1. Preterite Stem-Changing Verbs

2. I > Y
E > I
O > U

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
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

9. 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.

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

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

12. 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.

13. Other verbs that change like Construir
Preterite of stem-changing verbs
Other verbs that change like Construir
Distribuir
Huir
Incluir
Contribuir