The stem of a verb is the part of the infinitivethat is left after you drop the endings -ar, -er,or -ir. For example, the stem of empezar isempez-. Stem-changing verbs have a spellingchange in their stem in all forms of thepresent tense except the nosotros(as) andvosotros(as) forms.

Stem-changing verbs

There are three kinds of stem-changingverbs that you have learned. To reviewthem, here are the present-tense formsof poder (o ! ue), empezar (e ! ie), andpedir (e ! i).—Si no puedes contestar una pregunta,¿qué haces?—Generalmente le pido ayuda a otroestudiante o al profesor.

Stem-changing verbs

Stem-changing verbs

Stem-changing verbs

Stem-changing verbs

The letters b, v, and d

The letters b and v are both pronouncedthe same. When the b or v is the firstletter of a word or follows an m or n, it ispronounced like the English letter b. Listento and say these words:

bien vecinos también invierno

The letters b, v, and d

In all other positions, the letters b and vhave a softer “b” sound. To produce it, putyour lips close together (but not touching)and push the air through them. Listen toand say these words and sentences:

gustaba jóvenes árbol devolver

Benito Vásquez era un hombre que viajaba en Brasil.

Mi novio vivía en el Caribe pero ahora vive en Buenos Aires.

The letters b, v, and d

Like the b and v, the Spanish d can havea hard or a soft sound. The d is hard at thebeginning of a word or after n or l, likethe d in the English word dough. Listento and say these words:

donde desfile falda cuando aprender

The letters b, v, and d

Otherwise the d is soft like the English thin the English word though. Listen to thesoft d in these words and repeat them:

ciudad moderno cuñado boda ayudar

The letters b, v, and d

Repeat the following refranes. What do youthink they mean?

Affirmative and negative words

By now you know many affirmative and negative words.Affirmative and negative words

Alguno, alguna, algunos, algunas, andninguno, ninguna match the number(singular or plural) and gender (masculineor feminine) of the noun to which they refer.

—¿Uds. van al laboratorio de computadoras enalgunas clases?—No, no vamos al laboratorio en ninguna clase.

Affirmative and negative words

When alguno and ninguno come before amasculine singular noun, they change toalgún and ningún.

—¿Vas a dar algún discurso en la clase de inglés?—No, no voy a dar ningún discurso.

Affirmative and negative words