Stem Changing Verbs

Subjects | Spanish Notes | Spanish Verbs & Tenses

Introduction

⇒ 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 these notes, 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 notes on Spanish present tense forms.

1. e > ie Changes

Summary

⇒ 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 loser 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 come

⇒ 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

Summary

⇒ 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

Spanish English Spanish English
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/shape rogar to beg
soler to be accustomed to sonar to sound
soñar to dream torcer to twist
tronar to twist 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

  • huelo
  • hueles
  • huele
  • olemos
  • oléis
  • huelen

3. e > i Changes

Summary

⇒ 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

Spanish English Spanish English
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

⇒ 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)

4. i > ie Changes

Summary

⇒ There are only two commonly-used verbs in this group: adquirir (to acquire) and inquirir (to inquire).

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

Summary

⇒ There is only one commonly-used verb in this group: jugar (to play).

⇒ Check out the conjugation table for the verb jugar below.

juego jugamos
juegas jugáis
juega juegan