Transcript Stem-Changing verbs

What is a stem-changing
verb?
As the name implies, a stem-changing
verb has a change in its stem 
A verb has two parts, the stem and the
ar/er/ir ending.
Hablar
Correr
Escribir
Types of stem-changers
There are 3.5 types of stem-changers in
Spanish. They are:
E  IE (the most common)
O  UE (common)
U  UE (“jugar” is the ONLY verb that
does this)
E  I (applies to –ir verbs ONLY)
WHERE in the stem does
the change happen?
The stem change will always happen in the first
vowel back from the ending. (Most times it’s the
only vowel in the stem.)
PENSAR (to think, e  ie)
PREFERIR (to prefer, e  ie)
DORMIR (to sleep, o  ue)
ENCONTRAR (to find, o  ue)
SERVIR (to serve, e  i)
How are these verbs
conjugated?
Stem changers do not change in
all forms, just four. Let’s see
how this works…
The changes all happen inside the form of a shoe or boot!
PENSAR (to think / to plan, e  ie)
PIENSO
PENSAMOS
PIENSAS
PENSÁIS
PIENSA
PIENSAN
Stem changers are also called “shoe” or “boot” verbs…
PREFERIR (to prefer, e  ie)
PREFIERO
PREFERIMOS
PREFIERES
PREFERÍS
PREFIERE
PREFIEREN
QUERER (to want, e  ie)
QUIERO
QUEREMOS
QUIERES
QUERÉIS
QUIERE
QUIEREN
Ejemplos:
What do you notice about the verb
AFTER the conjugated stemchanger?
Pienso llevar unos pantalones
cortos porque hace calor.
Laura prefiere las camisetas más
que las blusas.
Laura y Andrés quieren comprar
botas nuevas.
Traduce:
I want to buy these shoes and those socks.
We prefer to shop after school.
He plans to wear a jacket and a scarf.
You think that (que) shopping is boring.
*to shop: ir de compras
PODER (to be able (“can”), o  ue)
PUEDO
PODEMOS
PUEDES
PODÉIS
PUEDE
PUEDEN
DORMIR (to sleep, o  ue)
DUERMO
DORMIMOS
DUERMES
DORMÍS
DUERME
DUERMEN
JUGAR (to play,
the ONLY
u  ue)
JUEGO
JUGAMOS
JUEGAS
JUGÁIS
JUEGA
JUEGAN
SERVIR (to serve, e  i)
SIRVO
SERVIMOS
SIRVES
SERVÍS
SIRVE
SIRVEN
DECIR (to say / to tell, e  i)
DIGO
DECIMOS
DICES
DECÍS
DICE
DICEN
PRÁCTICA: traduce al inglés
1. Mis hermanos y yo dormimos hasta las 11.
2. Yo puedo cantar y bailar.
3. El restaurante italiano sirve el mejor espagueti.
4. Los chicos juegan al fútbol en el parque.
PRÁCTICA: translate the following
1. They serve the best pizza. (SUPERLATIVE!!!!)
2. We can wear coats and scarves in January.
3. I want boots and shoes for Christmas (la
navidad).
4. My sister sleeps more than I.
5. You play soccer after school.
Final notes…
There’s no way of looking at a verb and knowing that
it’s a stem changer. However, the more familiar you
are with Spanish, the more you will be able to “feel”
a stem changer. Some Spanish 2 students can
already do this 
If a verb (of 2+ syllables) changes stem (e.g., TENER—to
have), then all verbs which contain that verb will
also change stem (e.g., MANTENER—to maintain,
OBTENER—to get).