Spanish Stem-Changing Verbs

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

Los verbos que cambian e→ie • To have • To want • To think • To begin (start) • To begin (start) • To lose • Tener • Querer • Pensar • Empezar • Comenzar • Perder

How do these verbs work?

Stem-changing verbs give their stems the boot!

Querer

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

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

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

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

Now, let’s add our stem change. • Remember, only the e in the stem can change. • querer • perder • If there are two e’s in the stem, the second one always changes. • preferir • empezar

Querer (e → ie) • Now let’s change the stems. • Querer is a verb where e changes to ie. • Remember, e can change to ie only within the boot. This means the nosotros form never changes!

Querer emos o es e en

PEDIR (e- i • Pedir ends in –ir, so you add: • o • es • e • imos • en

Pedir (e → i) • Now let’s change the stems. • Pedir is a verb where e changes to i. • Remember, e can change to i only within the boot. This means the stem of the nosotros form never changes!

pedir

The u→ue and o→ue verbs work the same way. • to be able to (can) • to play • to sleep • to dream • to return (to a place) • to return (a thing) • Poder • Jugar • Dormir • Soñar • Volver • Devolver

First, find the o or u in the stem that is going to change • Poder • Jugar • Dormir • Soñar • Volver • Devolver

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

Then change it in the boot

Poder ue o emos ue es ue e ue en

Spanish Stem-Changing Verbs