Irregular Verbs in the Present Tense- Stem Changing Verbs

There are 3 classes of stem-changing verbs in the present tense. They are called "stem" changing because the endings remain the same as regular present tense verbs while the body of the verbs experiences a change in all forms except the nosotros. These are sometimes called the "boot" or “shoe” verbs. *Remember, you must learn which verb make which change. There is no "trick" to know. *These verbs take REGULAR endings!

You were introduced to the verb tener. It is an irregular verb.

**The verb tener has two qualities. It is a YO = GO verb & It is an E to IE stem changing verb.

Note: THESE ARE THE SHOE VERBS!!! TENGO T IE NES T IE NE T IE NEN TENEMOS

1st Group: Remember that E changes to IE in all forms except the nosotros.

Note: THESE ARE THE SHOE VERBS!!! EMP IE ZO EM P IE ZAS EMP IE ZA EMP IE ZAN EMPEZAMOS

Note: THESE ARE THE SHOE VERBS!!! p IE rdO p IE rdeS P IEr de p IE rdeN perdemos

QUERER = TO WANT STEM =QUER QU IE RO QU IE RES QU IE RE QU IE REN QUEREMOS

PREFERIR = TO PREFER STEM = PREFER PREF IE RO PREF IE RES PREF IE RE PREF IE REN PREFERIMOS

COMENZAR = TO BEGIN STEM = COMENZ COM IE NZO COM IE NZAS COM IE NZA COM IE NZAN COMENZAMOS

Other verbs that have the E-IE change are: Cerrar(to close) Perder(to lose) Despertar (to wake up) Empezar(to start) Pensar(to think) Sentar(to sit) Entender(to understand) Preferir(to prefer) Divertir(se)(to have fun) Mentir(to lie) Sentir(to feel)

2 nd Group- The following two verbs change from O TO UE in all forms except nosotros.

VOLVER = TO RETURN STEM = VOLV V UE LVO V UE LVES V UE LVE V UE LVEN VOLVEMOS

PODER = to be able to I can, you can, he can… STEM = POD P UE DO P UE DES P UE DE P UE DEN PODEMOS

DORMIR = TO SLEEP STEM = DORM D UE RMO D UE RMES D UE RME D UE RMEN DORMIMOS

Other verbs that have the O-UE change are: Contar(to count/tell) Volver (to return) Acostarse(to go to bed) Costar(to cost) Recordar(to remember) Encontrar(to find) Volar(to fly) Llover(to rain) Morir(to die) Poder(to be able to, "can")

The verb jugar also has a stem- change from U TO UE.

JUGAR = TO PLAY STEM = JUG J UE GO J UE GAS J UE GA J UE GAN JUGAMOS

3rd Group- Remember that E changes to I in all forms except the nosotros

PEDIR = TO ASK FOR/ ORDER STEM = PID P I DO P I DES P I DE P I DEN PEDIMOS

REPETIR = TO REPEAT STEM = REPIT REP I TO REP I TES REP I TE REP I TEN REPETIMOS

SERVIR = TO SERVE STEM = SIR S I RVO S I RVES S I RVE S I RVEN SERVIMOS

Other verbs that have the E-I change are: Repetir(to repeat) Reír(se)(to laugh) Despedir(se)(to say goodbye) Seguir(to follow) Servir(to serve) Sonreír(to smile) Vestir(se)(to get dressed)

Practice Complete the dialog with the appropriate present tense form of verb in parenthesis. Can you translate the sentences into English? -¿Qué __________ (decir) la profesora? Yo no________ (escuchar) nada desde aquí. -Yo tampoco. Yo ________ (ir) a sentarme allí. Sus conferencias siempre __________ (entretener) mucho. ¿________(venir) conmigo? 25

Continued… -Sí, claro. Mis amigos ___________ (decir) que cuando ellos __________ (estar) en su clase, nunca se aburren. -Oye, _________ (venir) muchas personas. -Yo___________(tener) que encontrarme con Mateo. Nosotros _________ (ir) a la piscina después de la conferencia. -De acuerdo. Aquí nosotros _______ (estar) cerca de la puerta y también ________ (escuchar) todo lo que ella ________ (decir). 26