4.A Stem-changing verbs

In the previous chapters we have learned about regular verbs and a couple irregular verbs. Now, we are going to look at a set of verbs that like the regular verbs have a set of rules, but are irregular at the same time. These verbs are called stem-changing verbs.

What is a stem-changing verb? With the regular verbs, we would take the verb hablar for explample, keep the stem habl– unchanged, and change the ending of the verb according to the conjugation that we needed. In a stem-changing verb not only we have to change the ending of the verb, but we also have to change the stem.

There are three types of stem-changing verbs. Verbs that change from e-ie, e-i, and o-ue. Note, that the verb conjugates regular only on nosotros/as and vosotros/as.

Verbs that change from e- ie

Entender –to understand

Most common verbs that change from e-ie:

Cerrar-   to close

Comenzar (a+ infinitive)- to start/ to begin

Empezar (a +infinitive)-  to begin

Entender- to understand

Pensar- to think

Perder- to lose; to miss

Preferir (+infinitive)- to prefer

Querer (+infinitive)- to want; to love

Verbs that change from o-ue

Almorzar –to have lunch

Most common verbs that change from o: ue;

Almorzar – to have lunch

Contar – to count, to tell

Dormir –  to sleep

Encontrar – to find

Mostrar –  to show

Poder (+infinitive) – can, to be able to

Recordar – to remember

Volver – to return

Verbs that change from e -i

Servir –to serve

Most common verbs that change from the e- i;

Concebir – to concieve

Conseguir – to get, to obtain

Decir – to say, to tell

Despedir – to fire

Impedir – to impede

Medir – to measure

Pedir – to ask, to order

Repetir – to repeat

Seguir – to follow, to continue, to keep doing something