PARTS OF VERBS

There are 2 parts to every verb, the stem and the ending.

• Ending: the -ar, -er, -ir at the end of the verb

• Stem: the part that is left after the ending is taken off

WHAT IS A STEM CHANGER?

• Stem changers are verbs that have a spelling change in the stem (the part without the ending)

• For this lesson the verbs will have an "e" that changes to "ie"

DO ALL VERBS STEM CHANGE?

• No, only specific verbs stem change. You will have to memorize the list.

• This is just a small list, there could be other verbs that also stem change.

​

• cerrar- to close

• confesar- to confess

• comenzar- to begin

• defender- to defend

• empezar- to begin

• entender- to understand

• mentir- to lie

​

• nevar- to snow

• pensar- to think, plan

• perder- to lose

• preferir- to prefer

• querer- to want

• recomendar- to recommend

• sentir- to feel, regret

HOW DO STEM CHANGERS CONJUGATE?

• Take the "e" and change it to "ie" in all forms except nosotros.

  • Only change forms that fit inside the boot.

• Replace the -ar/-er/-ir with the appropriate ending.

• If the stem has more than one "e", you will change the 2nd "e".

​ -ar endings

yo o nosotros amos

tú as

él/ella/Ud. a ellos/ellas/Uds. an

​ -ir endings

yo o nosotros imos

tú es

él/ella/Ud. e ellos/ellas/Uds. en

​ -er endings

yo o nosotros emos

tú es

él/ella/Ud. e ellos/ellas/Uds. en

CONFESAR- TO CONFESS

• What is the ending?

• What are the stems?

QUERER- TO WANT

• What is the ending?

• What are the stems?

STRATEGIES FOR ANSWERING QUESTIONS

1. Does the question have an interrogative (question word)?

   1. Yes- then you cannot answer with sí/no

   2. You will most likely start with sí/no

2. Identify the subject of the question.

   1. If the subject is tú or Ud., respond with yo (change verb ending)

   2. If the subject is Uds, respond with nosotros (change verb ending)

   3. If the subject is él/ella/ellos/ellos, keep the same subject (don't change verb ending)

3. Respond using proper word order (keep it simple).

   1. Subject, verb, rest of sentence.

EXAMPLES OF ANSWERING QUESTIONS

-¿Cierras la computadora?

-¿Piensan los estudiantes hacer la tarea?

-¿Cuándo empieza la película?

1. Does the question start with a question word? Can your response start with sí/no?

2. Who is the subject of the question? What will be the subject of the response?

EXAMPLES OF ANSWERING QUESTIONS

-¿Cierras la computadora?

Sí, yo cierro la computadora.

-¿Piensan los estudiantes hacer la tarea?

Sí, ellos piensan hacer la tarea

-¿Cuándo empieza la película?

La película empieza a las seis.