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 (Think "no!" for NOsotros!). 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, NOsotros is NOrmal!

There are three categories of Stem-changing verbs. We have seen one example with the verb Tener.

Verbs that change 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 (click for more on Pensar.)

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

The second category is the 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.

Included in this category is the unique verb Jugar. It falls under the O-->ue stem-changer classification since the verb's original form was Jogar.

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

The last category is the 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].

Practice conjugating Stem-changing verbs	E--->i stem-change info and practice	E--->ie info and practice	O--->ue info and practice	What do Stem-changers do in the Preterite Past Tense?
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"	Tener & venir info and practice		Back to the Verbs page!