Stem-changing verbs in the Present
Learn Spanish: Conjugating Spanish Stem Changing Verbs
In this learn Spanish grammar lesson, we go over the conjugation rules for Spanish stem changing verbs. In Spanish, stem-changing verbs have same endings as the regular ar, er and ir verbs. The difference occurs in the stem. Here are the following changes that take place when conjugating a Spanish stem changing verb in the present or indicative.
e > ie
o > ue
e > i
However the nosotros and vosotros form do not take a stem change.
Look at the patterns:
1) Querer: e > ie = quier_
| yo |
quiero (I want) |
nosotros/as |
queremos ( we want) |
| tú |
quieres (you want) |
vosotros |
queréis (you want) |
| usted |
quiere (you want) |
ustedes |
quieren (you want) |
| él/ella |
quiere (he/she wants) |
ellos/ellas |
quieren (they want) |
Some verbs that follow e > ie pattern are:
| Comenzar |
to start |
| Querer |
to want |
| Entender |
to understand |
| Preferir |
to prefer |
2) Poder o > ue = pued_
| yo |
puedo (I can) |
nosotros/as |
podemos(we can) |
| tú |
puedes (you can) |
vosotros |
podéis (you can) |
| usted |
puede (you can) |
ustedes |
pueden (you can) |
| él/ella |
puede (he/she wants) |
ellos/ellas |
pueden (they can) |
Some verbs that follows o > ue pattern are:
| Almorzar |
to have lunch |
| Poder |
to want |
| Dormir |
to sleep |
3) Servir e > i = Sirv_
| Yo |
sirvo (I serve) |
Nosotros/as) |
servimos (We serve) |
| Tú |
sirves (You serve) |
(vosotros) |
servis (You serve) |
| Usted |
sirve (You serve) |
(ustedes) |
sirven (You serve) |
| Él/Ella |
sirve (He/She) |
(ellos/ellas) |
sirven (They serve) |
Some verbs that follow e > i are:
| Pedir |
to request |
| Servir |
to serve |
| Decir *** |
to say |
*** Note: with Decir -- the first person (yo) form is irregular: Yo digo (I say).
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