1. STEM-CHANGING
SHOE VERBS

2.  There are 3 types of stem-changing verbs:
EIE O  UE EI
 These verbs are called stem-changing
because the vowel in the stem changes.
 querer (eie) / dormir (oue) / pedir (ei)
 These verbs are called shoe verbs because
the forms that change
YO, TÚ, UD, ÉL, ELLA, UDS, ELLOS, ELLAS fit inside a
shoe-shaped graphic.
 (The forms that do not change NOSOTROS/VOSOTROS are
outside of the shoe. )

3. Notice that NOSOTROS &VOSOTROS are outside of the
shoe! STEM CHANGING SHOE VERBS
NOSOTROS
YO
TÚ VOSOTROS
USTED USTEDES
Él ELLOS
ELLA ELLAS

4. WHICH VERBS STEM-CHANGE?
 Stem changing verbs can be -ar -er, or -ir
verbs – their endings are regular when
conjugated!
 There is no way to tell if a verb is a stem-
changer. You have to memorize which verbs
change.
 The infinitive will normally have the change
in parentheses after the verb. Ex. querer (ie)
 Note: Jugar changes UUE
(normally categorized with OUE verbs)

5. CONJUGATING STEM-CHANGING VERBS
 #1 find the stem
 #2 find the vowel E or O or U in the stem
 #3 change the vowel to the stem change
 (eie, ei, oue)
 #4 add the appropriate conjugation
endings

6. EIE VERBS
-ER verbs
Querer = to want
-AR verbs Tener *= to have
Cerrar = to close Perder = to lose
Comenzar = to begin Entender = to understand
Empezar = to start
Nevar = to snow -IR verbs
Merendar = to have a snack Preferir = to prefer
Pensar = to think Venir* = to come
Recomendar = to Hervir = to boil
recommend Sentir = to feel
Regar = to water Mentir= to lie

7. CERRAR (EIE) = TO CLOSE
 #1 - find the stem (drop the –AR)
CERRAR  CERR-
 #2 - find the vowel in the stem  CERR
 #3 - change the vowel to the stem change
CERR  CIERR
 #4 – add the appropriate endings for –AR verbs
Yo cierro Nosotros cerramos
Tú cierras Vosotros cerráis
Ud Uds
Él cierra Ellos cierran
Ella Ellas

8. QUERER (EIE) = TO WANT
 #1 - find the stem (drop the –ER
QUERER  QUER-
 #2 - find the vowel in the stem  QUER-
 #3 - change the vowel to the stem change
QUER-  QUIER-
 #4 – add the appropriate endings for –ER verbs
Yo quiero Nosotros queremos
Tú quieres Vosotros queréis
Ud Uds
Él quiere Ellos quieren
Ella Ellas

9. PREFERIR(EIE) - TO PREFER
 #1 - find the stem (drop the –IR )
PREFERIR  PREFER-
 #2 - find the vowel in the stem  PREFER-
 #3 - change the vowel to the stem change
PREFER-  PREFIER-
 #4 – add the appropriate endings for –IR verbs
Yo prefiero Nosotros preferimos
Tú prefieres Vosotros preferís
Ud Uds
Él prefiere Ellos prefieren
Ella Ellas

10. I. WRITE THE CORRECT FORM OF EACH VERB.
1. Yo (pensar)
Write these in
2. Tú (preferir)
your notebook
3. Él (perder) – ask for help
4. Ud. (querer) if needed!
5. Ella (venir)
6. Nosotros (merendar)
Special note:
7. Vosotros (tener) NEVAR is only
8. Uds. (mentir) used in the Él
9. Ellos (empezar) form – It’s
snowing = NIEVA
10. Ellas (entender)

11. OUE VERBS
-AR verbs -ER verbs
Almorzar = to eat lunch Devolver = to give back
Contar = to count (return)
Costar = to cost Volver = to go back (return)
Encontrar = to find Llover = to rain
Probar = to try/ to taste Mover = to move
Mostrar = to show Remover = to remove
Recordar = to remember
Volar = to fly -IR verbs
Soñar = to dream Dormir = to sleep
**jugar = to play (UUE) Morir = to die
These verbs follow the same pattern as the EIE
verbs

12. DORMIR(OUE) - TO SLEEP
 #1 - find the stem (drop the –IR )
DORMIR  DORM-
 #2 - find the vowel in the stem  DORM-
 #3 - change the vowel to the stem change
DORM-  DUERM-
 #4 – add the appropriate endings for –IR verbs
Yo duermo Nosotros dormimos
Tú duermes Vosotros dormís
Ud Uds
Él duerme Ellos duermen
Ella Ellas

13. *JUGAR (UUE) = TO PLAY
 #1 - find the stem (drop the –AR) Jugar is a
JUGAR  JUG- UUE verb!
 #2 - find the vowel in the stem  JUG-
 #3 - change the vowel to the stem change
JUG-  JUEG-
 #4 – add the appropriate endings for –AR verbs
Yo juego Nosotros jugamos
Tú juegas Vosotros jugáis
Ud Uds.
Él juega Ellos juegan
Ella Ellas

14. II. WRITE THE CORRECT FORM OF EACH VERB.
1. Yo (dormir) Write these in
your notebook
2. Tú (contar)
– ask for help
3. Él (morir) if needed!
4. Ud. (mover)
5. Ella (almorzar)
6. Nosotros (probar) Special note:
7. Vosotros (volver) LLOVER is only
8. Uds. (recordar) used in the Él
9. Ellos (devolver) form – It’s raining
= LLUEVE
10. Ellas (mostrar)

15. EI VERBS
Servir = to serve All EI verbs
Repetir = to repeat
Pedir = to ask for
end with –IR!
Competir = to
compete
Vestir = to dress * Some verbs have
Decir* = to say/tell irregularities:
Seguir* = to follow •Decir = yo digo
Freír * = to fry •Seguir = yo sigo
Reír * = to laugh •Freír, reír, sonreír = add accent
Sonreír * = to smile on the “i” in all forms
(río, ríes, ríe, reímos, reís,
ríen)

16. REPETIR (EI) - TO REPEAT
 #1 - find the stem (drop the –IR )
REPETIR  REPET-
 #2 - find the vowel in the stem  REPET-
 #3 - change the vowel to the stem change
REPET-  REPIT-
 #4 – add the appropriate endings for –IR verbs
Yo repito Nosotros repetimos
Tú repites Vosotros repetís
Ud Uds
Él repite Ellos repiten
Ella Ellas

17. III. WRITE THE CORRECT FORM OF EACH VERB.
1. Yo (repetir)
Write these in
2. Tú (servir)
your notebook
3. Él (decir) – ask for help
4. Ud. (pedir) if needed!
5. Ella (reír)
6. Nosotros (vestir)
7. Vosotros (freír)
8. Uds. (competir)
9. Ellos (sonreír)
10. Ellas (seguir)

18. ¡EL FIN!
You may submit this assignment by typing CUADERNO in
the dropbox and showing me your notebook.
You may also type your answers for activites I-III in the dropbo