Stem & Spelling Changing Verbs

Stem-Changing Verbs Stem-changing Verbs have the same endings as regular verbs. Stem-changing Verbs have the same endings as regular verbs. In the present tense, however, their stems change in all forms except nosotros and vosotros forms. In the present tense, however, their stems change in all forms except nosotros and vosotros forms. These verbs are commonly referred to as “boot verbs.” These verbs are commonly referred to as “boot verbs.”

Stem-Changing Verbs There are some –ar, -er, & -ir verbs that have a stem change of e  ie in the boot. There are some –ar, -er, & -ir verbs that have a stem change of e  ie in the boot. These verbs are: These verbs are: cerrar – to close cerrar – to close comenzar – to begin comenzar – to begin empezar – to begin empezar – to begin

Stem-Changing Verbs encender – to turn on encender – to turn on entender – to understand entender – to understand nevar – to snow nevar – to snow pensar – to think, to plan pensar – to think, to plan perder – to lose perder – to lose preferir – to prefer preferir – to prefer querer – to want querer – to want

Stem-Changing Verbs recomendar – to recommend recomendar – to recommend sugerir – to suggest sugerir – to suggest

comenzar – to begin (e  ie) comienzo comienzas comienza comenzamos comenzáis comienzan

Stem-Changing Verbs There are some –ar, -er, & -ir verbs that have a stem change of o  ue in the boot. There are some –ar, -er, & -ir verbs that have a stem change of o  ue in the boot. These verbs are: These verbs are: almorzar – to eat lunch almorzar – to eat lunch contar – to count contar – to count costar – to cost costar – to cost

Stem-Changing Verbs devolver – to return (something) devolver – to return (something) dormir – to sleep dormir – to sleep encontrar – to find encontrar – to find jugar (u  ue) – to play jugar (u  ue) – to play llover – to rain llover – to rain morir – to die morir – to die

Stem-Changing Verbs mover – to move mover – to move poder – to be able to (“can”) poder – to be able to (“can”) probar – to taste, to try probar – to taste, to try recordar – to remember recordar – to remember soñar (con)– to dream about soñar (con)– to dream about volar – to fly volar – to fly volver – to return, come back volver – to return, come back

dormir – to sleep (o  ue) duermo duermes duerme dormimos dormís duermen

Stem-Changing Verbs There are some -ir verbs that have a stem change of e  i in the boot. There are some -ir verbs that have a stem change of e  i in the boot. These verbs are: These verbs are: pedir – to ask for pedir – to ask for reír – to laugh reír – to laugh repetir – to repeat repetir – to repeat

Stem-Changing Verbs seguir – to continue, follow seguir – to continue, follow corregir – to correct corregir – to correct elegir – to choose, elect elegir – to choose, elect sonreír – to smile sonreír – to smile

pedir – to ask for (e  i) pido pides pide pedimos pedís piden

reír – to laugh (e  í) río ríes ríe reímos reís ríen

elegir – to choose, to elect e  i (g  j) elijo eliges elige elegimos elegís eligen

Spelling-Changing Verbs There are also some verbs in Spanish that have a spelling change in “the boot.” There are also some verbs in Spanish that have a spelling change in “the boot.” These changes usually occur for pronunciation reasons. These changes usually occur for pronunciation reasons.

Spelling-Changing Verbs Most verbs that end in “-iar” have a written accent mark on the final vowel of the stem (the “i”).Most verbs that end in “-iar” have a written accent mark on the final vowel of the stem (the “i”). The following verbs have a spelling change of i  í in “the boot.”The following verbs have a spelling change of i  í in “the boot.” esquiar – to skiesquiar – to ski enviar – to sendenviar – to send

esquiar – to ski (i  í) esquío esquías esquía esquiamos esquiáis esquían

Spelling-Changing Verbs Most verbs that end in “-uar” have a written accent mark on the final vowel of the stem (the “u”).Most verbs that end in “-uar” have a written accent mark on the final vowel of the stem (the “u”). The following verbs have a spelling change of u  ú in “the boot.”The following verbs have a spelling change of u  ú in “the boot.” actuar – to actactuar – to act continuar – to continuecontinuar – to continue

actuar – to act (u  ú) actúo actúas actúa actuamos actuáis actúan

Spelling-Changing Verbs Most verbs that end in “-uir” have an added “y” inside of the boot.Most verbs that end in “-uir” have an added “y” inside of the boot. incluir – to includeincluir – to include influir- to influenceinfluir- to influence destruir – to destroydestruir – to destroy

incluir – to include (add a “y”) incluyo incluyes incluye inclu i mos incluís incluyen