Stem-changing verbs

In Lesson 6, we discussed irregular verb patterns.  This lesson will show you how to work with a very large group of verbs that use regular verb endings but change the base (stem) of the infinitive in most conjugated forms.  They are not classified as regular or irregular verbs, but instead comprise a group called stem-changing verbs.

 

e–ie  Stem Change

 

We’ll begin with a stem-changing verb tree:

 

pensar
yo pienso	nosotros pensamos
tú piensas	vosotros pensáis
élella piensaUd.	ellosellas piensanUds.

 

 

Pensar, by the way, means to think.  Can you explain how this verb tree differs from a regular –ar verb conjugation?  ¿Qué piensas?

 

As you hopefully noticed, all of the endings are the same as they would be for a regular –ar verb, and only four of the forms change stems.  The change is that the e in the stem pensar becomes ie in the conjugated yo, tú, and third-person forms.  In other words, the stem changes in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.  Some teachers suggest thinking of the stem-changing verb forms as a boot, like this:

 

pensar
yo pienso	nosotros pensamos
tú piensas	vosotros pensáis
élella piensaUd.	ellosellas piensanUds.

 

 

All of the forms inside the shaded “boot” change stems in the present tense.  (Feel free to make the “boot” look more boot-like in your notes!)

All of the verbs on this list use the same present tense e–ie stem change as pensar. Remember, each form uses regular verb endings, so don’t use –ar endings for an –er verb!

 

cerrar	to close	negar	to deny
comenzar	to begin	pensar	to think
despertar	to awaken	perder	to lose
defender	to defend	preferir	to prefer
entender	to understand	querer	to want, to love
empezar	to begin	sentir	to regret
mentir	to lie	sugerir	to suggest

 

 

o–ue Stem Change

 

Use the exact same technique described for the e–ie stem change for the verbs listed below.  The verb tree provides an example.  Remember, only the forms inside the “boot” change stems.

 

dormir
yo duermo	nosotros dormimos
tú duermes	vosotros dormís
élella duermeUd.	ellosellas duermenUds.

 

 

acordar	to remember	morir	to die
almorzar	to have lunch	mostrar	to show
contar	to count, to tell	mover	to move
costar	to cost	poder	to be able to
devolver	to return, to give back	probar	to prove, to try out
dormir	to sleep	recordar	to remember
encontrar	to find, to meet	volver	to return, to come back
envolver	to wrap

 

 

The verb jugar is usually listed with this group of stem-changing verbs, even though it is a u–ue stem change.  I’ve included the verb tree below.  Jugar means to play, but it refers only to playing games and sports; to play an instrument, use the verb tocar.

 

jugar
yo juego	nosotros jugamos
tú juegas	vosotros jugáis
élella juegaUd.	ellosellas jueganUds.

 

 

e–i Stem Change

 

I’ll bet you already know exactly what I’m going to say.  Use the same technique for these verbs, following the example in the verb tree and using the correct regular verb endings.

 

pedir
yo pido	nosotros pedimos
tú pides	vosotros pedís
élella pideUd.	ellosellas pidenUds.

 

 

despedir	to fire, to break up	reír[1]	to laugh
freír	to fry	reñir	to argue
impedir	to impede	repetir	to repeat
medir	to measure	servir	to serve, to be good for
pedir	to ask for	sonreír	to smile

 

 

Verbs Ending in –uir

 

One more idea for this lesson:  Although not strictly stem-changers, the verbs in this section add the letter y to the stem in all of the forms inside the “boot.” The purpose, as usual, is to facilitate and preserve pronunciation.   If the verb contribuir were treated as a regular verb, the third person singular would be “él contribue.”  The problem is that ue in written Spanish is always pronounced “way.”  “Contrib-way” does not preserve the pronunciation of the infinitive.  To compensate, written Spanish adds a strategic and readily understood y.  Observe:

 

contribuir
yo contribuyo	nosotros contribuimos
tú contribuyes	vosotros contribuís
élella contribuyeUd.	ellosellas contribuyenUds.

 

 

Here are the verbs that follow this rule.  Since all of the verbs on the list are –ir verbs, they all use the same endings as contribuir.

 

atribuir	to attribute	distribuir	to distribute
construir	to build, to construct	huir	to flee, to escape
contribuir	to contribute	incluir	to include
disminuir	to diminish	sustituir	to substitute

 

 

Practice

 

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.  For extra credit, translate the sentences.

 

1)      El gato __________________ en mi cuarto.  (dormir)

 

2)      Él ____________________ comida a las seis de la mañana.  (pedir)

 

3)      No me gusta cuando el gato me _____________________.  (despertar)

 

4)      Por aquel gato, yo no ____________________ dormir bien.  (poder)

 

5)      Yo le ____________________ mucho a ese gato—no lo ___________________.  (querer, negar)

 

6)      Mi padre ____________________ casas.  (construir)

 

7)      A veces papi y yo ___________________ juntos.  (almorzar)

 

8)      Él siempre __________________ cuando yo le ___________________ del gato.  (reír, contar)

 

9)      Después, nosotros ___________________ a trabajar.  (volver)

 

10)   Mi madre no _____________________ nuestro interés en <<ese gato bobo.>>  (entender)

 

Answers

 

1)      El gato duerme en mi cuarto.

 

2)      Él pide comida a las seis de la mañana.

 

3)      No me gusta cuando el gato me despierta.

 

4)      Por aquel gato, yo no puedo dormir bien.

 

5)      Yo le quiero mucho a mi gato—no lo niego.

 

6)      Mi padre construye casas.

 

7)      A veces papi y yo almorzamos juntos.

 

8)      Él siempre ríe cuando yo le cuento del gato.

 

9)      Después, nosotros volvemos a trabajar.

 

10)   Mi madre no entiende nuestro interés en <<ese gato bobo.>>