Irregular Verbs, Stem-Changing Verbs: e - ie, e - i, o - ue
Some verbs in Spanish undergo changes in their stem when conjugated. These changes occur only in the singular and the
3rd person plural conjugations.
When a line is drawn around the forms that change, the resulting shape vaguely resembles a boot; thus, these
verbs are sometimes called “boot”verbs.
There are three types of “boot” verbs.
entender
entiendoentiendesentiende
entendemosentendéisentienden
Type 1: e - ieWe’ll use entender, to understand, as an example of this type.
Here are some other common e - ie verbs:
empezar, comenzar to begin
pensar (+ infinitive) to think; to plan (to do something)
perder to lose
querer to want, to love
preferir to prefer
servir
sirvosirvessirve
servimosservíssirven
Type 2: e - iWe’ll use servir, to serve, as an example of this type.
Note: All e - i verbs are -ir verbs.
Here are some other common e - i verbs:
repetir to repeat, to have a second helping
pedir to ask for, to request
medir to measure, to be a certain height
almorzar
almuerzoalmuerzasalmuerza
almorzamosalmorzáisalmuerzan
Type 3: o - ueWe’ll use almorzar, to have lunch, as an example of this type.
jugar
juegojuegasjuega
jugamosjugáisjuegan
The verb jugar, to play (games or sports), follows the same pattern as o - ue verbs, but the change is u - ue.
Here are some other common o - ue verbs:
volver to return, to come back
costar* to cost
dormir to sleep
encontrar to find
poder to be able; can
recordar to remember
soñar (con) to dream (about)
*Costar is normally used only in the third persons.
The verbs querer and preferirExpressing desires and
preferences
Querer and preferir are important stem-changing verbs that have multiple uses.
quieroquieresquiere
queremosqueréisquieren
querer
When referring to a thing, querer means to want.
¿Quiere un sándwich de pollo?
Sí, y quiero papas fritas también, por
favor.
querer
When referring to a person, querer means to love.
quieroquieresquiere
queremosqueréisquieren
Quiero mucho a su hija, señor
Vega.
prefieroprefieresprefiere
preferimospreferísprefieren
preferir
Preferir, of course, means to prefer.
¿Quiere un sándwich de pollo? No señor,
prefiero una hamburguesa.
Both querer and preferir can be used with an infinitive directly after them
Rafael quiere caminar, pero su novia prefiere patinar.
Rafael wants to walk, but his girlfriend prefers to skate.
quieroquieresquiere
queremosqueréisquieren
We start with an appropriate conjugation of querer or preferir . . .and then add any infinitive.
estudiarescribirviajarbailar
leercomeraprenderdormir
estudiar
piensopiensaspiensa
pensamospensáispiensan
Thinking and planningThe verb pensar is another very useful stem-
changing verb.
Thinking and planningPensar basically means “to think.”
En el parque, pienso y descanso.
In the park, I think and rest.
Thinking and planning
¿En qué piensas?
Pensar en means “to think about.”
Gabriela siempre piensa en sus estudios.
Pensamos en el bienestar de la familia.
Gabriela is always thinking about her studies.
We’re thinking about the wellbeing of the family.
What are you thinking about?
Thinking and planningPensar de means “to think of”
(to have an opinion about.)¿Qué piensas de las novelas de Márquez?
What do you think of Márquez’s novels?
Pensar que means “to think that” (in answer to the above question, for
example.)Yo pienso que sus novelas son maravillosas.I think that his novels are wonderful.
pensar + infinitive =to plan to do something
Thinking and planningPensar also has a special use . . .
Pensamos escuchar música en el parque esta tarde.
We’re planning to listen to music in the park this afternoon.
Notice!
Remember, when one verb immediately follows another, only the first verb is conjugated."I plan to study" - Pienso estudiar
If two verbs go walking,The first does the talking!
Practice: Thinking and planning
Translate the following to Spanish:1.We eat lunch in the school, and she eats
lunch in the park.2.He wants a pizza, but they prefer to buy
burritos.3.When I sleep, I dream.4.Does the boy lose books a lot?5.She can't send texts in class, but we can
talk after class.
FIN
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