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

Stem-changing verb a verb that experiences a CHANGE in the STEM during conjugation. The verb will have regular verb endings, but will experience a change in the stem.

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 form.

Important! Stem-changing verbs will NEVER have a stem-change in the NOSOTROS 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 él/ella/Usted empieza ellos/ellas/Uds. empiezan

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

perder (to lose) yo pierdo nosotros perdemos tú pierdes 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

preferir (to prefer) yo prefiero nosotros preferimos tú prefieres él/ella/Usted prefiere ellos/ellas/Uds. prefieren

querer (to want) yo quiero nosotros queremos tú quieres 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

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