Verbos con cambio radical
Verbs with two different stems or radicals in the present tense may be called stem-changing verbs, shoe verbs, or boot verbs. The last two names come from the fact that a line drawn around the stem-changed, present tense conjugations (all forms except nosotros and vosotros) creates a shoe or boot.
The endings for stem-changing verbs are the same as for regular -AR, -ER, and -IR verbs, so you should make sure that you understand those conjugations before working on this lesson.
Spanish has three different stem-changing patterns:
1. E changes to IE
QUERER – to want | ||||
yo | quiero | nosotros | queremos | |
tú | quieres | vosotros | queréis | |
él | quiere | ellos | quieren |
Similarly-conjugated verbs (note that there are -AR, -ER, and -IR verbs in this category):
advertir | to warn | |
ascender | to go up | |
atravesar | to cross | |
cerrar | to close | |
comenzar | to begin | |
descender | to go down | |
despertarse | to wake up | |
divertirse | to have fun | |
empezar | to begin | |
entender | to understand | |
mentir | to lie | |
pensar | to think | |
perder | to lose | |
preferir | to prefer | |
quebrar | to break | |
querer | to want | |
recomendar | to recommend | |
sentarse | to sit down | |
sentir | to feel |
2. O changes to UE
PODER – can, to be able to | ||||
yo | puedo | nosotros | podemos | |
tú | puedes | vosotros | podéis | |
él | puede | ellos | pueden |
Similar verbs (there are -AR, -ER, and -IR verbs in this category):
acostarse | to go to bed | |
almorzar | to eat lunch | |
contar | to count | |
costar | to cost | |
doler | to hurt | |
dormir | to sleep | |
encontrar | to find | |
jugar* | to play | |
morir | to die | |
mostrar | to show | |
oler** | to smell | |
probar | to try | |
recordar | to remember | |
soler | to be used to | |
volar | to fly | |
volver | to return |
* In jugar, the U changes to UE (juego, juegas…)
** In oler, the O changes to HUE (huelo, hueles…)
3. E changes to I
REPETIR – to repeat | ||||
yo | repito | nosotros | repetimos | |
tú | repites | vosotros | repetís | |
él | repite | ellos | repiten |
Similar verbs (only -IR verbs in this category):
despedirse | to say good-bye | |
gemir | to moan, groan | |
impedir | to prevent | |
medir | to measure | |
pedir | to ask for | |
reír | to laugh | |
seguir | to follow, continue | |
servir | to serve | |
sonreírse | to smile | |
vestirse | to dress |
Conjugations Quiz
Think you’ve got it? Test yourself on Spanish stem-changing verbs:
* Note: You must be logged into your Progress with Lawless Spanish account to take this test. If you don’t have one, sign up – it’s free!
Related lessons
- Stem-changing verbs – PwLS super list
- Stem-changing verbs in the pretérito
- Stem-changing verbs in the subjunctive
- Present tense
- Spelling change verbs
- Introduction to verbs
- Vowels
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