Stem-changing verbs usually take the same endings as regular verbs but have a spelling change in their stem. The spelling change always affects a vowel, but only applies to the following parts of the verb:
- I
- you (singular)
- he/she/you (polite)
- they/you (polite plural)
There are four groups of stem-changing verbs.
| e → ie | e → i | o → ue | u → ue |
|---|
| querer: (to want) | pedir: (to ask for) | poder: (to be able/can) | jugar: (to play) |
| (yo) | quiero | pido | puedo | juego |
| (tu) | quieres | pides | puedes | juegas |
| (él/ella/usted) | quiere | pide | puede | juega |
| (nosotros/as) | queremos | pedimos | podemos | jugamos |
| (vosotros/as) | queréis | pedís | podéis | jugáis |
| (ellos/ellas/ustedes) | quieren | piden | pueden | juegan |
Some people call these '1, 2, 3, 6 verbs' to help them remember that the stem only changes in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th forms of the verb.
Other e → ie stem-changing verbs include:
- despertarse (to wake up) → me despierto (I wake up)
- divertirse (to enjoy yourself) → me divierto (I enjoy myself)
- empezar (to start) → empiezo (I start)
- preferir (to prefer) → prefiero (I prefer)
- nevar (to snow) → nieva (it snows)
Other e → i stem-changing verbs include:
- repetir (to repeat) → repito (I repeat)
- servir (to serve) → sirvo (I serve)
- vestirse (to get dressed) → me visto (I get dressed)
Other o → ue stem-changing verbs include:
- acostarse (to go to bed) → me acuesto (I go to bed)
- dormir (to sleep) → duermo (I sleep)
- encontrar (to find) → encuentro (I find)
- volver (to return) → vuelvo (I return)
- costar (to cost) → cuesta (it costs)
- llover (to rain) → llueve (it rains)