S tem changing verbs

Stem changing infinitives Stem changing infinitives are named for what they do– change in the stem.

There are 4 categories 1.U UE there is only one verb JUGAR 2.O UE Poder, almorzar, costar, dormir 3.E IE Entender, pensar, querer 4.E I Servir, Pedir, Repetir,

1. U UE Jugar = to play sports Yo Jueg- Nosotros/as Jug- Tú Jueg- Vosotros/as Jug- Él Ella jueg- Ud. Ellos Ellas jueg- Uds. Now just add the regular –ar endings.

Jugar = to play sports Yo Juego Nosotros/as Jugamos Tú Juegas Vosotros/as Jugáis Él Ella juega Ud. Ellos Ellas juegan Uds.

2. O UE The second category is one of the largest. It is o ue. Encontrar = to find is a stem changer. Other examples include: acostarse (to lie down), almorzar (to eat lunch), contar (to count), costar (to cost), devolver (to return something), dormir (to sleep), poder (can/to be able to), volver (to return to a place)

Encontrar = to find First separate the stem from the infinitive ending. Encontr- is the stem. Make the stem change o ue New stem encuentr- Put into box– remember it will look like a boot… they are called boot verbs as well.

Encontrar = to find Yo encuentroNs. encontramos Tú encuentrasVs. encontráis Él, ella encuentraEllos, ellas encuentran

3. E IE The third category is again large. It is e ie. preferir = to prefer is a stem changer. It is the same steps as jugar.

Other e ie verbs Cerrar (to close), Comenzar (to begin), Despertar (to wake up), Divertir (to entertain/ amuse), Empezar (to begin), Entender (to understand), Pensar (to think), Perder (to lose), Querer (to want), Recomendar (to recommend)

Pensar = to think First separate the stem from the infinitive ending. pens- is the stem. Make the stem change e ie New stem prefier- Put into box– remember it will look like a boot… they are called boot verbs as well.

pensar = to think Yo piensoNs. pensamos Tú piesasVs. pensaís Él, ella piesaEllos, ellas piensan

4. E I The last category is a smaller one. It is e i. servir = to serve is a stem changer.

servir = to serve First separate the stem from the infinitive ending. serv- is the stem. Make the stem change e i New stem sirv- Put into box– remember it will look like a boot… they are called boot verbs as well.

servir = to serve Yo sirvoservimos Tú sirvesservís Él, ella sirvesirven

e i There are some rules that can help you distinguish between e i and e ie. In order to be e i, the infinitive must end in –ir..

What vowell do we change? 1 st, 2 nd or third? Take the example Pedir Yo pido Preferir Yo prefiero Recomendar Yo recomiendo

The rules is… … the closest vowel to the ending!!!