In Spanish some verbs have a spelling change in the verb stem in the present tense. Here regular stem-changing verbs are discussed in terms of how they work, why they exist and when to know when a verb is stem changing.
Key points about Spanish stem-changing verbs
There are some key points to try to remember about this type of verb:
- The stem of the verb is the first part of the verb (i.e. the part of the verb onto which the verb ending is added). By way of example:
- The verb stem is ´dorm´ for the verb ´dormir´ (to sleep)
- The verb stem is ´pens´ for the verb ´pensar´ (to think)
- The verb stem is ´entend´ for the verb ´entender´ (to understand)
- The stem-changing verbs dealt with here have regular present tense verb endings. This means that these verbs have the usual verb endings in the present tense, namely:
- o, as, a, amos, áis, an for -ar verbs (e.g. pensar – to think)
- o, es, e, emos, éis, en for -er verbs (e.g. querer – to want)
- o, es, e, imos, ís, en for -ir verbs (e.g. preferir – to prefer)
- For regular stem changing verbs, the stem changes for all people other than the nosotros/nosotras (we) and vosotros/vosotras (you – informal plural) verb forms.
- Most Spanish verbs are not stem-changing. You only apply the spelling changes to the stem to verbs which you know are stem-changing (as appropriate).
- Irregular verbs however exist, which have similar patterns to these stem changing verbs discussed (e.g. venir (to come) and tener (to have)). These verbs however are not discussed here however.
- Finally, the changes being discussed here are only relevant to the present tense.
What are the stem-changing patterns?
In Spanish, there are verbs which have the following stem changing patterns:
- e to ie (e.g. Quiero = I want (NOT Quero))
- o to ue (e.g. Puedo = I can/I am able (NOT Podo))
- e to i (e.g. Sirvo = I serve (NOT Servo))
- There is also one verb which has an u to ue stem change.
Why do stem-changes exist?
In essence changing the spelling usually helps with pronounciation. For example, it is much easier for a Spanish speaker to say “Pienso” than “Penso”. The change from “e” to “ie” softens the sound, which in turn makes it easier to pronounce.
Why do the stem changes not happen for nosotros/nosotras and vosotros/vosotros verb forms?
As mentioned above, stem changes usually help with pronunciation by making it easier to say the verb. If the nosotros/nosotras and vosotros/vosotras forms had a stem change they would be more difficult to pronounce. By way of example "Pensamos" means "We think". If it changed, say, to "Piensamos" it would be more difficult to say. Stem changes therefore do not happen to the nosotros/nosotras and vosotros/vosotras forms, as it would make the verbs more difficult to pronounce, not easier.
When will I know when a Spanish verb is stem-changing?
In this article you will see some stem changing verbs, but if you are unsure whether the verb you wish to use is stem changing or not, you should check in the following ways:
- Consult your dictionary: Some dictionaries will tell you that the verb has a stem change. Alternatively it may possibly give you examples, which show you that there is a stem change.
- Alternatively there are verb books out there, which show you common verbs written out in various tenses. These books will often show you common verbs which are stem-changing.
- If the above fails, the easiest way would be to do an internet search, for example, searching “Is pensar a stem-changing verb?”
Over time, however, once you are used to stem changing verbs, you will hopefully be able to hear when a verb needs a stem change. Verbs which need a stem change often feel harsh sounding without the necessary stem change.
Examples of stem-changing verbs
Now stem-changing verbs have been discussed in outline, let´s now take a look at stem changing verbs in more detail.
Verbs which change from "e" to "ie" in the stem in the present tense
As discussed above, there are several types of stem-changing verb types. The first type being discussed here are verbs which change from “e” to “ie” in the stem for all people other than the noostros/nosotras (we) and vosotros/vosotras (you plural informal) forms.
An example of this type of verb is the verb querer which translates as to want (or sometimes to love, typically when referring to loving someone):
- Querer = To want (something)
- Quiero = I want
- Quieres = You want (talking to 1 friend/1 child)
- Quiere = He/She/It wants + You want (talking to 1 stranger)
- Queremos = We want
- Queréis = You want (talking to 2(+) friends/2(+) children)
- Quieren = They want + You want (talking to 2(+) strangers)
You will hopefully have noticed:
- There has been a change from “e” to “ie” in the verb stem for all people BUT not for the the 'nosotros/nosotras' (we) and 'vosotros/vosotras' (you informal plural) forms. These forms do not have the stem change.
- The verb endings are regular endings, here for an -er verb (i.e. o, es, e, emos, éis, en).
A couple of further examples of stem changing verbs with an “e” to “ie” pattern are below. The first of which is ´pensar´ (to think):
- Pensar = To think
- Pienso = I think
- Piensas = You think (talking to 1 friend/1 child)
- Piensa = He/She/It thinks + You think (talking to 1 stranger)
- Pensamos = We think (talking to 2(+) friends/2(+) children)
- Pensáis = You think
- Piensan = They think + You think (talking to 2(+) strangers)
- You will hopefully have noticed that, as per regular stem-changing verbs, the verb pensar:
- Has endings are regular ones (i.e. here for an -ar verb).
- The stem change (i.e. here ´e´ to ´ie´) is done for all people other than the nosotros/nosotras (we) form and the vosotros/vosotras (you informal plural) forms.
- Now let´s look at another example of a verb which has an "e" to "ie" stem change, this time the verb “preferir” (to prefer):
- Prefiero = I prefer
Prefieres = You prefer (talking to 1 friend/1 child)
Prefiere = He/She/It prefers + You prefer (talking to 1 stranger)
Preferimos = We prefer
Preferís = You prefer (talking to 2(+) friends/2(+) children)
Prefieren = They prefer + You prefer (talking to 2(+) strangers)
- Prefiero = I prefer
- As per regular stem-changing verbs:
- Again the verb endings for the verb preferir (to prefer) are regular ones (i.e. here for an -ir verb).
- Again the stem change (i.e. here "e" to "ie") is not done for the nosotros/nosotras (we) form and the vosotros/vosotras (you informal plural) form.
- Some other common verbs which have an "e" to "ie" pattern include:
- Comenzar (to start/to begin): Comienzo, Comienzas, Comienza, Comenzamos, Comenzáis, Comienzan
- Empezar (to start/to begin): Empiezo, Empiezas, Empieza, Empezamos, Empezáis, Empiezan
- Entender (to understand): Entiendo, Entiendes, Entiende, Entendemos, Entendéis, Entienden
Verbs which change from "o" to "ue" in the stem in the present tense
Another type of stem-changing verbs are ones which have an "o" to "ue" change in the verb stem. Poder (To be able) is our example here:
- Poder – To be able
- Puedo = I can (or I am able)
- Puedes = You can (or you are able) (talking to 1 friend/1 child)
- Puede = He/She/It can (or He/She/It is able) + You can (or You are able) (talking to 1 stranger)
- Podemos = We can (or We are able)
- Podéis = You can (or You are able) (talking to 2(+) friends/2(+) children)
- Pueden = They can (or They are able) + You can (or You are able) (talking to 2(+) strangers)
- Just like the other sets of stem changing verbs, again, the nosotros/nosotras and vosotros/vosotras forms are the only parts which do not have the stem change. They also have regular endings.
- A couple of other key verbs, which have an 'o' to 'ue' stem change in the present tense include:
- Dormir = To sleep
- Duermo = I sleep
- Duermes = You sleep (talking to 1 friend/1 child)
- Duerme = He/She/It sleeps + You sleep (talking to 1 stranger)
- Dormimos = We sleep
- Dormís = You sleep (talking to 2(+) friends/2(+) children)
- Duermen = They sleep + You sleep (talking to 2(+) strangers)
- Volver = To return/To go back
- Vuelvo = I go back
- Vuelves = You go back (talking to 1 friend/1 child)
- Vuelve = He/She/It goes back + You go back (talking to 1 stranger)
- Volvimos = We go back
- Volvéis = You go back (talking to 2(+) friends/2(+) children)
- Vuelven = They go back + You go back (talking to 2(+) strangers)
- Yet again, the nosotros/nosotras and vosotros/vosotras forms are the only parts which do not have the stem change for verbs which have this change. As before, the endings are regular ones.
Verb which has a 'u' to 'ue' pattern
There is only one verb in the Spanish language which has a ´u´ to ´ue´ stem change, which is the verb Jugar (to play). It is as follows:
- Jugar = To play
- Juego = I play
- Juegas = You play (talking to 1 friend/1 child)
- Juega = He/She/It plays + You play (talking to 1 stranger)
- Jugamos = We play
- Jugáis = You play (talking to 2(+) friends/2(+) children)
- Juegan = They play + You play (talking to 2(+) strangers)
- Again, the nosotros/nosotras and vosotros/vosotras forms are the only parts which do not have the stem change. The verb endings again are regular.
- This verb is usually used to say that you play a sport (or a game). Note that with this verb you may need to insert the word 'a' in front of the sport you play, for example:
• Juego al fútbol.
= I play football.
(literally: I play at (to) the football)
On a related but separate note if you want to say you play a musical instrument you use the verb “tocar”, which is a regular verb and does not have any stem change, for example:
• Toco la guitarra = I play the guitar.
Although tocar is not stem changing, this verb was mentioned here, as it could be useful (so people know not to use the verb jugar when referring to musical instruments).
Verbs which have an "e" to "i" pattern stem change
There are also verbs which have an "e" to "i" stem change. Repetir (To repeat) here is our example:
- Repetir = To repeat
- Repito = I repeat
- Repites = You repeat (talking to 1 friend/1 child)
- Repite = He/She/It repeats + You repeat (talking to 1 stranger)
- Repetimos = We repeat
- Repetís = You repeat (talking to 2(+) friends/2(+) children)
- Repiten = They repeat + You repeat (talking to 2(+) strangers)
- As you will just like the other stem changing verbs, the nosotros/nosotras and vosotros/vosotras forms are the only parts which do not have the stem change. As before the verb endings are regular.
- Some other verbs which follow this pattern include:
- Pedir (To ask for): Pido, Pides, Pide, Pedimos, Pedís, Piden
- Seguir (To follow): Sigo*, Sigues, Sigue, Segimos, Seguís, Siguen
- Servir (To serve): Sirvo, Sirves, Sirve, Servimos, Servís, Sirven
- Vestirse (“To dress oneself” (i.e. to get dressed)): Me visto, Te vistes, Se viste, Nos vestimos, Os vestís, Se visten
*Note: Sigo (NOT Siguo) is “I follow”.
Summary
If your verb is a stem changing verb:
- In the present tense, change the verb stem for all people other than the nosotros/nosotras and vosotros/vosotras forms.
- Add the usual verb ending to the verb, namely:
- o, as, a, amos, áis, an for -ar verbs (e.g. pensar – to think)
- o, es, e, emos, éis, en for -er verbs (e.g. querer – to want)
- o, es, e, imos, ís, en for -ir verbs (e.g. preferir – to prefer)
- Finally, the changes discussed here are only relevant to the present tense.
- Always remember never to do a stem change to a verb unless you are sure it is a stem changing verb.
Final Note: Do stem-changes happen in other tenses?
There is a small change in the preterite tense (one of the Spanish past tenses), but this is less frequently come across by learners. These notes however, for now, deal exclusively with the present tense stem-changes.
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