1. Present Tense Stem-Changing Verbs
Page 5 – Para Empezar Realidades 3

2. Stem-Changing Verbs
Remember that in Spanish there are three groups of stem-changing verbs.
The stem change occurs in all forms except the nosotros(as) and vosotros(as) forms.

3. Stem-Changing Verbs
Let´s look at some verbs that have a stem change of e > ie:

4. PERDER (e > ie) – to lose
pierdo
pierdes
pierde
perdemos
perdéis
pierden

5. Stem-Changing Verbs (e > ie)
empezar
querer
preferir
pensar
divertirse
despertarse
sentirse
mentir
cerrar
comenzar
entender
to begin
to want
to prefer
to think, plan
to have fun
to wake up
to feel
to lie
to close
to understand

6. Stem-Changing Verbs
Let´s look at some verbs that have a stem change of o > ue:

7. PODER (o > ue) – to be able to, can
puedo
puedes
puede
podemos
podéis
pueden

8. Stem-Changing Verbs (o > ue)
jugar (u > ue)
contar
costar
encontrar
recordar
volar
dormir
volver
devolver
acostarse
almorzar
to play
to count, tell a story
to cost
to find, meet
to remember
to fly
to sleep
to return
to return something
to go to bed
to eat lunch

9. Stem-Changing Verbs
Let´s look at some verbs that have a stem change of e > i:

10. PEDIR (o > ue) – to ask for, to order
pido
pides
pide
pedimos
pedís
piden

11. Stem-Changing Verbs (e > i)
servir
repetir
reír
sonreír
seguir
vestirse
to serve
to repeat
to laugh
to smile
to follow, continue
to dress

12. REÍR (e > i) – to laugh
río
ríes
ríe
reímos
reís
ríen

13. SONREÍR (e > i) – to smile
sonrío
sonríes
sonríe
sonreímos
sonreís
sonríen