Stem-changing Verbs

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Stem-Changing Verbs

What is a stem changing verb?Remember that a verb has two parts:1) the stem 2) the “ar”/”er”/”ir” ending.

Example:Comer – to eat (cross out the ending “er” and what is left is the stem.comerStem “er” ending

In a stem changing verb, the stem changes though the endings follow the regular “ar”/”er”/or “ir” pattern.

Stem-Changing VerbsThere are 4 different types of stem changing verbs:1) e-ie stem changers2) e – i stem changers3) o-ue stem changers4) u – ue stem changers

Let’s take a look at e-ie stem changers and how to conjugate them:

Querer = to want. It is an e-ie stem changing verb. It also has the endings for “er” verbs.

Querer (e-ie) – to wantHow to conjugate:

• Cross of the “er” ending and you are left with the stem “quer”. Because querer is an e-ie stem changer, we have to change the “e” in the stem to “ie” before we add our endings.

• IMPORTANT NOTE: Stem changing verbs NEVER EVER change their stem in the NOSOTROS/VOSOTROS forms of the verb.

Yo quiero = I want

Tú quieres = you want

él/ella/usted quiere =he/she/you want

nosotros/as QUERemos = we want

Ellos/ellas/ustedes quieren=They/you guys want

Let’s Practice conjugating an “e-ie” verbcerrar – to close

Yo Túél/ella/usted

Nosotros/asEllos/ellas/ustedes

cierro = I closecierras = you (fr) closecierra = he/she closes/you (fml) close.

cerramos = we closecierran = they/you all close

Boot Verbs

Stem-changing verbs are often referred to as “boot verbs”. This is because the forms of the verb that change the stem make the shape of a boot

pensar – to think (e – ie stem change)

singular plural

Yo pienso nosotros/as PENSamos

Tú piensas vosotros/as PENsaís

él/ellausted piensa

ellos/ellasustedes piensan

singular plural

Yo entiendo

nosotros entendemos

tú entiendes

vosotros entendéis

él/ella/usted

entiende

Ellos/ellas/ustedesentienden

Entender – to understand(e-ie stem changing verb)

IMPORTANT Note: When one verb follows another, the FIRST VERB is conjugated and the second verb is in the INFINITIVE form.EXAMPLES:

¿Tú quieres mirar la television o leer un libro?Do you want to watch TV or to read a book?

Paula prefiere llevar el vestido azul.Paula prefers to wear the blue dress.

Ella empieza estudiar sus apuntes.She begins to study her notes.

Let’s review - Steps to conjugating a stem-changing verb1) Cross off AR/ER/ or IR from the infinitive.

2) Write the pronouns (yo, tú, etc…)

3) Change the stem to the changed stem in everything EXCEPT NOSOTROS AND VOSOTROS.

4) Add the AR/ER/ or IR endings (depending on the type of verb.

5) Translate pronouns and all forms of the verb into English.

Now you are done!!! If you did it correctly, the stem changed forms of the verb are shaped like a boot.

As stated earlier:There are 4 types of stem-changing verbs:e-ie/e-i/o-ue/u-ue. Here are 3 types of them….e ie

pensar = to think

querer = to want

cerrar = to close

entender = to understand

preferir = to prefer

empezar = to understand

e i

servir = to serve

pedir = to order

seguir = to follow

competir = to compete

o ue

almorzar = to eat lunch

poder = to be able/can

encontrar = to find

dormir = to sleep

volver = to return

There is only ONE “u-ue” verb. It is the verb jugar – to play.

Yo juego nosotros JUGamos

Tú juegas

él/ella/usted juega ellos/ellas/ustedes juegan

Vamos a practicar:Conjugate the following stem-changing verbs. When done, draw a boot around the ones that changed the stem (everything EXCEPT NOSOTROS/VOSOTROS)

Remember – the er/ir/ar endings will remain the same as you have previously learned.

E IE EMPEZAR = TO BEGIN

E I SERVIR = TO SERVE

O UE DORMIR = TO SLEEP

A quick review of regular verb endings:***Please write in your packet:

Regular “er” verb endingsYo - oTú - esél/ella/usted - e

Nosotros/nosotras - emosEllos/ellas/ustedes - en

Regular “ir” verb endingsYo - oTú - esél/ella/usted - e

Nosotros/nosotras - ImosEllos/ellas/ustedes - en

A quick review of regular verb endings:***Please write in your packet:

Regular “ar” verb endingsYo - oTú - asél/ella/usted - a

Nosotros/nosotras - amosEllos/ellas/ustedes - an

And that’s all there is to it!!!Remember:1) Identify and use correct

verb endings.2) Change stem as indicated,

(*except in nosotros and vosotros).

3) Draw boot around verb to double check your conjugations.

4) AND ALWAYS remember to conjugate correctly in sentences.