What are the types of stem changing verbs?
Remember, there are three types of infinitives: -ar, -er, -ir. Infinitives are made up of two parts: the ending and the stem.
hablar – habl (stem) + ar (ending)
comer – com (stem) + er (ending)
vivir – viv (stem) + ir (ending)
With regular verbs, the stem stays the same, and the ending changes as they are conjugated.
Subject – hablar (to speak) – comer (to eat) – vivir (to live)
Yo (I)-hablo-como-vivo
Tú (You)(Informal)-hablas-comes-vives
Usted (You)(Formal)-habla-come-vive
Él/Ella(He/She)-habla-come-vive
Nosotros(as)(We)-hablamos-comemos-vivimos
Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)-habláis-coméis-vivís
Ustedes(You)(Formal)-hablan-comen-viven
Ellos(as)(They)-hablan-comen-viven
With some verbs, the stem also changes when you conjugate them. In the Present Tense, there are three groups of stem-changing verbs:
“o:ue”
“e:ie”
“e:i”
Note: With the first group of stem-changing verbs, the letter “o” in the stem changes to “ue” in all forms except the “nosotros” and “vosotros”.
Subject – contar (to count)
Yo (I)-cuento
Tú (You)(Informal)-cuentas
Usted (You)(Formal)-cuenta
Él/Ella(He/She)-cuenta
Nosotros(as)(We)-contamos (exception)
Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)-contáis(exception)
Ustedes(You)(Formal)-cuentan
Ellos(as)(They)-cuentan
Here’s another “o:ue” stem changing verb.
Subject – mover (to move)
Yo (I)-muevo
Tú (You)(Informal)-mueves
Usted (You)(Formal)-mueve
Él/Ella(He/She)-mueve
Nosotros(as)(We)-movemos(exception)
Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)-movéis(exception)
Ustedes(You)(Formal)-mueven
Ellos(as)(They)-mueven
Here is a list of common “o:ue” verbs.
almorzar – to eat lunch
morir – to die
aprobar – to approve
mostrar – to show
colgar – to hang
mover – to move (an object)
contar – to count, to tell
probar – to prove, test, sample, taste
costar – to cost
recordar – to remember
devolver – to return (an object)
resolver – to solve
volver – to return (from someplace)
rogar – to beg, pray
dormir – to sleep
sonar – to sound, ring
encontrar – to find
soñar (con) – to dream (about)
envolver – to wrap
tostar – to toast
morder – to bite
volar – to fly
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Stem Changing Verbs: E:IE
Note: With some verbs, the stem also changes when you conjugate them. In the Present Tense, there are three groups of stem-changing verbs:
Note: With the second group of stem-changing verbs, the letter “e” in the stem changes to “ie” in all forms except the “nosotros” and “vosotros”.
Subject – cerrar (to close)
Yo (I)-cierro
Tú (You)(Informal)-cierras
Usted (You)(Formal)-cierra
Él/Ella(He/She)-cierra
Nosotros(as)(We)-cerramos (exception)
Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)-cerráis(exception)
Ustedes(You)(Formal)-cierran
Ellos(as)(They)-cierran
Here’s another “e:ie” stem changing verb.
Subject – entender (to understand)
Yo (I)-entiendo
Tú (You)(Informal)-entiendes
Usted (You)(Formal)-entiende
Él/Ella(He/She)-entiende
Nosotros(as)(We)-entendemos(exception)
Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)-entendéis(exception)
Ustedes(You)(Formal)-entienden
Here is a list of common “e:ie” verbs.
acertar – to guess, get right
encender – to light, kindle
advertir – to advise, warn
entender – to understand
cerrar – to close, shut
fregar – to scrub, wash dishes
comenzar – to begin
hervir – to boil
confesar – to confess
mentir – to lie
consentir – to consent
negar – to deny
convertir – to convert
pensar (en) – to think about
defender – to defend
perder – to lose
empezar – to begin
preferir – to prefer
The stem also changes when you conjugate them. In the Present Tense, there are three groups of stem-changing verbs:
“o:ue”
“e:ie”
“e:i”
Note: With the third group of stem-changing verbs, the letter “e” in the stem changes to “i” in all forms except the “nosotros” and “vosotros”.
Subject – repetir (to repeat)
Yo (I)-repito
Tú (You)(Informal)-repites
Usted (You)(Formal)-repite
Él/Ella(He/She)-repite
Nosotros(as)(We)-repetimos(exception)
Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)-repetís(exception)
Ustedes(You)(Formal)-repiten
Ellos(as)(They)-repiten
Subject – competir (to compete)
Yo (I)-compito
Tú (You)(Informal)-compites
Usted (You)(Formal)-compite
Él/Ella(He/She)-compite
Nosotros(as)(We)-competimos(exception)
Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)-competís(exception)
Ustedes(You)(Formal)-compiten
Ellos(as)(They)-compiten
Here is a list of common “e:i” verbs.
bendecir (*) – to bless
impedir – to impede
colegir – to deduce
maldecir (*) – to curse
competir – to compete
medir – to measure
conseguir – to get, obtain
pedir – to ask for, to order
corregir – to correct
perseguir – to pursue, to persecute
decir (*) – to say, tell
reír – to laugh
despedir – to dismiss, fire
repetir – to repeat
elegir – to elect
seguir – to follow, continue
freír – to fry
servir – to serve
gemir – to groan, moan
sonreír – to smile
Tip: The verb “decir” and its derivative forms are irregular in the first person: “yo digo”, etc.
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