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
| Yo entiendo | Nosotros/as entendemos |
| Tú entiendes | Vosotros/as entendéis |
| El, ella, usted entiende | Ellos, ellas, ustedes entienden |
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
| Yo almuerzo | Nosotros/as almorzamos |
| Tú almuerzas | Vosotros/as amorzáis |
| El, ella, usted almuerza | Ellos, ellas, ustedes almuerzan |
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
| Yo sirvo | Nosotros/as servimos |
| Tú sirves | Vosotros/as servís |
| El, ella, usted sirve | Ellos, ellas ustedes sirven |
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