Spanish Stem-Changing Verbs e → ie o → ue e → i

Take notes on stem changing verbs and copy all the vocabulary

Los verbos que cambian e → ie  Tener  Querer  Pensar  Empezar  Comenzar  Perder  Preferir  Cerrar  Entender  Merendar  mentir  To have  To want  To think  To begin (start)  To lose  To prefer  To close  To understand  To have a snack  To lie

Stem-changing verbs give their stems the boot!

Querer

 First, let’s just add all the correct endings.

Verb endings  If a verb ends in –ar, you add: oo  as aa  amos  an

Verb endings  If a verb ends in –er, you add: oo  es ee  emos  en  if a verb ends in –ir, you add: oo  es ee  imos  en

 So, since “querer” ends en “er” (querer), which endings will we add?  The “er” endings: oo  es ee  emos  en

Querer - endings quer oemos e es en

Now, let’s add our stem change.  Remember, only the e in the stem can change.  quer er  perd er  If there are two e’s in the stem, the second one always changes.  prefer ir  empez ar

 Now let’s change the stems.  Remember, e can change to ie only within the boot. This means the nosotros form never changes!

Querer quierquer quier o emos e es en

The u → ue and o → ue verbs work the same way.  Poder  Jugar  Dormir  Soñar  Volver  Devolver  Almorzar  Contar  Costar  Encontrar  Recordar  probar  to be able to (can)  to play  to sleep  to dream  to return (to a place)  to return (a thing)  To have lunch  To count/ To tell stories  To cost  To find  To remember /To recall  To try / to taste

First, find the o or u in the stem that is going to change  Poder  Jugar  Dormir  Soñar  Volver  Devolver  Almorzar  Contar  Costar  Encontrar  Recordar  probar

Then, decide which verb endings you will use.  For jugar:  o  as  a  amos  an  For poder:  o  es  e  emos  en

Then change it in the boot juegojugamos juegas juegajuegan

Poder p__dpod p__d o es e emos en ue

The e → i verbs work the same way.  Servir  Pedir  Sonreir  Reir  Repetir  seguir  to serve  To ask for (service, request, favor)  To smile  To laugh  To repeat  To continue / to follow (with directions)

First, find the e in the stem that is going to change  Servir  Pedir  Sonreir  Reir  Repetir  seguir

Now, let’s add our stem change.  Remember, only the e in the stem can change.  servir  segui r  If there are two e’s in the stem, the second one always changes.  repe tir

Servir - endings serv oimos e es en

 Now let’s change the stems.  Remember, e can change to i only within the boot. This means the nosotros form never changes!

Servir sirvserv sirv o imos e es en