Stem-changing Verbs Stem-changing Verbs (u-ue), (e-ie)(u-ue), (e-ie)

Stem-changing verbs are verbs where there is the a spelling change in some of the forms of the verb.

There is only one verb in Spanish that changes (u-ue).

Jugar (u-ue)– To play (sport, game)

Notice that the forms in the shaded sections of the verb chart change (u-ue) but the forms outside the shaded area do not. Also, notice that the shaded sections look like a boot! Sometimes stem-changing verbs are called boot verbs because of this look.Also: When jugar is followed by a sport, use jugar + sportEx: Yo juego fútbol.

YojuegoI play

NosotrosjugamosWe play

TújuegasYou (fam.) play

Vosotros(as) jugáisYou all (fam.) play

Él/Ella/Ud. juegaHe/She/You(for.) play

Ellos(as)/Uds. jueganThey/You all(for.) play

There are many verbs that change (e-ie). Some of them are:

Cerrar – to close Comenzar – to start Empezar – to begin Entender – to understand Merendar – to have (eat) a snack Pensar – to think/plan Perder – to lose Preferir – to prefer Querer – to want

Stem-changing verbs (cont.)

The vowel that changes in the verb must be in the stem of the verb.

Ex: Preferir has three syllables. Pre – is the prefix -fer- is the stem and

–ir is the suffix.Rule: When a verb has three syllables,

it is always the middle (or second-to-last syllable) that is the stem. When you have two syllables, it is the first (or second-to-last syllable) that is the stem.

What –e- changes? Cerrar – Comenzar – Empezar – Entender – Merendar – Pensar – Perder – Preferir – Querer –

ce – rrar co – men – zar em – pe – zar en – ten – der me – ren – dar pen – sar per – der pre – fer – ir quer – er

Pensar (e-ie) – to think, to plan (when followed by an infinitive)

Yo piensoI think/plan

Nosotros pensamosWe think/plan

Tú piensasYou (fam.) think/plan

Vosotros(as) pensáisYou all (fam) think/plan

Él/Ella/Ud. piensaHe/She thinks/plansYou(for.) think/plan

Ellos(as)/Uds. piensanThey/You all(for.) think/plan

Note: When you combine two verbs together, the first verb in conjugated and the second verb is in the infinitive. Ex. Yo pienso jugar tenis. I plan to play tennis.

Yo séI know

Nosotros sabemos We know

Tú sabesYou (fam.) know

Vosotros sabéisYou all(fam.) know

Él, Ella, Ud. sabeHe, She knows, You (for.) know

Ellos(as), Uds. saben They, You all(for.) know

Saber is used for information and ideas. Also, to say that someone knows how to do something, use saber + (infinitive).Ex. She knows how to swim. Ella sabe nadar.

There are several phrases used to make comparisons in Spanish.

With adjectives in between-más . . . que more . . . thanmenos . . . que less . . . thantan . . . como as . . . asEx. El fútbol americano es más interesante que

el fútbol. El tenis es menos divertido que el baloncesto. El fútbol no es tan popular como el fútbol

americano. * Notice that divertido agrees with el tenis.

With verbs or nouns before and after – más que more than menos que less than tanto como as much as Ex. Me gusta correr más que nadar. Me gusta usar un guante nuevo menos que

un bate nuevo. A él le gusta jugar fútbol tanto como

béisbol.

Making Comparisons•When followed by a number – • más de (#) more than• menos de (#) less than•Ex. Yo tengo más de tres bates.•Yo tengo que trabajar en menos de cinco

minutos.

•Irregulares – There are four irregulars. They are usually used with que or alone.• mayor – older menor – younger• mejor – better peor - worse

¡Gracias por su atención!

El fin