Download Stem Changing verbs

Stem Changing verbs
Main Concept
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Each verb can be broken into two main parts.
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The stem (everything but the ar, er, or ir.)
The suffix (the ar, er, or ir.)
Here are some examples.
Verb
Stem
Suffix
Hablar
Habl
Ar
Comer
Com
Er
Vivir
Viv
Ir
Preguntar
Pregunt
ar
The Types
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There are four types of stem changing verbs.
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e to ie stem changers.
o to ue stem changers.
u to ue stem changers.
e to i stem changers.
Ar, Er, and Ir can be any of the first three.
Only Ir verbs can be e to i stem changers.
NO VERBS STEM CHANGES IN THE
NOSOTROS AND VOSOTROS FORMS.
Where the Change Takes Place
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The change takes place in the penultimate
syllable of the infinitive.
So if my verb is Repetir
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I break it into syllables
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Re/pe/tir
The penultimate syllable is pe. (re/pe/tir)
This is the syllable that will be changed.
The Change
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There is no good way of knowing which verbs
stem change other than to memorize them.
If the vowel in the penultimate syllable is an
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e we change it to ie most often.
e we change it to i in some verbs.
o we change it to ue.
u we change it to ue.
Process
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This is really hard so watch carefully!
As long as the subject is not Nosotros or
Vosotros, I take the penultimate syllable,
Change the letter appropriately,
Add the appropriate ending.
¡Fácil, no!
Querer
Quierer
Yo Quiero
Time for some scratch paper.
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The following are e to ie stem
changers. Conjugate them
for the person indicated.
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(Yo) Pensar
(Tú) Sentir
(Ellos) Cerrar
(Marisol) Empezar
(Ud.) Comenzar
(Paco y Beatriz) Querer
Now check your answer.
Pienso
Sientes
Cierran
Empieza
Comienza
Quieren
Some More Practice
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The following verbs are o to ue stem
changers. Watch out for the nosotros form.
Subject
Yo
Tú
Ella
Pacha y yo
Ellas
Paco y Teresa
Verb
Dormir
Devolver
Probar
Mostrar
Soñar con
Poder
Answer
Duermo
Devuelves
Prueba
Mostramos
Sueñan con
Pueden
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These are e to i stem changers.
Subject
Ella
Marco y Lucía
Carlos y tú
Yo
Tú
Verb
Pedir
Sonreir
Repetir
Seguir
Reir
Answer
Pide
Sonríen
Repiten
Sigo
Ríes
Some Translation
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Translate the following sentences.
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I always eat lunch with my friends.
Siempre almuerzo con mis amigos.
They want to go to the movies.
Ellos quieren ir al cine.
We prefer to swim.
Preferimos nadar.
He asks for 10 dollars from his father.
Él pide diez dólares de su padre.
You (fam) always smile.
Tú siempre sonríes.