Stem-Changing Verbs

RELEVANT LESSONS:

Explanation

Quick Answer

Stem-changing verbs in the present tense use the same endings as regular -ar, -er, and -ir verbs when conjugated, but undergo a vowel change in the last syllable of the stem.

In this article, we'll take a look at the following present tense stem changes:

e > ie changes
o > ue changes
e > i changes
i > ie changes
u > ue changes

Looking for an introduction to the present tense in Spanish? Check out our article on Spanish present tense forms.

1. e > ie Changes

This type of stem change affects the largest number of verbs. For verbs in this group, the e in the last syllable of the stem changes to ie. Check out an example of this in the conjugation table for the verb querer(to want).

Keep in mind that "the last syllable of the stem" refers to the only syllable in the stem in verbs like cerrar and pensar.

Present Simple Conjugation Table for Querer

quiero	queremos
quieres	queréis
quiere	quieren

The Boot

Present tense stem changes do not apply to nosotros and vosotros forms. These two forms maintain the form of the infinitive stem. If you think of the way many traditional verb tables are presented (see the conjugation table of querer above), you'll notice that the four verb conjugations that do undergo a stem change make the form of a rudimentary boot (or an "L"). This is a neat way to remember which verbs undergo a stem change.

Common Verbs with e > ie Changes

Spanish	English	Spanish	English
acertar	to guess	atender	to attend to
atravesar	to cross	calentar	to warm
cerrar	to close	comenzar	to begin
confesar	to confess	helar	to freeze
defender	to defend	descender	to descend
despertarse	to wake up	divertirse	to have fun
empezar	to begin	encender	to light/ignite
encerrar	to enclose	entender	to understand
fregar	to scrub/wash	gobernar	to govern
mentir	to lie	negar	to deny
nevar	to snow	pensar	to think
perder	to lose	preferir	to prefer
recomendar	to recommend	remendar	to mend/patch
sentar(se)	to sit down	sentir	to feel
sugerir	to suggest	tener	to have
tropezar	to stumble	venir	to come

The yo forms of venir and tener are irregular. The yo form of venir is vengo(I come), while the yo form of tener is tengo(I have).

2. o > ue Changes

For verbs in this group, the o in the last syllable of the stem changes to ue. Check out an example of this in the conjugation table for the verb soñar(to dream).

Present Simple Conjugation Table for Soñar

sueño	soñamos
sueñas	soñáis
sueña	sueñan

Common Verbs with o > ue Changes

absolver	to absolve	acordarse (de)	to remember
almorzar	to have lunch	aprobar	to approve
cocer	to boil/bake	colgar	to hang (up)
conmover	to move	contar	to count
costar	to cost	demoler	to demolish
demostrar	to demonstrate/prove	devolver	to return
disolver	to dissolve	doler	to hurt
dormir	to sleep	encontrar	to find
envolver	to wrap	llover	to rain
morder	to bite	moler	to grind
morir	to die	mostrar	to show
mover	to move	poder	to be able to
probar	to taste, to prove	promover	to promote
recordar	to remember	remover	to remove
resolver	to resolve	retorcer	to twist
revolver	to mix/shake	rogar	to beg
soler	to be accustomed to	sonar	to sound
soñar	to dream	torcer	to twist
tronar	to thunder	volar	to fly

Watch out for oler(to smell). The letter h is also added to the present tense forms of this verb that undergo a stem change.

Present Simple Conjugation Table for Oler

huelo	olemos
hueles	oléis
huele	huelen

3. e > i Changes

For verbs in this group, the e in the last syllable of the stem changes to i. Check out an example of this in the conjugation table for the verb repetir(to repeat).

Present Simple Conjugation Table for Repetir

repito	repetimos
repites	repetís
repite	repiten

Common Verbs with e > i Changes

conseguir	to get	corregir	to correct
decir	to say/tell	despedir	to fire/to say goodbye
elegir	to elect	impedir	to impede
medir	to measure	pedir	to ask for
perseguir	to follow	repetir	to repeat
reírse	to laugh	seguir	to follow
servir	to serve	sonreírse	to smile
vestirse	to get dressed

The yo forms of some of the above verbs are irregular.

The yo form of decir is digo(I say).

The yo form of conseguir is consigo(I get).

The yo form of elegir is elijo(I choose).

The yo form of seguir is sigo(I follow).

The yo form of reírse is me río(I laugh). In fact, all present tense forms of reírse have an accent.

4. i > ie Changes

There are only two commonly-used verbs in this group: adquirir(to acquire) and inquirir(to inquire). Check out the conjugation table for these two verbs below.