1. Stem-Changing Verbs
“Boot Verbs”
Special case present tense verbs

2. Repaso: Present Tense Endings (Regular Verbs)IR o
amos as X a an o
imos es X e en ER o
emos es X e en
Step 1: Take ending
off infinitive to find
stem
Step 2: Add ending
to match subject

3. Stem-changing verbs Are sometimes called “Boot Verbs”
Have a spelling change in the stem when conjugated into yo, tu, ud/él/ella, uds/ellos/ellas forms
NO CHANGE in nosotros
You already know one! - Jugar
*and Tener is a hybrid!
juego
jugamos
juegas X
juega
juegan

4. Stem-Change Rules: Only 3 categories of changes:
E IE (We'll start here)
O UE
E I
Change the vowel in the stem closest to the ending.

5. **Make NO change in Nosotros**
Example (E-IE)
nevar (e -> ie) (to snow)
1st, find stem: nev ar
then, make spelling change: nev → niev
last, add ending: nievo nevamos ** nievas X nieva nievan
**Make NO change in Nosotros**

6. Example Chart nievo nevamos nievas nieva nievan
Makes the shape of a “boot”

7. E IE Verbs empezar - to begin/start pensar - to think perder - to lose
preferir - to prefer
querer - to want
mentir - to lie
entender - to understand
cerrar - to close
defender - to defend

8. O UE Verbs almorzar - to eat lunch morir - to die mostrar - to show
mover - to move
poder - to be able to
dormir - to sleep
encontrar - to find
recordar - to remember
volver - to come back (return)
devolver - to give back (return)

9. E I Verbs decir - to say/tell (**go) competir - to compete
seguir - to follow
repetir - to repeat
reír - to laugh
pedir - to ask for
servir - to serve
corregir - to correct
sonreír - to smile
gemir - to groan/moan