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4.3: Los verbos con cambios de raíz

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    Stem-Changing Verbs

    Stem-changing verbs are verbs that undergo changes not only in their endings but also in their stem (root).

    Observations

    The conjugation endings remain the same as those of regular verbs:

    • Verbs that end in "-ar" have the following endings when conjugated: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an
    • Verbs that end in "-er" have the following endings when conjugated: -o, -es,-e, -emos, -éis, -en
    • Verbs that end in "-ir" have the following endings when conjugated: -o, -es,-e, -imos, -ís, -en

    There are 3 types of stem-changing verbs

    1. Verbs that stem change from "e → ie"
    2. Verbs that stem change from "o → ue"
    3. Verbs that stem change from "e → i"

    Observations

    • The change occurs on the last vowel of the stem. This will help you avoid confusion with stem-changing verbs like "comenzar" and "encontrar" as the last vowel of the stem for each verb is "e" and "o" respectively. Note that the vowel in bold is the one that must change. Moreover, the endings that need to change in conjugated versions are in blue.
    • They are also known as "boot verbs" because this change is only for the subject pronouns "yo, tú, Ud., él, ella, Uds., ellos, ellas". The subject pronouns "nosotros, vosotros" do not have this stem-change. The conjugations that are shaded in the following chart show the stem-change. Note that the shaded area looks like a boot.

    The e → ie Stem Change in the Verb "Cerrar"

    Present Tense Conjugation of the Verb "Cerrar"
    Singular Conjugations Plural Conjugations
    yo cierro nosotros cerramos
    cierras vosotros cerráis
    Ud., él, ella cierra Uds., ellos, ellas, cierran

    The o → ue Stem Change in the Verb "Volver"

    Present Tense Conjugation of the Verb "Volver"
    Singular Conjugations Plural Conjugations
    yo vuelvo nosotros, nosotras volvemos
    vuelves vosotros, vosotras volvéis
    Ud., él, ella vuelve Uds., ellos, ellas vuelven

    The e → i Stem Change in the Verb "Pedir"

    Present Tense Conjugation of the Verb "Pedir"
    Singular Conjugations Plural Conjugations
    yo pido nosotros, nosotras pedimos
    pides vosotros, vosotras pedís
    Ud., él, ella pide Uds., ellos, ellas piden

    Common Stem-Changing Verbs

    List of Common Stem-Changing Verbs
    List of stem-changing verbs: E→IE List of stem-changing verbs: O→UE List of stem-changing verbs: E→I
    cerrar - to close almorzar - to eat lunch; to have lunch pedir - to ask for something; to request
    comenzar - to start; to begin costar - to cost repetir - to repeat
    empezar - to start; to begin devolver - to return (something taken) servir - to serve
    entender - to understand dormir - to sleep *conseguir - to get; to obtain
    mentir - to lie encontrar - to find; to meet up with someone *seguir - to follow; to continue
    pensar - to think poder - to be able to; can ^decir - to say; to tell
    perder - to lose; to miss recordar - to remember  
    preferir - to prefer volar - to fly *The "yo" form has an additional stem change: drop the "u": consigo, sigo.
    querer - to want; to love volver - to return (to a location) ^The "yo" form has an additional stem change: "c""g": digo.
     

    jugar [u→ue] - to play (a sport; a game; a match)

    This is the only verb that stem-changes from "u ue".

     

    Note that the verbs above indicate the vowel that must change in bold. Moreover, the endings that need to change in conjugated versions are in blue.

    Decorative

    "Boots" by OpenClipartVectors, Pixabay is licensed under CC0 1.0
    decorative
    "Snow boots" by Conmongt, Pixabay is licensed under CC0 1.0

    This page titled 4.3: Los verbos con cambios de raíz is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Sara Jacome-Thompson, Evergreen Valley College (ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative) .