Stem-changing verbs are different from regular verbs because when you conjugate these verbs, not only do you change the endings but you also change the stem (except for the nosotros form) . Quick Review: A verb has two parts - the stem and the ending . For example: perder (to lose) Perd + er Stem Ending

Stem-changing verbs are different from regular verbs because when you conjugate these verbs, not only do you change the endings but you also change the stem (except for the nosotros form) .

Quick Review:

A verb has two parts - the stem and the ending .

For example: perder (to lose)

Perd + er

Stem Ending

In verbs that have an e to ie change, when you conjugate the verb, you change the ‘ e ’ in the stem to ‘ ie ’ in all forms except the nosotros form .

c e rrar – to close com e nzar – to begin emp e zar – to begin p e nsar – to think Examples of e  ie Stem-Changing verbs in the present tense: ent e nder – to understand p e rder – to lose qu e rer – to want pref e rir – to prefer ref e rir – to refer s e ntir – to feel, to regret

c e rrar – to close

com e nzar – to begin

emp e zar – to begin

p e nsar – to think

ent e nder – to understand

p e rder – to lose

qu e rer – to want

pref e rir – to prefer

ref e rir – to refer

s e ntir – to feel, to regret

Tener (to have) and Venir (to come) are also e-ie stem-changing verbs but these verbs have an irregular ‘yo’ form. TENER – to have Yo tengo Nosotros tenemos Tú tienes Él Ella tiene Usted Ellos Ellas tienen Ustedes VENIR – to come Yo vengo Nosotros venimos Tú vienes Él Ella viene Usted Ellos Ellas vienen Ustedes

In verbs that have an o to ue change, when you conjugate the verb, you change the ‘ o ’ in the stem to ‘ ue ’ in all forms except the nosotros form .

c o ntar– to count enc o ntrar – to meet to find c o lgar – to hang c o star – to cost Examples of o  ue Stem-Changing verbs in the present tense: p o der – to be able to v o lver – to return ll o ver – to rain d o rmir – to sleep

c o ntar– to count

enc o ntrar – to meet to find

c o lgar – to hang

c o star – to cost

p o der – to be able to

v o lver – to return

ll o ver – to rain

d o rmir – to sleep

In the verb, J u gar (to play) the stem-change is u - ue . Jugar – to play Yo juego Nosotros jugamos Tú juegas Él Ella juega Usted Ellos Ellas juegan Ustedes

In verbs that have an e to i change, when you conjugate the verb, you change the ‘ e ’ in the stem to ‘ i ’ in all forms except the nosotros form .

p e dir – to ask for, to order rep e tir – to repeat s e rvir – to serve s e guir – to follow, to continue cons e guir – to get Examples of e  i Stem-Changing verbs in the present tense:

p e dir – to ask for, to order

rep e tir – to repeat

s e rvir – to serve

s e guir – to follow, to continue

cons e guir – to get

The verbs Seguir (to follow, to continue) and Conseguir (to get) are e-i stem-changing verbs but these verbs have an irregular ‘yo’ form. You drop the letter ‘u’ in the Yo form. SEGUIR – to follow, to continue Yo sigo Nosotros seguimos Tú sigues Él Ella sigue Usted Ellos Ellas siguen Ustedes CONSEGUIR – to get Yo consigo Nosotros conseguimos Tú consigues Él Ella consigue Usted Ellos Ellas consiguen Ustedes