1. Preterite Stem-Changing Verbs
Advanced Spanish
Muchin College Prep

2. Preterite of stem-changing verbs
In the Preterite -ir verbs like; dormir,pedir, y preferir stem-change in the él/ella/Ud.forms and the ellos/ellas/Uds forms.
REMEMBER: There are NO stem-changing –ar or –er verbs in the Preterite.

3. Preterite of stem-changing verbs
DORMIR – to sleep
(o to ue in the present tense) (o to u in the preterite tense)
dormí dormimos
dormiste dormisteis
durmió durmieron

4. Preterite of stem-changing verbs
MORIR – to die
(o to ue in the present tense)
(o to u in the preterite tense)
Morí Morimos
Moriste Moristeis
Murió Murieron

5. PREFERIR – to prefer Preferí Preferimos Preferiste Preferisteis
Preterite of stem-changing verbs
PREFERIR – to prefer
(e to ie in the present tense)
(e to i in the preterite tense)
Preferí Preferimos
Preferiste Preferisteis
Prefirió Prefirieron

6. SENTIR – to feel Sentí Sentimos Sentiste Sentisteis Sintió Sintieron
Preterite of stem-changing verbs
SENTIR – to feel
(e to ie in the present tense)
(e to i in the preterite tense)
Sentí Sentimos
Sentiste Sentisteis
Sintió Sintieron

7. DIVERTIRSE – to have fun
Preterite of stem-changing verbs
DIVERTIRSE – to have fun
(e to ie in the present tense)
(e to i in the preterite tense)
Me divertí Nos Divertimos
Te divertiste Os Divertisteis
Se Divirtió Se Divirtieron

8. Preterite of stem-changing verbs
Repetir
Conseguir
Despedir
Despedirse
Medir
Pedir
Seguir
Servir
Vestir
Vestirse
Preferir
Advertir
Convertir
Convertirse en
Divertirse
Mentir
Sentir
Sentirse

9. Preterite of stem-changing verbs
Reír – to laugh
Reí Reímos
Reíste Reísteis
Rió Rieron
Sonreí Sonreímos
Sonreíste Sonreísteis
Sonrió Sonrieron
Sonreír – to smile
*In the third person singular and plural line the E is dropped

10. Preterite of stem-changing verbs
LEER – to read
Leí Leímos
Leíste Leísteis
Leyó Leyeron
* In words with a vowel immediately before the ending. The third person singular and plural takes on a y.

11. Preterite of stem-changing verbs
CREER – to believe
Creí Creímos
Creíste Creísteis
Creyó Creyeron

12. Other verbs that change like Leer y Creer
Caer
Oír
Poseer
Exceptions are: Traer, atraer, and all verbs ending in –guir.

13. CONSTRUIR – to construct
Preterite of stem-changing verbs
CONSTRUIR – to construct
Construí Construimos
Construiste Construisteis
Construyó Construyeron
These are the same endings for other verbs
ending in –UIR.

14. Other verbs that change like Constuir
Preterite of stem-changing verbs
Other verbs that change like Constuir
Distribuir
Huir
Incluir
Contribuir