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Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn the four main types of stem-changing verbs in Spanish—e → ie, e → i, o → ue, and u → ue—with clear examples like preferir, querer, pedir, volver, and jugar. Understand when and how the stem alters in present tense conjugations, excluding nosotros and vosotros forms. This lesson is perfect for A1 learners aiming to grasp essential verb patterns and improve their Spanish communication skills.
  1. Some verbs change their stem when conjugated in the present tense, except in nosotros and vosotros.
Cambio de raíz (Stem change)Verbo (Verb)Ejemplo (Example)
e → iePreferirYo prefiero el pan. (I prefer the bread.)
QuererYo quiero la vainilla. (I want the vanilla.)
EntenderTú entiendes la receta. (You understand the recipe.)
e → iPedirÉl pide el ajo. (He asks for the garlic.)
ServirÉl sirve el chocolate. (He serves the chocolate.)
o → ueVolverTú vuelves con los tomates. (You return with the tomatoes.)
SolerYo suelo probar la comida antes de servirla. (I usually taste the food before serving it.)
DormirEllos duermen después de cocinar el arroz. (They sleep after cooking the rice.)
u → ueJugarEllas juegan con la masa. (They play with the dough.)

Exercise 1: Verbos con cambios de raíz: "e → i, e → ie, ..."

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

cierro, prueba, repiten, sueles, empieza, pide, cuesta

1.
El libro ... veinte euros.
(The book costs twenty euros.)
2.
Ellos ... el proceso de batir los huevos.
(They repeat the process of beating the eggs.)
3.
Ella ... la sopa.
(She tastes the soup.)
4.
Tú ... agregar más sal a la sopa.
(You usually add more salt to the soup.)
5.
Ella ... ayuda para su tarea.
(She asks for help with her homework.)
6.
Yo ... el frasco de mermelada.
(I close the jar of jam.)
7.
Él ... a mezclar la harina.
(He starts mixing the flour.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Yo ______ comprar fruta fresca en el mercado.

(I ______ to buy fresh fruit at the market.)

2. ¿Tú ______ comprar yogur para el desayuno?

(Do you ______ to buy yogurt for breakfast?)

3. Él ______ al supermercado porque necesita más carne.

(He ______ to the supermarket because he needs more meat.)

4. Nosotros ______ verduras y galletas para la semana.

(We ______ vegetables and cookies for the week.)

5. Ellos ______ ayuda en la caja para encontrar el pescado.

(They ______ for help at the checkout to find the fish.)

6. ¿______ un carrito para hacer la compra?

(Do you ______ a cart to do the shopping?)

Understanding Spanish Stem-Changing Verbs: e → ie, e → i, o → ue, and u → ue

In this lesson, you will learn the four main patterns of stem-changing verbs in Spanish, focusing on changes that occur in the present tense. These verbs modify the vowel in their stem when conjugated, except in the nosotros and vosotros forms. Mastering these patterns is essential for forming correct present-tense verbs and improving your communication skills.

Stem Changes Explained

  • e → ie: Common verbs like preferir (to prefer), querer (to want), and entender (to understand) change the "e" in their stem to "ie" when conjugated.
  • e → i: Verbs such as pedir (to ask for) and servir (to serve) change the stem vowel "e" to "i".
  • o → ue: Verbs like volver (to return), soler (to usually do something), and dormir (to sleep) have an "o" stem vowel that changes to "ue".
  • u → ue: The verb jugar (to play) changes the "u" in its stem to "ue".

Examples to Remember

Here are some example sentences showcasing the stem changes: Yo prefiero el pan, tú quieres yogur para el desayuno, él vuelve al supermercado, and ellas juegan con la masa. Notice how the stem vowel changes according to the conjugation.

Key Points

  • Stem changes happen in all singular forms and the third person plural, but not in nosotros or vosotros.
  • Recognizing these patterns helps you to conjugate many frequently used verbs easily.
  • This lesson is suitable for A1 level learners who want to build a solid foundation in Spanish verb conjugation.

Differences Between English and Spanish Verb Patterns

Unlike English, Spanish verbs often involve changes inside the stem when conjugated, not just endings. English verbs like "to want" or "to sleep" remain the same inside the word (want, wanted, sleeping), whereas Spanish verbs change vowels based on the subject and tense (e.g., quiero, duermo). Understanding these differences is crucial for accurate conjugation.

Useful phrases: ¿Quieres... means "Do you want...?"; Yo prefiero... means "I prefer..."; Ellos piden... means "They ask for...". These expressions are common in everyday Spanish and highlight the stem changes in action.

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