SPAI Present Tense Stem Changing Verbs

SPAI Present Tense Stem Changing Verbs

By Heidi Beller

Today we will

• Review how to conjugate stem-changing verbs

• Show our knowledge by taking a timed practice

Why are they called "Boot verbs"?

• All the subject pronouns get a change in the stem of the verb before conjugating the ending.

• When you circle all except the Nosotros form, the chart looks a little like a boot.

• We say Nosotros is kicked out of the boot. The Vosotros form is also kicked out the boot but we don't need to worry about that form.

We use regular -ar/-er/-ir endings for stem changing verbs as well as regular verbs.

Let's break them down

O > UE stem change

• the o in the stem changes to a ue for all forms *except* nosotros form

• For example: I sleep - yo duermo

• We sleep - Nosotros dormimos

  (NO STEM CHANGE IN THIS FORM)

U > UE

• *jugar* to play, is a u->ue stem changing verb

• This is the only verb that makes this change

• You have used this verb to talk about what sports people play.

  Ex. Yo juego al tenis

  Ex: Nosotras jugamos al baloncesto. (NO STEM CHANGE)

E > IE

• The verb querer means to want and it is an example of an e-ie stem changer.

• Often we use "Querer" to talk about what food we want:

• Yo quiero una ensalada, una hamburguesa y unas papas fritas

• No queremos espinaca.

E > I

• The verb Pedir is an example of

  an e-i stem changer

• Pedir means to ask for or to order and we often use this verb when we are ordering food at a restaurant.

• Yo pido un bistec. - I ask for a steak.

• Nosotros pedimos helado de fresa. We ask for strawberry ice-cream.

What if I forget?

Sometimes, when you do it 'wrong,' it feels wrong, like when you spell a word wrong and it just doesn't look 'right'. It will take time & practice. This is just the introduction.

Mistakes are VERY common when learning a new language and generally do not affect comprehension/understanding: people will still usually understand what you're saying

Vamos a practicar

let's practice what we have reviewed

Multiple Choice

What is the stem of a verb?

• The part that is left after taking off the -ar, -er, or -ir ending

• The ending of the verb (-ar, -er, -ir)

• The vowels in a verb

Multiple Select

In a stem-changing verb, we make a change to a vowel in the stem.

Which answers are examples of a stem change that occurs in Spanish? (select all that apply)

• e > ue

• o >ue

• u > ue

• e > ie

• e > i

Multiple Choice

Which subject pronoun never stem changes?

• Yo

• nosotros

• ustedes

• usted

Multiple Select

Pedir (e:i) She asks

• Ella pide

• Ella pede

• Ella pida

Multiple Choice

Dormir (o:ue) - We sleep

• duermimos

• dormimos

• dormamos

Multiple Choice

Querer (e:ie) - You want

• quiero

• quieres

• quieren

• queres

Multiple Choice

Jugar (u:ue) - They play

• jugan

• juegan

• jugamos

• juegen