This document provides a rhyme to help remember the stem-changing verbs in Spanish, also known as "verbos de botas". The rhyme states that for verbs ending in "-ar", the stem changes the "o" to "ue" except in the first person singular "yo" form, and the "e" to "ie" except in the "yo" form, or changes the middle "e". It then gives examples of dormir, pensar, and entender. For verbs ending in "-ir" and "-er", the rhyme notes the stem changes the "e" to "i", except in the "yo" form, or changes the middle "e", providing examples of pedir

1. Verbos con
cambios de
raíz
AKA “verbos de botas”

2. Stem-Changing Verbs Rhyme
(to the tune of the Adam’s Family theme song)
 Change “o” to “ue” except in the “we”
 Change “e” to “ie” except in the “we”
 And when in doubt,change the middle “e”.
 Dormir es duermo, pensar es pienso, y entender
entiendo.
 Tararara, tan-tan, tararara, tan-tan
 Change “e” to “i”
 But pass the we by
 And when in doubt,
 Change the middle “e”.
 Pedir es pido, servir es sirvo, y repetir-repito.