending. fre- is the stem. Make the stem change ei New stem is fri- except in the 4th box. Put into box– remember it will look like a boot… they are called boot verbs as well. Remember to add accents to all of the “i”s.

freír = to fry frío freímos fríes fríe fríen

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.