Conjugate stem changers in Conjugate stem changers in the preterite tensethe preterite tense

Essential grammar #58Essential grammar #58

Stem changing infinitivesStem changing infinitives

Stem changing infinitives are named for Stem changing infinitives are named for what they do– change in the stem.what they do– change in the stem.

You are going to make some alteration of You are going to make some alteration of the stem before adding the verb endings.the stem before adding the verb endings.

You will use the preterite endings you You will use the preterite endings you already know.already know.

The hardest part of stem changers is The hardest part of stem changers is knowing which ones change and which knowing which ones change and which ones don’t.ones don’t.

Stem changersStem changers

There are 2 different ways a stem changing There are 2 different ways a stem changing infinitive can change (2 categories).infinitive can change (2 categories).

The first is oThe first is ou.u.

* This is not even close to what the present * This is not even close to what the present tense rules are. Read with care!tense rules are. Read with care!

Stem changersStem changers

The first category is oThe first category is ou.u.(This includes present tense o(This includes present tense oue, uue, uue).ue).There is unique information about this stem There is unique information about this stem

change.change.In order to stem change in the preterite, the In order to stem change in the preterite, the

infinitive must end –ir. If it ends in –ar or infinitive must end –ir. If it ends in –ar or –er, it is not considered a stem changer in –er, it is not considered a stem changer in the preterite and will conjugate like a the preterite and will conjugate like a regular infinitive.regular infinitive.

dormir = to sleepdormir = to sleep

This is a stem changer in the preterite.This is a stem changer in the preterite.First separate the stem from the infinitive ending.First separate the stem from the infinitive ending.Dorm- is the stem.Dorm- is the stem.Make the stem change oMake the stem change ouuNew stem durm-New stem durm-Put into box– Put into box– Only the 3Only the 3rdrd and 6 and 6thth box make stem changes. box make stem changes.

dormir = to sleepdormir = to sleep

dormídormí dormimosdormimos

dormistedormiste dormisteisdormisteis

dduurmiórmió dduurmieronrmieron

Stem changersStem changers

The second category is eThe second category is ei.i.

(This includes present tense changes e(This includes present tense changes eie ie and eand ei). i).

perferir = to prefer is a stem changer.perferir = to prefer is a stem changer.

It is the same steps as dormir.It is the same steps as dormir.

*When there is more than one syllable that *When there is more than one syllable that could possibly make the change, choose could possibly make the change, choose the syllable closest to the verb ending.the syllable closest to the verb ending.

Preferir = to preferPreferir = to prefer

First separate the stem from the infinitive First separate the stem from the infinitive ending.ending.

prefer- is the stem.prefer- is the stem.

Make the stem change eMake the stem change eii

New stem prefir-New stem prefir-

Put into box–In the preterite. It will only Put into box–In the preterite. It will only change in the 3change in the 3rdrd and 6 and 6thth boxes. boxes.

preferir = to preferpreferir = to prefer

preferípreferí preferimospreferimos

preferistepreferiste preferisteispreferisteis

prefprefiiriórió prefprefiirieronrieron

Stem changersStem changers

servir = to serve is a stem changer.servir = to serve is a stem changer.

It is the same steps as preferir.It is the same steps as preferir.

servir = to serveservir = to serve

First separate the stem from the infinitive First separate the stem from the infinitive ending.ending.

serv- is the stem.serv- is the stem.

Make the stem change eMake the stem change eii

New stem sirv-New stem sirv-

Put into box–In the preterite, only the 3Put into box–In the preterite, only the 3rdrd and and 66thth boxes show change. boxes show change.

servir = to serveservir = to serve

servíserví servimosservimos

servisteserviste servisteisservisteis

ssiirviórvió ssiirvieronrvieron