Stem-changing verbs

Los verbos con cambios en la raíz

Stem-changing verbs change more than just the endings when you conjugate them. The vowel in the stem (the part of the verb left when you remove the -ar, -er and -ir endings) will change in these particular verbs from a single vowel to a double vowel, or from one vowel to another. However, these verbs don't stem-change in the nosotros form. This is why stem-changing verbs often are refered to as "Boot" or "Shoe" verbs. When we draw a box around the stem-changed conjugations, we duck under Nosotros (because it doesn't change) which makes a boot-type shape. When stem-changing, think "No!" for Nosotros!

We have seen this already with the verb Tener. Verbs like Tener are called e-->ie stem-changers because the "e" in the stem changes to "ie". Another example of an e-->ie stem-changer is Querer . Other e-->ie stem-changers include Preferir, Entender, Venir and Pensar.

Gumbey tiene un caballo.	Gumbey has one horse.
Nosotros tenemos tres perros y un caballo.	We have three dogs and a horse.

Other verbs are called o-->ue stem-changers. A good example of this type of stem-changer is Almorzar.

Almuerzo con mis amigos.	I eat lunch with my friends.
Almorzamos en la cafetería.	We eat lunch in the cafeteria.

Dormir and Poder are two other examples.

Other verbs are called e-->i stem-changers, like Pedir . This e-->i change occurs only in "Ir" verbs

Pido un bolígrafo.	I ask for a pen.
Pedimos más café.	We ask for more coffee.

Other examples are Decir [to say or tell], Repetir [to Repeat], and Servir [to serve].

One verb gets its very own catagory: Jugar. It is a u-->ue stem-changer:

Vershara juega al golf.	Vershara plays golf.
Jugamos los sábados.	We play on Saturdays.

Practice on the Web!

Practice conjugating Stem-changing verbs	E--->i stem-change info and practice	E--->ie info and practice	O--->ue info and practice	Tener & venir info and practice
Dining out at McD's with Stem-changing verbs: a story	Verb Conjugator Select Present tense- then click on Irregular Verbs Leave the default set at "All but vosotros"		What do Stem-changers do in the Preterite Past Tense?	Back to the Verbs page!