1. AKA (Also known as) Boot Verbs
Stem changing verbs
AKA (Also known as)
Boot Verbs

2. What is a stem changing verb?
Ordinarily to conjugate a verb, we just need to drop the ending –ar, -er, -ir and add the personal endings. (Click to see.)
-ar personal endings
Example: caminar -o amos
-as áis
stem ending a an

3. Let’s stop to remember -er and -ir personal endings.
-er personal endings
Example: correr o emos
-es éis
stem ending e en
(Click to see the next.)
Example: escribir -ir personal endings
-o imos
stem ending es -ís
-e en

4. In regular verbs the stem does not change.
But in stem changing verbs the stem does have a change. (Click to see.)
One change is u changes to ue
Jugar
yo juego nosotros jugamos
tú juegas vosotros jugáis
él juega ellos juegan
You can draw a boot around the forms that change.

5. Sometimes the o changes to ue
Almorzar
yo almuerzo nosotros almorzamos
tú almuerzas vosotros almorzáis
él almuerza ellos almuerzan
You can draw a boot around the forms that change.
The forms outside the boot (nosotros and vosotros)
do not have the stem change.

6. Some other o ue verbs are dormir and poder
Some other o ue verbs are dormir and poder. Make sure use the correct personal endings for –er and –ir verbs
duermo dormimos Duermes dormís duerme duermen

7. Poder is o to ue
puedo podemos
puedes podéis
puede pueden

8. There is also a stem change e ie.
Some of the verbs that have this stem change are also irregular in the yo form,
For example the “go-go” verbs tener and venir. (they have “go” in the yo form)
Tener tengo tenemos
tienes tenéis
tiene tienen

9. VENIR
vengo venimos vienes venís viene vienen

10. How can I tell if a verb is stem changing or not? Unfortunately…
Other e ie verbs are: pensar, entender, preferir, empezar, querer and many others.
(In the next unit we will see the last stem change which is e i.)
So, now for the big question… (Click to see.)
How can I tell if a verb is stem changing or not?
Unfortunately…

11. …you cannot just look at the verb and know that.
So, the trick is plenty of repetition aloud, listening, writing and using.
You will quickly become used to how each verb sounds!
Remember:
“Practice makes permanent!”
Now, please add all these verbs to your verb sheet.

12. Fin