4.3: Stem-changing verbs
- Page ID
- 415635
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Stem-changing verbs
When we remove the -AR, -ER or -IR from a verb we are left with its stem. The following are examples of verb stems: habl, com, viv.
Some Spanish verbs have a stem that requires a vowel to change in it. These are called stem-changing verbs. There are three different types of stem-changing verbs.
Some verbs have an e that changes to ie. For example
entender
entiendo entendemos
entiendes entendéis
entiende entienden
Some verbs have an o or u that changes to ue. For example
dormir jugar
duermo dormimos juego jugamos
duermes dormís juegas jugáis
duerme duermen juega juegan
Some verbs have an e that changes to an i. For example
preferir
prefiero preferimos
prefieres preferís
prefiere prefieren
Note how these stem-changes take place in four the forms, not all of them. The stem-change only takes place in the yo, tú, él/ella/usted, and ellos/ellas/ustedes forms.
Go back and reread the conjugated verbs again. Now, try saying them without the stem-change. I think the stem-change makes them easier to say. What do you think?
Stem-changing verbs are often grouped together based on the type of change that takes place in their stem. Read the following three lists of stem-changing verbs.
e --- > ie
calentar to heat
cerrar to close
comenzar to start
confesar to confess
empezar to start
entender to understand
hervir to boil
pensar to think
perder to lose
preferir to prefer
querer to want
recomendar to recommend
regar to water
o/u --- > oe
almorzar to eat lunch
contar to count
costar to cost
demostrar to demonstrate
devolver to return something
dormir to sleep
encontrar to find
jugar to play
morir to die
mostrar to show
poder to be able, can
probar to try
recordar to remember
resolver to resolve
volar to fly
volver to return
e --- > i
conseguir to get, to obtain
pedir to ask for
repetir to repeat
seguir to continue, to keep on, to follow
servir to serve
vestir to dress
With practice, stem-changing verbs are just as easy to conjugate as any other verb. So, let's practice.
Prácticas.
A. What is a stem-changing verb? How many different types are there? Pick three from the lists above and conjugate them below.
B. Conjugate the following verbs in the indicated forms.
1. sentarse (tú)
2. helar (la nieve)
3. preferir (tú y yo)
4. servir (Uds.)
5. concluir (el cuento)
6. distribuir (los profesores)
7. sentirse (los actores)
8. conseguir (nosotros)
9. seguir (yo)
10. entender (Ud.)
11. dormir (el gato)
12. volver (los estudiantes)
13. perder (el equipo)
14. pedir (tú)
15. mostrar (la profesora)
16. recordar (el padre)
17. cerrar (el gerente)
18. empezar (el programa)
19. pensar (yo)
20. repetir (la clase)
C. Choose the correct form to complete each sentence.
1.Yo __________ la puerta.
a. cierro
b. cierras
c. cierra
d. cierran
2. Usted _________ mucho
a. pienso
b. piensa
c. pensamos
d. piensan
3. Nosotros __________ español.
a. entiendo
b. entiendes
c. entendemos
d. entienden
4. Los estudiantes no _________ mucha tarea.
a. quiero
b. quieres
c. queremos
d. quieren
5. El agua _________.
a. hiervo
b. hierves
c. hierve
d. hierven
6. Las profesoras __________ descansar.
a. preferimos
b. prefieren
c. prefieres
d. prefieren
7. Yo ____________ la comida nueva..
a. prueban
b. probaís
c. pruebas
d. pruebo
8. Tú __________.
a. duermo
b. duermes
c. duerme
d. duermen
9. Él/ella/usted __________ la actividad.
a. muestro
b. muestras
c. muestra
d. muestran
10. Nosotros/Nosostras __________.
a. almuerzo
b. almorzamos
c. almuerzas
d. almorzáis
11. Vosotros/Vosotras __________.
a. encontráis
b. encontramos
c. encuentras
d. encuentro
12. El avión _________.
a. vuela
b. vuelan
c. vuelo
d. vuelas
D. Answer the following questions in Spanish.
1. ¿Has empezado a hacer planes para el futuro?
2. ¿Confiesas tus sueños?
3. ¿Sueles llegar temprano a tus citas y clases?
4. ¿Prefieres que la profesora use la pizarra blanca o powerpoint?
5. ¿Qué piensas del Spanglish?
6. ¿Mientes a tus amigos?
7. ¿Sonries mucho al pensar en tu familia?
8. ¿Te conmueven las peliculas románticas?
9. ¿A qué hora te duermes?
10. ¿Cuando te despiertas por la mañana?
11. ¿Cómo te sientes ahora?