COM: Lesson - Stem-Changing Verbs: Introduction

Leaves change color in the autumn.Stem-Changing Verbs: Introduction

Have you ever wondered why the second-person conjugation for the verb tener (to have) is tú tienes?

Tener looks different because it is a stem-changing verb. Even though the infinitive ends in –er, it doesn’t follow the same rules as normal –er verbs.

Image note: metaphor alert! Notice how most of the leaves (verbs) have turned yellow, but some have turned red instead. This is like how most verbs are regular (yellow leaves) but some are stem-changing (red leaves).

Verb Formation Review - The Basics

Spanish infinitive verbs consist of two parts: a stem and an ending.

For example, the regular verb hablar (to speak) consists of the stem habl- and the ending -ar. Notice that we get the stem by removing the -ar, -er, or -ir, depending on the type of verb.

To conjugate hablar in the present tense, you simply take the stem and add the correct ending (o, a, as, amos, áis, an).

Stem-changing verbs - like tener - don’t follow this pattern. Instead, they have slightly different endings.

Types of Stem-changing Verbs

There are three basic types of stem-changing verbs:

  • e-ie stem-changing verbs
    • Examples: empezar, sentir, querer, etc.
  • e-i stem-changing verbs
    • Examples: decir, repetir, pedir, etc.
  • o-ue stem-changing verbs
    • Examples: poder, volver, dormir, etc.

As the name suggests, stem changing verbs in Spanish are verbs that when conjugated in the simple present tense, undergo a vowel change in the last syllable of the stem.

Stem changing verbs conjugated with the nosotros/nosotras (we) pronoun are treated as an exception to the below guidelines, and instead should be conjugated as regular verbs.

Video Lesson

A notebook and pen with ¡Toma apuntes! written on it.And now, let’s watch this important video lesson. You may want to watch it twice! This is a very important grammar lesson. You will need tu cuaderno (your notebook), tu lápiz o bolígrafo (your pencil or your pen). Necesitas tomar apuntes (take notes) and complete practice activities.

Remember, email your teacher if you have any questions after you complete a lesson. Your instructor is always available to help you and clarify any additional questions you may have before you move forward with your studies.

Video credit: Cyber Profe

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