1. Stem Changing Verbs

2. is the part of the verb that is left AFTER we drop the –ar, -er, -ir
Stem
is the part of the verb that is left AFTER we drop the –ar, -er, -ir
Example: Empezar – Empez

3. Stem changing verbs have a spelling change in their stems in all forms of the present tense except for nosotros and vosotros
The stem-changes in present tense are:
e to ie These can be –ar, -er, or –ir verbs
o to ue These can be –ar, -er, or –ir verbs
e to i (only –ir verbs can do this)
u to ue (only jugar does this)

4. Stem changing verbs are also known as ‘boot’ verbs because the changes happen within ‘the boot’

5. Remember verbs will use their regular
To conjugate a stem changing verb, drop the –ar, -er, -ir.
Empezar (e – ie) - empez
Replace the original vowel with the new vowels given
Empezar (e – ie) - empiez
Place in the correct ending according to who is doing the action.
(Yo) Empezar (e – ie) - empiezo
Remember verbs will use their regular
–ar, -er, -ir endings

6. Examples of –ar, -er, -ir and u-ue, e-ie, and e-i
Jugar (u-ue) = to play juego jugamos juegas juega juegan Querer (e-ie) = to want pedir (e-i) = to ask for quiero queremos pido pedimos quieres pides quiere quieren pide piden