Spanish/Lesson 4

Stem Changing Verbs In Spanish, some verbs change their stems when they are conjugated. These verbs are known as stem-changing verbs. Many of these verbs are important and often used. There are three different types of stem changing verbs in Spanish: left|26x26px|Spanish FlagCambios de los VerbosLos verbos Types of Stem-Changing Verbse → ie e → i o → ue The stem changes for all conjugations, excepting nosotros/as and vosotros/as. The endings are the same as for regular verbs (-o for yo, -as/-es for tú, ...). EntenderTo Understand I understand yo entiend o You understand tú entiend es He understands él entiend e She understands ella entiend e You understand Usted entiend e We understand nosotros entend emos You (pl.) understand vosotros entend eis They understand ellos entiend en You (pl form) understand Ustedes entiend en Note that the stem change is done for the second 'e' (not the first one) - in general the stem always changes for the last vowel before the -ar/-er/-ir ending. Example: pedir (e->i) to ask for, to order PedirTo Ask For, Order I ask for yo pid o You ask for tú pid es He asks for él pid e She asks for ella pid e You (form) ask for Usted pid e We ask for nosotros ped imos You (plural) ask for vosotros ped ís They ask for ellos pid en You (pl form) ask for Ustedes pid en Note: all e->i stem changing verbs are -ir verbs. DormirTo Sleep I sleep yo duerm o You sleep tú duerm es He sleeps él duerm e She sleeps ella duerm e You (formal) sleep Usted duerm e We sleep nosotros dorm imos You (plural) sleep vosotros dorm ís They sleep ellos duerm en You (plural formal) sleep Ustedes duerm en Here is a list of some other common stem changing verbs: e -> iee -> io -> uecerrar (to close)competir (to compete)almorzar (to eat lunch)comenzar (to begin)conseguir (to get, obtain)costar (to cost)defender (to defend)pedir (to ask for, order)encontrar (to find)empezar (to start, begin)reir (to laugh)morir (to die)mentir (to lie)repetir (to repeat)mostrar (to show)pensar (to think)seguir (to follow, continue)mover (to move)perder (to lose)servir (to serve)recordar (to remember)preferir (to prefer)sonreír (to smile)volver (to return) Exercise: Stem Changing Verbs Present Participle The present participle in Spanish is used either for continuous tenses (with estar, e.g. I am running.) and can also be used as an adjective. The Spanish present participle corresponds to the English -ing form of the verb.To form the present participle for regular -ar verbs, add -ando to the stem. For -er and -ir verbs add -iendo: left|26x26px|Spanish FlagEl Participio PresenteLos Verbos -inghablar → hablando comer → comiendo vivir → viviendospeaking eating living However, not all present participles are that regular. Some verbs add a "y," or change the spelling, to adhere to Spanish orthography (spelling) rules. Here is a list of some common verbs that have an irregular present participle: left|26x26px|Spanish FlagParticipios IrregularesLos Verbos -ingcaer decir dormir ir leer oir pedir repetir reír seguir traercayendo diciendo durmiendo yendo leyendo oyendo pidiendo repitiendo riendo siguiendo trayendo Present Progressive Like in English, the Spanish present progressive is used to describe an action in progress. It is formed by conjugating the verb estar and then adding the present participle: left|26x26px|Spanish FlagEl Presente ProgresivoLos Verbos Talking about actions occurring right nowYo estoy hablando Tú estás hablando Él/ella/usted está hablando Nosotros estamos hablando Vosotros estáis hablando Ellos/ellas/ustedes están hablandoI am talking You are talking He/She/You is/are talking We are talking You are talking They/You are talking Vocabulary left|26x26px|Spanish FlagEl Vocabulario La Familia Vocabulary for the familylos padres el padre, papá la madre, mamá los hijos el hijo la hija los hermanos el hermano la hermana los abuelos el abuelo la abuela los nietos el nieto la nieta los tíos el tío la tía los sobrinos el sobrino la sobrina los primos el primo la prima los cónyuges, marido y mujer el esposo, el marido la esposa, la mujer los suegros la suegra, la nuera el suegro, el yerno los cuñados el cuñado la cuñada los consuegros el consuegro la consuegraparents father mother children son daughter siblings brother sister grandparents grandfather grandmother grandchildren grandson granddaughter uncles and aunts uncle aunt nephews and nieces nephew niece cousins cousin (male) cousin (female) spouses husband wife parents-in-law mother-in-law father-in-law siblings-in-law brother-in-law sister-in-law your child's parents-in-law your child's father-in-law your child's mother-in-law