Special case present tense verbs

Stem-Changing Verbs“Boot Verbs”

Repaso: Present Tense Endings (Regular

Verbs)o amos

as X

a an o emos

es X

e en

o imos

es X

e en

AR

ER

IR

Step 1: Take

ending

off infinitive to

find

stem

Step 2: Add ending

to match subject

Stem-changing verbs

Are sometimes called “Boot Verbs”

Have a spelling change in the stem when conjugated into yo, tu, ud/él/ella, uds/ellos/ellas forms

NO CHANGE in nosotros

You already know one! - Jugar

*and Tener is a hybrid!

juego jugamos

juegas X

juega juegan

Stem-Change Rules:

Only 3 categories of changes:

E IE (We'll start here)

O UE

E I

Change the vowel in the stem closest to the ending.

Example (E-IE)

nevar (e -> ie) (to snow)

1st, find stem: nev ar

then, make spelling change: nev → niev

last, add ending: nievo nevamos **nievas Xnieva nievan

**Make NO change in Nosotros**

Example Chart

nievo nevamos

nievas X

nieva nievan

Makes the shape of a “boot”

E IE Verbs

๏empezar - to begin/start๏pensar - to think๏perder - to lose๏preferir - to prefer๏querer - to want๏mentir - to lie๏entender - to understand๏cerrar - to close๏defender - to defend

O UE Verbs๏almorzar - to eat lunch๏morir - to die๏mostrar - to show๏mover - to move๏poder - to be able to๏dormir - to sleep๏encontrar - to find๏recordar - to remember๏volver - to come back (return)๏devolver - to give back (return)

E I Verbs๏decir - to say/tell (**go)๏competir - to compete๏seguir - to follow๏repetir - to repeat๏reír - to laugh๏pedir - to ask for๏servir - to serve๏corregir - to correct๏sonreír - to smile๏gemir - to groan/moan