Stem-Changing Verbs

Overview

Remember that verbs are divided into two parts. You have the infinitive ending and the stem.

habl stem infinitive ending

ar

Ok, sooo what are stem-changing verbs?

• Verbs whose stem undergo a spelling change.

• These are also known as boot verbs.

• Stem-changing verbs take regular present tense verb endings.

• The nosotros and vosotros forms DO NOT stem change.

Stem-Changing Categories

v o à ue v e à i v e à ie

v u à ue (only jugar)

o !ue almorzar to eat lunch morir to die

aprobar to approve mostrar to show

colgar to hang mover to move (an object)

contar to count, to tell probar to prove, test, sample, taste

costar to cost recordar to remember

devolver to return (an object) resolver to solve

volver to return (from someplace) rogar to beg, pray

dormir to sleep sonar to sound, ring

encontrar to find soñar (con) to dream (about)

morder to bite volar to fly

e ! i bendecir (*) to bless impedir to impede

competir to compete medir to measure

conseguir to get, obtain pedir to ask for, to order

corregir to correct perseguir to pursue, to persecute

decir (*) to say, tell reír to laugh despedir(se) to dismiss, fire, to

say goodbye repetir to repeat

elegir to elect seguir to follow, continue

freír to fry servir to serve sonreír to smile

e ! ie acertar to guess, get right encender to light, kindle

advertir to advise, warn entender to understand

cerrar to close, shut fregar to scrub, wash dishes

comenzar to begin hervir to boil

confesar to confess mentir to lie

consentir to consent negar to deny

convertir to convert pensar (en) to think about

defender to defend perder to lose

empezar to begin preferir to prefer

How to conjugate

• You take the infinitive ending off. • Change the stem of all verb forms

except nosotros and vosotros. • Add the appropriate ending in the

present tense.

Example

dorm ir stem infinitive ending

We know that dormir is oàue so the “o” will change in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.

dormir – to sleep Yo duermo. Nosotros dormimos.

Tú duermes. Vosotros dormís.

Él duerme. Ella duerme. Ud. duerme .

Ellos duermen. Ellas duermen. Uds. duermen.

Another example

ped ir stem infinitive ending

We know that pedir is eài so the “e” will change in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.

pedir – to ask for, to order Yo pido. Nosotros pedimos.

Tú pides. Vosotros pedís.

Él pide. Ella pide. Ud. pide .

Ellos piden. Ellas piden. Uds. piden.

Y otro ejemplo….

prefer ir stem infinitive ending

We know that preferir is eàie so the “e” closest to the infinitive will change in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.

preferir – to prefer Yo prefiero. Nosotros preferimos.

Tú prefieres. Vosotros preferís.

Él prefiere. Ella prefiere. Ud. prefiere .

Ellos prefieren. Ellas prefieren. Uds. prefieren.

Practice

Write the correct form of the verb in parenthesis. 1.  Mis amigos ___________ a la una. (almorzar) 2.  Los estudiantes ____________ la respuesta correcta.

(encontrar) 3.  En el restaurante, nosotros __________ una tortilla.

(pedir) 4.  La maestra ___________ las palabras para los

estudiantes. (repetir) 5.  Tu ____________ la limonada en vez del refresco.

(preferir)

almuerzan encuentran

pedimos

repite

prefieres