(verbos con cambios radicales) Stem-Changing verbs (verbos con cambios radicales)

What is a stem-changing verb? As the name implies, a stem-changing verb has a change in its stem  A verb has two parts, the stem and the ar/er/ir ending. Hablar Correr Escribir

Types of stem-changers There are 3.5 types of stem-changers in Spanish. They are: E  IE (the most common) O  UE (common) U  UE (“jugar” is the ONLY verb that does this) E  I (applies to –ir verbs ONLY)

WHERE in the stem does the change happen? The stem change will always happen in the first vowel back from the ending. (Most times it’s the only vowel in the stem.) PENSAR (to think, e  ie) PREFERIR (to prefer, e  ie) DORMIR (to sleep, o  ue) ENCONTRAR (to find, o  ue) SERVIR (to serve, e  i)

How are these verbs conjugated? Stem changers do not change in all forms, just four. Let’s see how this works…

PENSAR (to think / to plan, e  ie) The changes all happen inside the form of a shoe or boot! PENSAR (to think / to plan, e  ie) PIENSO PENSAMOS PIENSAS PENSÁIS PIENSA PIENSAN Stem changers are also called “shoe” or “boot” verbs…

PREFERIR (to prefer, e  ie) PREFIERO PREFERIMOS PREFIERES PREFERÍS PREFIERE PREFIEREN

QUERER (to want, e  ie) QUIERO QUEREMOS QUIERES QUERÉIS QUIERE QUIEREN

Ejemplos: Pienso llevar unos pantalones cortos porque hace calor. What do you notice about the verb AFTER the conjugated stem-changer? Pienso llevar unos pantalones cortos porque hace calor. Laura prefiere las camisetas más que las blusas. Laura y Andrés quieren comprar botas nuevas.

Traduce: I want to buy these shoes and those socks. We prefer to shop after school. He plans to wear a jacket and a scarf. You think that (que) shopping is boring. *to shop: ir de compras

PODER (to be able (“can”), o  ue) PUEDO PODEMOS PUEDES PODÉIS PUEDE PUEDEN

DORMIR (to sleep, o  ue) DUERMO DORMIMOS DUERMES DORMÍS DUERME DUERMEN

JUGAR (to play, the ONLY u  ue) JUEGO JUGAMOS JUEGAS JUGÁIS JUEGA JUEGAN

SERVIR (to serve, e  i) SIRVO SERVIMOS SIRVES SERVÍS SIRVE SIRVEN

DECIR (to say / to tell, e  i) DIGO DECIMOS DICES DECÍS DICE DICEN

PRÁCTICA: traduce al inglés Mis hermanos y yo dormimos hasta las 11. Yo puedo cantar y bailar. El restaurante italiano sirve el mejor espagueti. Los chicos juegan al fútbol en el parque.

PRÁCTICA: translate the following They serve the best pizza. (SUPERLATIVE!!!!) We can wear coats and scarves in January. I want boots and shoes for Christmas (la navidad). My sister sleeps more than I. You play soccer after school.

Final notes… There’s no way of looking at a verb and knowing that it’s a stem changer. However, the more familiar you are with Spanish, the more you will be able to “feel” a stem changer. Some Spanish 2 students can already do this  If a verb (of 2+ syllables) changes stem (e.g., TENER—to have), then all verbs which contain that verb will also change stem (e.g., MANTENER—to maintain, OBTENER—to get).