Stem-Changing Verbs

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:

• Multiple choice quiz
• Fill-in-the-blanks: Los patios de Córdoba*

* 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
   

 En français

• Verbes à deux radicaux
   

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