Present Tense Stem-Changing Verbs

Page 5 – Para EmpezarRealidades 3

Stem-Changing Verbs Remember that in Spanish there are

three groups of stem-changing verbs. The stem change occurs in all forms

EXCEPT the nosotros(as) and vosotros(as) forms, only in the boot!

Stem-Changing Verbs Let´s look at some verbs that have a

stem change of e > ie:

Stem-Changing Verbs (e > ie)empezarquererpreferirpensardivertirsedespertarsesentirsementircerrarcomenzarentender

to beginto wantto preferto think, planto have funto wake upto feelto lieto closeto beginto understand

PERDER (e > ie) – to losepierdo

pierdes

pierde

perdemos

perdéis

pierden

Stem-Changing Verbs Let´s look at some verbs that have a

stem change of o > ue:

Stem-Changing Verbs (o > ue)**jugar (u > ue)contarcostarencontrarrecordarvolardormirvolverdevolveracostarsealmorzar

to playto count, tell a storyto costto find, meetto rememberto flyto sleepto returnto return somethingto go to bedto eat lunch

PODER (o > ue) – to be able to, can

puedo

puedes

puede

podemos

podéis

pueden

Stem-Changing Verbs Let´s look at some verbs that have a

stem change of e > i:

Stem-Changing Verbs (e > i)servirrepetirreírsonreírseguirvestirse

to serveto repeatto laughto smileto follow, continueto dress

PEDIR (e > i) – to ask for, to order

pido

pides

pide

pedimos

pedís

piden

REÍR (e > i) – to laughrío

ríes

ríe

reímos

reís

ríen

SONREÍR (e > i) – to smilesonrío

sonríes

sonríe

sonreímos

sonreís

sonríen