Conjugate stem changers in the present tenseGrammar essential #37

Stem changing infinitives

Stem changing infinitives are named for what they do– change in the stem.

You are going to make some alteration of the stem before adding the verb endings.

You will use the endings you already know.

The hardest part of stem changers is knowing which ones change and which ones don’t.

Stem changers

There are 4 different ways a stem changing infinitive can change (4 categories).

The first is uue.

It is the smallest category with only one infinitive jugar = to play (sports)

Jugar = to play (sports)

Separate the stem and the infintive ending.

Jug- is the stem

Make the stem change uue

The new stem is jueg-

Put it in the conjugation box EXCEPT nosotros and vosotros.

Nosotros and Vosotros do not make the stem change.

Jugar = to play sports

Yo

Jueg-

Nosotros/as

Jug-

Tú

Jueg-

Vosotros/as

Jug-

Él

Ella jueg-

Ud.

Ellos

Ellas jueg-

Uds.Now just add the regular –ar endings.

Jugar = to play sports

Yo

Juego

Nosotros/as

Jugamos

Tú

Juegas

Vosotros/as

Jugáis

Él

Ella juega

Ud.

Ellos

Ellas juegan

Uds.

Stem changers

The second category is one of the largest.

It is oue.

Encontrar = to find is a stem changer.

It is the same steps as jugar.

Other examples include: acostar (to lie down), almorzar (to eat lunch), contar (to count), costar (to cost), devolver (to return something), dormir (to sleep), poder (can/to be able to), volver (to return)

Encontrar = to find

First separate the stem from the infinitive ending.

Encontr- is the stem.

Make the stem change oue

New stem encuentr-

Put into box– remember it will look like a boot… they are called boot verbs as well.

Encontrar = to find

encuentro encontramos

encuentras encontráis

encuentra encuentran

Stem changers

The third category is again large.

It is eie.

preferir = to prefer is a stem changer.

It is the same steps as jugar.

*When there is more than one vowel that could possible make the change, choose the vowel closest to the verb ending.

Other e ie verbs

Cerrar (to close), Comenzar (to begin), Despertar (to wake up), Divertir (to entertain/ amuse), Empezar (to begin), Entender (to understand), Pensar (to think), Perder (to lose), Querer (to want), Recomendar (to recommend)

Preferir = to prefer

First separate the stem from the infinitive ending.

prefer- is the stem.

Make the stem change eie

New stem prefier-

Put into box– remember it will look like a boot… they are called boot verbs as well.

preferir = to prefer

prefiero preferimos

prefieres preferís

prefiere prefieren

Stem changers

The last category is a smaller one.

It is ei.

servir = to serve is a stem changer.

It is the same steps as jugar.

servir = to serve

First separate the stem from the infinitive ending.

serv- is the stem.

Make the stem change ei

New stem sirv-

Put into box– remember it will look like a boot… they are called boot verbs as well.

servir = to serve

sirvo servimos

sirves servís

sirve sirven

ei

There are some rules that can help you distinguish between e i and e ie.

In order to be e i, the infinitive must end in –ir. Now, that could be other categories as well, but –ar and –er cannot be e i .

MR C VeSPeRS is also a way to help if you are needing a pneumonic device.

MR. C VeSPeRS

M- medir (to measure)R – reír (to laugh)C – conseguir (To get/ to obtain)V – vestir(se) (to dress)S- servir (to serve)P – pedir (to ask for)R- repetir ( to repeat)S- seguir (to follow/ to continue)

E I Verbs

MR. C VeSPeRS does not include all the stem changers in this category. Another infinitive is Sonreír (to smile)

Stem Changers

I cannot give you a rule as to which verbs stem change and which ones don’t. These are just something that you have to learn as you continue to use Spanish.

Don’t forget-you have already learned all of the u ue stem-changers.