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1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

Remember, there are three types of infinitives: -ar, -er, -ir. Infinitives are made up of two parts: the ending and the stem. In the following examples, the stem is underlined and the ending is in bold.

With regular verbs, the stem stays the same, and the ending changes as they are conjugated.

With some verbs, the stem also changes when you conjugate them. In the present tense, there are three groups of stem-changing verbs:

With the second group of stem-changing verbs, the letter e in the stem changes to ie in all forms except the nosotros and vosotros.

Here's another e:ie stem changing verb. Compare it to the regular verb comer. Notice that the endings are the same for regular verbs and stem-changing verbs.

entender (e:ie)
comer (regular -er verb)

Here's another e:ie stem-changing verb. Notice how the stem doesn't change in the nosotros and vosotros forms.

Here is a list of common e:ie stem-changing verbs.

Let's add a flashcard for e:ie stem-changers:

e:ie stem-changers (cerrar)
(comenzar, empezar, entender, pensar, perder, preferir)

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Stem-Changing Verbs: e:ie - StudySpanish.com

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The written lesson is below. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left. Remember, there are three types of infinitives: -ar, -er, -ir. Infinitives are made up of two parts: the ending and the stem. In the following examples, the stem is underlined and the ending is in bold.

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Spanish Stem-Changing Verbs: Practice with Memes!

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There are many common, everyday verbs that fall into the category of stem-changing verbs in Spanish. That's why it's important to understand what they are and how they work.

We've talked a lot about the different irregular verb conjugations in Spanish on this blog, as well as the regular verb conjugations. But there is a certain type of verb that we haven't really addressed, and it's somewhere between regular and irregular verbs. Stem-changing verbs in Spanish are conjugated differently from regular verbs, but unlike irregular verbs, they all follow the same pattern.

Please note: if you do not know the conjugations for regular verbs, this post will be confusing for you. First check out our guide to conjugations in Spanish, and then come back to continue.

So, what is a stem and how exactly do these verbs change?

A stem is the part of the verb that comes before the ending (which, in infinitive verbs, is always either ar, er, or ir). In regular conjugations, the stem doesn't change, where in irregular conjugations, it can be completely different. In stem-changing verbs, the change is in the last vowel of the stem.

Stem-changing verbs in Spanish can also be thought of as 1, 2, 3, 6 verbs. This is because in the traditional conjugation tables, the conjugations that change are the first, second, third and sixth.

Let's see that visualized.

Stem-changing verbs in Spanish: affected conjugations

In other words, the affected conjugations are in singular, the first person (yo), the second person (tú) and second person formal (usted), the third person (él, ella), and in plural, the second person formal (ustedes), and the third person (ellos, ellas).

It might be easier to think of it as the ones that are not affected as there are fewer: just nosotros and vosotros. In case you were wondering about vos, it is also unaffected. These are conjugated just as they are when it's a regular verb.

There are a few different ways that stem-changing verbs in Spanish can change. The key is in the vowels in the verb. Let's see the different possibilities:

e -> ie (e.g: pensar)

e -> i (eg: conseguir)

o -> ue (eg: encontrar)

others (i -> ie, u -> ue)

Stem-changing verbs where the e in the stem changes to ie

In the Spanish stem-changing verbs where e conjugates into ie, the last e of the stem turns into ie in the present tense conjugations 1, 2, 3, and 6.

Examples:

1. Pensar | to think

Breakdown:

Pens - ar

Stem: pens

Stem change: e -> ie - pens -> piens
Pensar conjugation
2. Preferir | to prefer

Stem change: prefer -> prefier

Note that the stem changes in the same way no matter whether the verb ends in ar, er, or ir.
Preferir conjugation
3. Entender | to understand

Stem change: entend -> entiend
Entender conjugation
4. Empezar | to start

Stem change: empez -> empiez

Note that the change is always on the last syllable of the stem, no matter how many other vowels there are in the verb.
Empezar conjugation
Stem-changing verbs where the e in the stem changes to i

These are similar to the verbs above, except instead of ie, the vowel in the last syllable of the stem just changes to i in the first, second, third and sixth. This type of stem-changing verb tends to be ir-ending verbs only.

Examples:

1. Conseguir | to obtain

Breakdown:

Conseg - (u)ir

Note: the u before the i is there to show that the g in the word is pronounced as a hard g. So this is not considered part of the stem. Some would say that this makes conseguir irregular in the present first person, but since it is caused by a straightforward spelling rule, I wouldn't consider it as such.

Stem: conseg

Stem change: e -> i - conseg -> consig
Conseguir conjugation
2. Servir | to serve

Stem change: serv -> sirv
Servir conjugation
Stem-changing verbs where the o in the stem changes to ue

Again, once you understand the rules, this is a pretty straightforward vowel change.

Examples:

1. Almorzar | to have lunch
Breakdown:
Almorz - ar

Stem: almorz

Stem change: o -> ue - almorz -> almuerz
Almorzar conjugation
2. Encontrar | to find

Stem change: econtr -> encuentr
Encontrar conjugation
3. Mover | to move

Stem change: mov -> muev
Mover conjugation
4. Dormir | to sleep

Stem change: dorm -> duerm
Dormir conjugation
Other possible stem-changing verbs in Spanish

The above mentioned three types of stem-changing verbs in Spanish are, without a doubt, the main stem-changing verbs. However, there are two other types which we also see, albeit there are much fewer of those. They are so uncommon, in fact, that it is easier to remember the one common verb that follows each conjugation than it is to remember the conjugation itself.

Example 1: jugar | to play (u->ue)

Breakdown:

Jug - ar

Stem: jug

Stem change: u -> ue - jug -> jueg
Jugar conjugation
Example 2: adquirir | to acquire (i->ie)

Breakdown:

Adquir - ir

Stem: adquir

Stem change: i -> ie - adquir -> adquier
Adquirir conjugation
How can you tell if a Spanish verb is a stem-changing verb?

Unfortunately, there is no real way to know just by looking at a verb whether it is regular, stem-changing, or even irregular. This is one of those things that you just have to memorize. It might sound bad, but really this is something you will often just pick up in normal speech. For example, if you have heard of the verb pedir and you hear people saying pido and pides etc. all the time, you can confidently assume that pedir is an e-> i stem-changing verb. As a Spanish learner, I can't tell you the last time I had to think about whether a verb was stem-changing or irregular as all the differences have been acquired into my speech for a long time. So don't think it's not possible!

If, however, you want to find all the stem-changing verbs there are and attempt to memorize them, there is nothing wrong with that. However, there really are many stem-changing verbs in Spanish, so a complete list is hard to come by. The best I have found is here (you have to click into each category of cambio de raíz).

If you are learning by doing a course or using a textbook, whenever a new word is introduced, you should be told if it is stem-changing. The way this is communicated will vary from textbook to textbook, but in my text books they would just write the stem change next to the new infinitive verb. For example:

Another way you can get to know the stem-changing verbs in Spanish faster is by looking at the root verb. Many Spanish verbs are prefixed forms of simpler verbs. For example, we've talked about pedir and now know it as a stem-changing verb. So seeing despedir, we can safely assume it is also a stem-changing verb of the same category. In this case, the two verbs have unrelated meanings, but that doesn't matter.

Do Spanish stem-changing verbs change in other tenses and conjugations?

In this post, we have talked about how the stem-changing verbs in Spanish change in the present tense. Stem-changing verbs generally only change their stems in the present tense (including present indicative, present subjunctive, and present imperative, i.e. commands). However, that doesn't make the other conjugations necessarily regular. Some good examples of verbs that are stem-changing in the present tense, while irregular in other tenses, are , , and .

The only exception to the rule that stem-changing verbs change only in the present tense are the e -> i category of stem-changing verbs. In this case, the stem also changes:

in the gerund (e.g sirviendo)

in the past preterite third person - only singular and plural (e.g sirvió, sirvieron)

in the imperfect preterite - all 6 conjugations (e.g: sirviera, sirvieses). This conjugation and how it's formed is explained in our post about all the Spanish tenses

So, you should now understand what stem-changing verbs in Spanish are. Practice using them in context with Clozemaster!

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Test your skills and see what you've learned from this article by playing a selection of sentences with Spanish stem-changing verbs: Sign up here to save your progress and start getting fluent with thousands of Spanish sentences at Clozemaster.
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A Guide to Stem-changing Verbs in Spanish

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There are many common, everyday verbs that fall into the category of stem-changing verbs in Spanish. That's why it's important to understand what they are and how they work.

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Get our free email course, Shortcut to Conversational.

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As the name suggests, stem changing verbs in Spanish are verbs that when conjugated in the simple present tense, undergo a vowel change in the last syllable o f the stem.

Let's break this down.

What Is The Stem of a Spanish Verb?

The stem is the part of the verb form that contains the underlying meaning of the verb. To identify the stem, we simply remove the verb's ending (-ar, -er, -ir) from its infinitive form.

Let's see some examples:

Let's keep things simple for now, and see examples of how we conjugate regular verbs (with regular endings) in the present tense.

Ending -ar

Ending -er

Ending -ir

If you're not sure how to conjugate verbs in the simple present tense, then check out our post on that topic here.

For now, we are going to examine verbs that don't follow the regular pattern or structure, i.e. "Stem Changing Verbs", or "Verbos Radicales" in Spanish.

What is a Stem Changing Verb?

Stem changing verbs in Spanish are a group of verbs that resemble regular verbs, but require you to replace a letter in their stem when they are conjugated.

For example, let's take a look at the below stem changing verbs, conjugated in the first person.

What Are The Five Types of Stem Changing Verbs In Spanish?

There are five types of stem changing verbs in the simple present tense.

1. Stem Changing Verbs: E to IE change.

2. Stem Changing Verbs: O to UE change.

3. Stem Changing Verbs: E to I change.

4. Stem Changing Verbs: U to UE change.

5. Stem Changing Verbs: I to IE change.

How Stem Changing Verbs are formed

Before continuing, we should clarify an important rule.

Stem changing verbs conjugated with the nosotros/nosotras (we) pronoun are treated as an exception to the below guidelines, and instead should be conjugated as regular verbs.

This will become clearer as we look at the below list of the stem-changing verbs in Spanish

1. Stem Changing Verbs: E to IE change

This first pattern drops e in the stem and it is replaced by an ie.

It is worth mentioning that this change affects the largest number of verbs, so it is worth memorizing this rule as soon as possible.

Let's see a few examples:

Some other verbs that follow this pattern are:

Examples:
2. Stem Changing Verbs: O to UE change

The second pattern indicates that if there is an o in the last stressed syllable of the stem, it will be automatically replaced by ue, just like in the following example:

Some verbs that follow this pattern are:

Sidenote: The verb oler( to smell) is somewhat of an outliner, since the stem changes to the letter "h". The pronoun nosotros (we) will continue being an exception of the rule:
Examples
3. Stem Changing Verbs: E to I change

The third rule says that if the stem contains the vowel e in the last stressed syllable,we must change itto i.

Some verbs that follow this pattern are:
Examples
4. Stem Changing Verbs: U to UE change

This is maybe the easiest rule inside of the group of radicals as there is only one verb that follows this pattern: jugar ( to play). With this verb, we just substitute the letter u in its steam to ue in all pronouns(except nosotros).

Piece of cake, right?
Examples
5. Stem Changing Verbs: I to IE change

This final pattern is only followed by two verbs: adquirir (to buy, to acquire) and inquirir (to inquire, to question). The rule is pretty much simple, drop the i in the stem and replace it with ie when conjugating.
Examples

The district attorney inquiries about the motives of the accused - La fiscal inquiere sobre los motivos del acusado.

If you acquire more knowledge, you will strengthen your intellect - Si adquieres más conocimiento, fortalecerás tu intelecto.

Stem changing verbs in Spanish: Practice

Fill the gaps with the correct form of the verb in brackets:

1. Matt no ___ (entender) los ejercicios del Subjuntivo.

2. La bailarina ___ (mover) los pies al son de la salsa.

3. Carlos y su hermanito ___ (repetir) la canción una y otra vez.

4. Yo ___ (jugar) baloncesto de vez en cuando con algunos amigos.

5. Helen y su marido ___ (adquirir) una nueva casa esta tarde. ¡Qué emoción!

6. ¿(Tú) ___ (preferir) ir a la montaña o la playa?

7. El águila es un ave que ___ (volar) a grandes alturas.

8. Esas personas ___ (decir) cosas sin sentido.

9. (Yo) ___ (querer) boletos para el concierto, pero no tengo suficiente dinero.

10. Ellas ___ (soler) cenar junto a sus vecinos cada domingo.

Answers

1. Matt no entiende los ejercicios del Subjuntivo.

2. La bailarina mueve los pies al son de la salsa.

3. Carlos y su hermanito repiten la canción una y otra vez.

4. Yo juego baloncesto de vez en cuando con algunos amigos.

5. Helen y su marido adquieren una nueva casa esta tarde. ¡Qué emoción!

6. ¿(Tú) Prefieres ir a la montaña o la playa?

7. El águila es un ave que vuela a grandes alturas.

8. Esas personas dicen cosas sin sentido.

9. (Yo) Quiero boletos para el concierto, pero no tengo suficiente dinero.

10. Ellas suelen cenar junto a sus vecinos cada domingo.

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Stem Changing Verbs in Spanish: Explained For Beginners

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Confused by stem changing verbs in Spanish? Our beginner friendly guide explains the 5 rules to identify these verbs, and how to conguate them.

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-ando -iendo | Present Continuous in Spanish | Zero to Fluency Season 2

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Present Progressive Song (sound of "Summer Love")

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This was done for Spanish class. Mrs. Maness

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01056 Spanish Lesson - Present progresive (-ING)

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Difference between Simple Present vs Progressive Present in Spanish

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Difference between simple present and progressive present in Spanish explained.

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1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

The present progressive is formed by combining the verb "to be" with the present participle. (The present participle is merely the "-ing" form of a verb.)

I am studying.
I am studying with María.

In English, present progressive can be used to describe what is happening now, or what will happen in the future.

I am studying now.
I am studying with María tonight.

In Spanish, the present progressive is only used to describe an action that is in the process of taking place. It is not used for future actions.

I am studying now.
(use present progressive)

I am studying with María tonight.
(do not use present progressive)

To form the present progressive in Spanish, combine a form of "estar" with the present participle.

Estoy hablando.
I am speaking.

Juan está comiendo.
John is eating.

María está escribiendo una carta.
Mary is writing a letter.

In order to form the present progressive, you must know how to conjugate the verb estar, and how to form the present participle. You already know how to conjugate the verb estar:

To form the present participle of regular -ar verbs, add -ando to the stem of the verb.

hablar: hablando
(hablar - ar + ando)

trabajar: trabajando
(trabajar - ar + ando)

estudiar: estudiando
(estudiar - ar + ando)

To form the present participle of regular -er and -ir verbs, add -iendo to the stem of the verb.

To form the present participle of -ir stem changing verbs, change e:i and o:u in the stem, and then add -iendo to the stem of the verb.

Sometimes when forming the present participle it is necessary to change the spelling of a word so that it agrees with the way it is pronounced. We call this an "orthographic" change. Here are some common examples:

The following examples illustrate the rules for forming the present participle.

To form the present progressive, simply conjugate the verb estar to agree with the subject of the sentence, and follow it with the present participle.

Juan está comiendo pan.
John is eating bread.

María y Carmen están hablando con nosotros.
Mary and Carmen are speaking with us.

Remember, only use the present progressive for actions that are "in progress." Compare the uses of the present indicative with the uses of the present progressive.

Estudio español. (Present Indicative)

I study Spanish.
I am studying Spanish (these days).
I do study Spanish.

Estoy estudiando español. (Present Progressive)

I am studying (right now, at this moment) Spanish.

It is important to remember that you would never use the present progressive to say something like "We are going to Spain this summer." Use present progressive only for actions that are "in progress."

Let's add two more verb flashcards: one for present progressive and one for practice in forming the present participle:

Present Progressive
estar + present participle
I am speaking (right now, at this moment)
Never use present progressive for something that will occur in the future.

Present Participle (-ando, -iendo, yendo)
hablar - hablando (-ar)
comer - comiendo (-er)
vivir - viviendo (-ir)
decir - diciendo (e:i)
dormir - durmiendo (o:u)
leer - leyendo (orthographic)
seguir: siguiendo (orthographic)

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The written lesson is below. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left. The present progressive is formed by combining the verb "to be" with the present participle. (The present participle is merely the "-ing" form of a verb.) I am studying. I am studying with María.

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The term present progressive is a fancy way of describing the verb tense that emphasizes that an action is currently taking place as we speak. It is characterized by the verb "to be," followed by a second verb that ends with -ing (the present participle). For example: ...

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spanish verb conjugation: indicative progressive; spanisch verbkonjugation: indikativ progressiv; conjugación de verbos combinados para formar el progresivo del indicativo

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Intro2Spanish.com: Spanish Verb Conjugation: Indicative: Present Progressive Tense

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Free Spanish Lessons and Resource Information

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Explanation and examples of the Present Progressive in Spanish (aka -ING) - created at http://animoto.com

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Spanish Yo-Go verbs (Bills -LunchMoney Lewis)

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01 Present Tense - GO-YO verbs - Practice 1

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01 Present Tense - GO-YO verbs - Explanation

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Spanish Irregular Yo Form Verbs Go Go Verbs Song

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Learn Spanish: The verb 'TO GO' – IR, VOY, VAS in Spanish made easy

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http://www.esaudio.net After receiving lots of user requests asking me to prepare some videos on tenses, I have decided to start with the Spanish PRESENT PROGRESSIVE or PRESENTE PROGRESIVO. This is a basic structure for any student that needs to learn the language effectively.

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Present Tense - Song for Irregular Yo verbs

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A song to help you learn the irregular yo verbs in the present tense. It is to the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know It"

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In English the present progressive is often used to indicate an action in progress or ongoing. If the present tense is used to state “I bathe,&r

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Spanish Song: Present Progressive: Fergalicious Parody

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Parody of Fergalicious by Fergie about Spanish present progressive Thanx to: Señora Kovatch, and this other video that we cannot remember the name of, but we saw it, and it's for real.

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Spanish Grammar Articles and Lessons | SpanishDictionary.com

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Expert articles and interactive video lessons on how to use the Spanish language. Learn about 'por' vs. 'para', Spanish pronunciation, typing Spanish accents, and more.

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A fun Spanish video to help learn the Present Progressive in Spanish...to the tune of Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" Original Work by Paige Clouse- PLSHS

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Rap song for Spanish irregular verbs that end with "-go" in the yo form: tener- tengo hacer- hago valer- valgo traer- traigo venir- vengo salir- salgo poner- pongo decir- digo Each year my higher level classes make peer teaching videos for the lower level classes.

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An educational parody of Soulja Boy's "Crank That" to introduce -go verbs in Spanish.`

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This may help you to remember this is a two-part verb tense. The first part, Present, refers to the present tense conjugation of the verb , and the second part, Progressive, refers to the Participle. The Present Progressive uses since the Present Progressive describes a "state" that you are in.

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Irregular Spanish Verb songs: Present Tense

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Learn the irregular present tense verbs in Spanish to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star! Common Ground International (www.commongroundinternational.com) produced this video for its High School Spanish App (www.highschoolspanishapp.com)

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Gramática 15 - Present Progressive: Estar + -ndo

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Present Tense (stem-changing verbs) || Conjuguemos

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Practice your Spanish verb conjugations for the Present Tense (stem-changing verbs) with graded drill activities and fun multi-player games.