Stem-changing Verbs Español 2 Sra. Andrews

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 “ir” 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.

Verb endings *If a verb ends in -ar, you add: as a Amos áis an *If a verb ends in –er / -ir, you add: o es e emos / imos éis / ís en

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.

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 Vosotros/as QUERéis = y’all want Ellos/ellas/ustedes quieren= They/you guys want

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

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.

pensar – to think (e – ie stem change) singular plural Yo pienso Nosotros/as PENSamos Tú piensas vosotros/as PENsáis él/ella usted piensa ellos/ellas Ustedes piensan

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

¿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. Me gusta dormir en la clase. A Samanthan, no le gusta correr.

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.) Now you are done!!! If you did it correctly, the stem changed forms of the verb are shaped like a boot.

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 *Tener = to have (“go” verb) o  ue almorzar = to eat lunch poder = to be able/can encontrar = to find dormir = to sleep volver = to return e  i Repetir= to repeat servir = to serve pedir = to order seguir = to follow competir = to compete

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

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. EMPEZAR (ie) SERVIR(i) DORMIR(ue)