The Present Tense of Stem-Changing Verbs: e  ie, e  i, o  ue, u ue (El tiempo presente de los verbos de cambio radical)

Stem changing infinitives are named for what they do– change in the stem. There are some mixed verbs : “Go” verbs and “stem changing” in the same time We always change the vowel that is the closest to the ending The ending terminations depend on the ending or each verb : AR, ER or IR terminations

There are four types or classes of “boot” verbs. There is a fairly large group of verbs in Spanish that undergo changes in their stem when conjugated in the present tense. These changes occur only in the first and second persons singular and third persons singular and plural. When a line is drawn around the forms that change, the resulting shape vaguely resembles a boot or high-top shoe; thus, these verbs are sometimes informally called “boot” or “shoe” verbs. There are four types or classes of “boot” verbs.

Type 1: e  ie entender entiendo entiendes entiende entendemos We’ll use entender, to understand, as an example of this type. entender entiendo entiendes entiende entendemos entendéis entienden The stem undergoes the change only when stressed.

Here are some other common e  ie verbs: empezar, comenzar to begin pensar to think perder to lose preferir to prefer querer to want, to love entender to understand

Tener (to have), venir (to come) The verbs tener and venir are what might be called partial stem-changing verbs; the yo forms do not have the stem change, but they do have an irregularity. tengo tienes tiene tenemos tenéis tienen Tengo exámenes mañana. I have exams tomorrow. vengo vienes viene venimos venís vienen Vengo de la biblioteca. I’m coming from the library.

Type 2: e  i servir sirvo sirves sirve servimos servís sirven We’ll use servir, to serve, as an example of this type. servir sirvo sirves sirve servimos servís sirven Note: All e  i verbs are -ir verbs.

Here are some other common e  i verbs: repetir To repeat pedir To ask for, to order reir To laugh sonreir To smile seguir To follow decir To say, to tell

We’ll use almorzar, to have lunch, as an example of this type. Type 3: o  ue We’ll use almorzar, to have lunch, as an example of this type. almorzar almuerzo almuerzas almuerza almorzamos almorzáis almuerzan

Here are some other common o  ue verbs: almorzar To have lunch dormir to sleep encontrar to find poder to be able; can recordar to remember soñar (con) to dream (about) volver to return (to a place) devolver To return (something)

Type 4: u  ue jugar jugamos juego jugáis juegas juegan juega The verb jugar, to play (games or sports), follows the same pattern as o  ue verbs, but the change is u  ue. jugar juego juegas juega jugamos jugáis juegan

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