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
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