Stem Changing Verbs Present Tense

Los verbos con cambios de radical Stem Changing Verbs These verbs require a spelling change in the stem of the verb. Note the two parts of a verb infinitive: cerr ar verb stem

verb ending (last 2 letters)

There are 4 basic stem changes that occur in verbs in the present tense in Spanish: (e-->ie),

(o-->ue),

(e-->i),

(u-->ue (jugar only))

- This stem change never occurs in the nosotros or vosotros forms - These verbs use regular -ar, -er, or -ir endings. Some Stem-Changing Verbs (e-->ie)

(o-->ue)

(e-->i)

(u-->ue)

pensar empezar divertirse cerrar comenzar despertar quebrar defender descender encender entender perder querer mentir preferir sentir

dormir acostarse almorzar costar encontrar mostrar probar recordar sonar soñar volver devolver mover poder resolver soler morir

pedir reír repetir

jugar

One example verb:

Pensar (to think, to plan on)

Singular Subjects

Plural Subjects

Yo pienso

Nosotros pensamos Nosotras (we think)

(I think)

Tú piensas (you think-familiar)

Ud. (you think-formal) Él piensa (he thinks) Ella (she thinks)

Vosotros pensaís Vosotras (you all think-familiar) Uds. Ellos Ellas

piensan

(you all think) (they think) (they think)

The verb endings are the same as for regular -Ar, -Er, and -Ir verbs: -Ar: o, as, a, amos, áis, an -Er: o, es, e, emos, éis, en -Ir: o, es, e, imos, ís, en Examples ¿Qué piensas del nuevo profesor? What do you think of the new teacher? Yo no entiendo a esa señora. I don’t understand that lady. Miguel nunca merienda por la tarde. Miguel never has a snack in the afternoon. Nuestro equipo siempre pierde los partidos de ping-pong. Our team always loses the ping-pong games. Nosotros preferimos comer en Burger King. We prefer to eat at Burger King.