Stem changing verbs I

Introduction/Review

Remember the conjugations for -ar, -er, and -ir verbs? And remember how the ending was the only part that changed? Surprise! There are some verbs in Spanish, called stem-changing verbs, that also have spelling changes in the stem when conjugated. Luckily, these verbs follow patterns and can be grouped into a few main stem-change types. You will probably learn about one type of stem change at a time, so use the links in the Quick Reference section to find what you need.

Basic Patterns

Verbs with stem changes have the same changes in all forms -- except the nosotros/nosotras and vosotros/vosotras forms. Sometimes, stem-changers are called boot verbs because of the shape the forms with stem changes make:

Now we can move on to the different type of stem-changing verbs. All of them have something in common: in the stem, there is a certain letter that changes when the verb is conjugated in one of the highlighted forms in the table above. That letter, remember, does not change in the nosotros/nosotras or vosotros/vosotras forms.

e to ie

This is one of the most common stem changes. The verbs have an e in the stem in the infinitive form, and when conjugated, this e changes to an ie. Here is an example with the verb querer, "to want."

Now, here is a list of verbs with the same e to ie stem change:

1. perder (to lose)

2. mentir (to lie [as in to tell a falshood])

3. comenzar (to begin)

4. empezar (to begin)

5. cerrar (to close)

6. entender (to understand)

Note that some verbs may have more than one e in the stem, and you may be confused as to which changes. The verbs above have the e that changes bolded, but you will have to memorize how the verbs change in order to use them quickly on your own. Eventually, you will gain a sense for how the verb should sound in the changed form, or notice patterns that mark a verb as stem-changing.

e to i

This is another super common stem change. Our example verb here is pedir, which means "to ask for."

And here are more verbs with the e to i stem change:

1. repetir (to repeat)

2. medir (to measure)

3. servir (to serve)

4. corrregir (to correct)

o to ue

This one is relatively common. Sample verb: dormir (to sleep).

More examples:

1. poder (to be able)

2. almorzar (to eat lunch) *notice the similarities to almuerzo (lunch)

3. volver (to come back, to return)

4. encontrar (to find)

5. recordar (to remember)

6. costar (to cost)

7. mostrar (to show)

8. demostrar (to demonstrate) *notice the similarity to mostrar, above

u to ue

This one is a little less common. There is only one verb that you will use with any frequency that has this stem change: jugar (to play).

A final few

There are two more stem changes worth mentioning, but they are hardly ever seen. They are i to ie and o to hue, and the two verbs that use them are adquirir (to acquire) and oler (to smell [as in, "the room smells bad"]).