1. Español 1 Avancemos Lección 4.1
Stem-changing Verbs
Español 1
Avancemos
Lección 4.1

2. Stem-Changing Verbs What is a stem changing verb?
Remember that a verb has two parts:
1) the stem 2) the “ar”/”er”/”ir” ending.
Example:
Escribir – to write (cross out the ending “er” and what is left is the stem.
escribir
Stem = escrib ir = ending
In a stem changing verb, the stem changes though the endings follow the regular “ar”/”er”/or “ir” pattern.

3. Stem-Changing Verbs
There are 4 different types of stem changing verbs:
e-ie stem changers
e – i stem changers
o-ue stem changers
u – ue stem changers
Let’s take a look at e-ie stem changers and how to conjugate them:
Querer = to want. It is an e-ie stem changing verb. It also has the endings for “er” verbs.

4. Querer (e-ie) – to want How to conjugate:
Cross of the “er” ending and you are left with the stem “quer”. Because querer is an e-ie stem changer, we have to change the “e” in the stem to “ie” before we add our endings.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Stem changing verbs NEVER EVER change their stem in the NOSOTROS/VOSOTROS forms of the verb.
Yo quiero = I want
Tú quieres = you want
él/ella/usted quiere =
he/she/you want
nosotros/as QUERemos = we want
Ellos/ellas/ustedes quieren=
They/you guys want

5. Let’s Practice conjugating an “e-ie” verb cerrar – to close
Yo Tú él/ella/usted Nosotros/as Ellos/ellas/ustedes
cierro = I close
cierras = you (fr) close
cierra = he/she closes/you (fml)
close.
cerramos = we close
cierran = they/you all close

6. Boot Verbs
Stem-changing verbs are often referred to as “boot verbs”. This is because the forms of the verb that change the stem make the shape of a boot

7. pensar – to think (e – ie stem change)
singular
plural
Yo pienso
nosotros/as PENSamos
Tú piensas
vosotros/as PENsaís
él/ella
usted piensa
ellos/ellas
ustedes piensan

8. Entender – to understand(e-ie stem changing verb)
singular
plural
Yo entiendo
nosotros entendemos
tú entiendes
vosotros entendéis
él/ella/usted
entiende
Ellos/ellas/ustedes
entienden

9. ¿Tú quieres mirar la television o leer un libro?
IMPORTANT Note: When one verb follows another, the FIRST VERB is conjugated and the second verb is in the INFINITIVE form.
EXAMPLES:
¿Tú quieres mirar la television o leer un libro?
Do you want to watch TV or to read a book?
Paula prefiere llevar el vestido azul.
Paula prefers to wear the blue dress.
Ella empieza estudiar sus apuntes.
She begins to study her notes.

10. Let’s review - Steps to conjugating a stem-changing verb
Cross off AR/ER/ or IR from the infinitive.
Write the pronouns (yo, tú, etc…)
Change the stem to the changed stem in everything EXCEPT NOSOTROS AND VOSOTROS.
4) Add the AR/ER/ or IR endings (depending on the type of
verb.
5) Translate pronouns and all forms of the verb into English.
Now you are done!!! If you did it correctly, the stem changed forms of the verb are shaped like a boot.

11. e  ie o  ue e  i As stated earlier:
There are 4 types of stem-changing verbs:
e-ie/e-i/o-ue. Here are 3 types of them….
e  ie
pensar = to think
querer = to want
cerrar = to close
entender = to understand
preferir = to prefer
empezar = to start
o  ue
almorzar = to eat lunch
poder = to be able/can
encontrar = to find
dormir = to sleep
volver = to return
e  i
servir = to serve
pedir = to order
seguir = to follow
competir = to compete

12. There is only ONE “u-ue” verb. It is the verb jugar – to play.
Yo juego nosotros JUGamos
Tú juegas
él/ella/usted juega ellos/ellas/ustedes juegan

13. Vamos a practicar:
Conjugate the following stem-changing verbs. When done, draw a boot around the ones that changed the stem (everything EXCEPT NOSOTROS/VOSOTROS)
Remember – the er/ir/ar endings will remain the same as you have previously learned.
E IE EMPEZAR = TO BEGIN
E  I SERVIR = TO SERVE
O  UE DORMIR = TO SLEEP