Present Tense Stem-Changing Verbs:
Some verbs in Spanish are known as stem-change verbs. When you conjugate them, you have to make a change in the stem. Below are the rules re: stem-change verbs:
Rules
for dealing with stem-change verbs:
1. Don't panic!
2. Stem-change verbs use regular verb endings.
3. Stem-change verbs have a change that takes place in the stem.
4. There are 4 possible stem-changes in the present tense:
They are: o > ue u
> ue e > ie e > i
5. The change that takes place is usually indicated after the
infinitive
Example: Almorzar (o >
ue) Entender (e > ie) Dormir (o > ue) Jugar (u > ue)
6. The vowel which gets changed is the indicated vowel closest to
the end of the stem.
Example: Preferir
(e > ie), the "e" which gets changed is the one closest to the end
of the stem; in this case it is the "e" after the "f"
7. The change in the stem happens in every form except the 1PP form.
Example: Almorzar
(o > ue) Entender (e > ie) Dormir (o > ue) Jugar (u > ue)
1PS Almuerzo Entiendo Duermo Juego
2PS Almuerzas Entiendes Duermes Juegas
3PS Almuerza Entiende Duerme Juega
1PP Almorzamos Entendemos Dormimos Jugamos
3PP Almuerzan Entienden Duermen Juegan
Additional examples of
stem-change verbs:
Contar
(o > ue) = to count / to tell Preferir
(e > ie) = to prefer Repetir
(e > i) = to repeat
Poder
( o > ue) = to be able/can Cerrar
(e > ie) = to close Servir (e > i) = to serve
Volver
(o > ue) = to return Empezar
(e > ie) = to begin Pedir (e
> i) = to order/to ask for
Costar
(o > ue) = to cost Perder
(e > ie) = to lose Competir
(e > i) = to compete
Mostrar
(o > ue) = to show Querer
(e > ie) = to want Medir (e > i) = to measure