Stem To find the stem, you drop the last two letters of the infinitive (unconjugated verb). Any remaining letters are the stem.

Stem-changing verbs Verbs where also the STEM CHANGES, not only the ending.

4 categories There are 4 categories of stem-changing verbs: e --> ie o --> ue u --> ue (jugar) e --> i

e -> ie stem-changer The “e” in the stem will turn into “ie” during conjugation except for the NOSOTROS and VOSOTROS form.

Important! Stem-changing verbs will NEVER have a stem-change in the NOSOTROS and VOSOTROS form!

e --> ie stem-changers cerrar (to close) empezar (to start) perder (to lose) sentarse (to sit down) comenzar (to start) pensar (to think) preferir (to prefer) querer (to want) sentir (to feel)

Empezar (to start) yo empiezo nosotros empezamos tú empiezas vosotros empezáis él/ella/Usted empieza ellos/ellas/Uds. empiezan

Cerrar (to close) yo cierro nosotros cerramos tú cierras vosotros cerráis él/ella/Usted cierra ellos/ellas/Uds. cierran

perder (to lose) yo pierdo nosotros perdemos tú pierdes vosotros perdéis él/ella/Usted pierde ellos/ellas/Uds. pierden

sentar (to sit) yo siento nosotros sentamos tú sientas él/ella/Usted sienta ellos/ellas/Uds. sientan

comenzar (to start) yo comienzo nosotros comenzamos tú comienzas él/ella/Ud. comienza ellos/ellas/Uds. comienzan

pensar (to think) yo pienso nosotros pensamos tú piensas él/ella/Usted piensa ellos/ellas/Uds. piensan

querer (to want) yo quiero nosotros queremos tú quieres VOSOTROS queréis él/ella/Usted quiere ellos/ellas/Uds. quieren

sentir (to feel) yo siento nosotros sentimos tú sientes él/ella/Usted siente ellos/ellas/Uds. sienten

Checking for Understanding

What is a stem-changing verb? Verb that has a change in the stem during conjugation

What is an e -> ie stem- changer? The “e” in the stem turns into “ie” during conjugation

In what form is there never a stem-change? Nosotros Vosotros

Fill in the blank with the correct conjugation La profesora ______________ el libro. (cerrar) cierra

Fill in the blank with the correct conjugation Yo ___________ mucho. (pensar) pienso

Fill in the blank with the correct conjugation Mi equipo __________. (perder) pierde

Fill in the blank with the correct conjugation La clase _____________ tarde. (comenzar) comienza

Fill in the blank with the correct conjugation Mis abuelos _____________ los carros nuevos. (preferir) prefieren

Fill in the blank with the correct conjugation Yo ____________ mucho dinero. (querer) quiero

Fill in the blank with the correct conjugation Nosotros _________ bien hoy. (sentir) sentimos

el fin

gracias Hola, I hope you and your students find this slideshow to be helpful. If you have any questions about the material, please don’t hesitate to contact me at Gracias, Maestra en Mississippi