Verbos con cambio de raíz (Stem-Changing Verbs)
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Stem-changing verbs, also known as "boot verbs" or "shoe verbs", are verbs that undergo a vowel change in the stem when conjugated in the present tense, except in the nosotras/os, vosotras/os, and vos forms (remember: the stem is the part of the verb that remains after removing the -ar, -er, or -ir ending from the base form; for example, com- is the stem of comer).
Types of Stem Changes
There are three main types of stem changes:
- o → ue
- e → ie
- e → i
- o → ue Stem-Changing Verbs
In these verbs, the o in the stem changes to ue in all forms except nosotras/os, vosotras/os, and vos. Look at the following example:
Dormir (to sleep) 💤
Subject Pronoun | Singular Form | Subject Pronoun | Plural Form | |
1era persona | Yo | duermo | Nosotras/os/es | dormimos |
2da persona | Tú Vos Usted | duermes dormís duerme | Ustedes Vosotras/os/es | duermen dormís |
3ra persona | Ella/él/elle | duerme | Ellas/os/es | duermen |
Here are some more verbs with this type of stem-change:
- poder
- to be able to
- volver
- to return
- contar
- to count
- almorzar
- to have lunch
- costar
- to cost
- encontrar
- to find
- llover
- to rain
- soñar (con)
- to dream (about)
Note: the verb jugar (to play) also follows the type of change above, even though it has a u in the stem, instead of o:
Jugar (to play)
Subject Pronoun | Singular Form | Subject Pronoun | Plural Form | |
1era persona | Yo | juego | Nosotras/os/es | jugamos |
2da persona | Tú Vos Usted | juegas jugás juega | Ustedes Vosotros/as/es | juegan jugáis |
3ra persona | Ella/él/elle | juega | Ellas/os/es | juegan |
- e→ ie Stem-Changing Verbs
In this group, the e in the stem changes to ie in all forms except nosotras/os, vosotras/os, and vos. Here is an example:
Pensar (to think)
Subject Pronoun | Singular Form | Subject Pronoun | Plural Form | |
1era persona | Yo | pienso | Nosotras/os/es | pensamos |
2da persona | Tú Vos Usted | piensas pensás piensa | Ustedes Vosotros/as/es | piensan pensáis |
3ra persona | Ella/Él/Elle | piensa | Ellas/os/es | piensan |
Here are some more verbs with this change:
- cerrar
- to close
- entender
- to understand
- querer
- to want
- empezar
- to start
- preferir
- to prefer
- perder
- to lose, to miss
- e→ i Stem-Changing Verbs
For the last type of change, the e in the stem changes to i in all forms except nosotras/os, vosotras/os, and vos as well. Here is an example:
Pedir (to ask for, to request)
Subject Pronoun | Singular Form | Subject Pronoun | Plural Form | |
1era persona | Yo | pido | Nosotras/os/es | pedimos |
2da persona | Tú Vos Usted | pides pedís pide | Ustedes Vosotras/os/es | piden pedís |
3ra persona | Ella/Él/Elle | pide | Ellas/os/es | piden |
Here are some more verbs with this change:
- servir
- to serve
- repetir
- to repeat
- seguir
- to follow
- decir
- to say
Check-in Activity
Note on the verb pedir (vs preguntar):
Both pedir and preguntar can be generally translated as “to ask,” but they are used in different situations:
Pedir → To ask for something or to request something
Examples:
- Yo pido una pizza. 🍕
- I ask for a pizza.
- Los estudiantes piden ayuda al profesor. 👩🏫
- The students ask the teacher for help
Preguntar → To ask a question (for information)
Examples:
- Lucía pregunta dónde es la clase de español. 📚
- Lucía asks where the Spanish class is.
- Yo pregunto a qué hora es el evento. ⏰
- I ask at what time the event is.
Check-in Activity