【英文版西语语法】Stem-Changing Verbs

 Stem-changing verbs in the present tense use the same endings as regular -ar, -er, and -ir verbs when conjugated, but undergo a vowel change in the last syllable of the stem.

In this article, we'll take a look at the following present tense stem changes:

 

e> ie changes

o> ue changes

e> i changes

i> ie changes

u> ue changes

Looking for an introduction to the present tense in Spanish? Check out our article on Spanish present tense forms.

1. e> ie Changes

 

This type of stem change affects the largest number of verbs. For verbs in this group, the e in the last syllable of the stem changes to ie. Check out an example of this in the conjugation table for the verb querer  (to want).

 

Keep in mind that "the last syllable of the stem" refers to the only syllable in the stem in verbs like cerrar and pensar.

Present Simple Conjugation Table for Querer

 

quiero

 

queremos

 

quieres

 

queréis

 

quiere

 

quieren

 

The Boot

Present tense stem changes do not apply to nosotros and vosotros forms. These two forms maintain the form of the infinitive stem. If you think of the way many traditional verb tables are presented (see the conjugation table of querer above), you'll notice that the four verb conjugations that do undergo a stem change make the form of a rudimentary boot (or an "L"). This is a neat way to remember which verbs undergo a stem change.

Common Verbs with e> ie Changes

 

Spanish English Spanish English

acertar

 

to guess

atender

 

to attend to

atravesar

 

to cross

calentar

 

to warm

cerrar

 

to close

comenzar

 

to begin

confesar

 

to confess

helar

 

to freeze

defender

 

to defend

descender

 

to descend

despertarse

 

to wake up

divertirse

 

to have fun

empezar

 

to begin

encender

 

to light/ignite

encerrar

 

to enclose

entender

 

to understand

fregar

 

to scrub/wash

gobernar

 

to govern

mentir

 

to lie

negar

 

to deny

nevar

 

to snow

pensar

 

to think

perder

 

to lose

preferir

 

to prefer

recomendar

 

to recommend

remendar

 

to mend/patch

sentar(se)

 

to sit down

sentir

 

to feel

sugerir

 

to suggest

tener

 

to have

tropezar

 

to stumble

venir

 

to suggest

The yo forms of venir and tener are irregular. The yo form of venir is vengo  (I come), while the yo form of tener is tengo  (I have).

2. o> ue Changes

 

For verbs in this group, the o in the last syllable of the stem changes to ue. Check out an example of this in the conjugation table for the verb soñar  (to dream).

 

Present Simple Conjugation Table for Soñar

 

sueño

 

soñamos

 

sueñas

 

soñáis

 

sueña

 

sueñan

 

Common Verbs with o> ue Changes

 

absolver

 

to absolve

acordarse (de)

 

to agree on

almorzar

 

to have lunch

aprobar

 

to approve

cocer

 

to boil/bake

colgar

 

to hang (up)

conmover

 

to move

contar

 

to count

costar

 

to cost

demoler

 

to demolish

demostrar

 

to demonstrate/prove

devolver

 

to return

disolver

 

to dissolve

doler

 

to hurt

dormir

 

to sleep

encontrar

 

to find

envolver

 

to wrap

llover

 

to rain

morder

 

to bite

moler

 

to grind

morir

 

to die

mostrar

 

to show

mover

 

to move

poder

 

to be able to

probar

 

to taste, to prove

promover

 

to promote

recordar

 

to remember

remover

 

to remove

resolver

 

to resolve

retorcer

 

to twist

revolver

 

to mix/shake

rogar

 

to beg

soler

 

to be accustomed to

sonar

 

to sound

soñar

 

to dream

torcer

 

to twist

tronar

 

to thunder

volar

 

to fly

Watch out for oler  (to smell). The letter h is also added to the present tense forms of this verb that undergo a stem change.

 

Present Simple Conjugation Table for Oler

 

huelo

 

olemos

 

hueles

 

oléis

 

huele

 

huelen

 

3. e> i Changes

 

For verbs in this group, the e in the last syllable of the stem changes to i. Check out an example of this in the conjugation table for the verb repetir  (to repeat).

 

Present Simple Conjugation Table for Repetir

 

repito

 

repetimos

 

repites

 

repetís

 

repite

 

repiten

 

Common Verbs with e> i Changes

 

conseguir

 

to get

corregir

 

to correct

decir

 

to say/tell

despedir

 

to fire/to say goodbye

elegir

 

to elect

impedir

 

to impede

medir

 

to measure

pedir

 

to ask for

perseguir

 

to follow

repetir

 

to repeat

reírse

 

to laugh

seguir

 

to follow

servir

 

to serve

sonreírse

 

to smile

vestirse

 

to get dressed

The yo forms of some of the above verbs are irregular.

 

The yo form of decir is digo  (I say).

The yo form of conseguir is consigo  (I get).

The yo form of elegir is elijo  (I choose).

The yo form of seguir is sigo  (I follow).

The yo form of reírse is me río  (I laugh). In fact, all present tense forms of reírse have an accent.

4. i> ie Changes

 

There are only two commonly-used verbs in this group: adquirir  (to acquire) and inquirir  (to inquire). Check out the conjugation table for these two verbs below below.

 

Present Simple Conjugation Table for Adquirir

 

adquiero

 

adquirimos

 

adquieres

 

adquirís

 

adquiere

 

adquieren

 

Present Simple Conjugation Table for Inquirir

 

inquiero

 

inquirimos

 

inquieres

 

inquirís

 

inquiere

 

inquieren

 

5. u> ue Changes

 

There is only one commonly-used verb in this group: jugar  (to play). Check out the conjugation table for the verb jugar below.

 

Present Simple Conjugation Table for Jugar

 

juego

 

jugamos

 

juegas

 

jugáis

 

juega

 

juegan

 

Prefixes Count

 

Verbs made up of any the above forms plus a prefix also undergo stem changes. Here are just a few examples.

 

Spanish English

comprobar

 

to check/prove

descontar

 

to deduct/exclude

descolgar

 

to take down