Ep 13. Stem-Changing Verbs

In this episode of Learning Spanish: How to Understand and Speak a New Language, we focus on the topic of Stem-Changing Verbs. Stem-changing verbs, also known as boot verbs or shoe verbs, are a unique aspect of Spanish grammar that can make mastering the language a bit more challenging. However, with the help of our expert instructor, viewers will learn the ins and outs of stem-changing verbs and gain confidence in using them correctly.

To start, we review the basic concept of stem-changing verbs, which involves a change in the vowel in the stem of the verb for certain verb conjugations. For example, the verb pensar (to think) has a stem change in the present tense conjugation for the yo (I) and tú (you, informal) forms - instead of pens-, we use piens- (pienso, piensas). This can also happen for other tenses and verb forms, and sometimes the stem change affects multiple vowels.

Our instructor breaks down the different types of stem-changing verbs, based on the vowel(s) that change in the stem. There are three main categories: e-ie (e to ie) verbs, o-ue (o to ue) verbs, and e-i (e to i) verbs. We cover common examples of each type, such as entender (to understand), poder (to be able to), and pedir (to ask for), and practice conjugating them together.

One key thing to note about stem-changing verbs is that not all verbs with the same ending follow the same stem-changing pattern. For instance, while pensar and empezar (to start) both end in -ar, only pensar has an e-i stem change. This can be confusing at first, but our instructor provides useful tips for recognizing stem-changing verbs and their patterns.

We also go over some irregular stem-changing verbs, which have their own unique stem changes that do not fit into the e-ie, o-ue, or e-i categories. These include verbs like dormir (to sleep), jugar (to play), and seguir (to follow), which have stem changes in some conjugations but not others. With practice, viewers will become more comfortable recognizing and using these verbs correctly.

As always, the episode includes plenty of examples and practice exercises to help viewers solidify their understanding of stem-changing verbs. We practice conjugating verbs in different tenses and forms, and also look at some common phrases and idioms that use stem-changing verbs. By the end of the episode, viewers will have a good grasp of how to recognize and use these challenging verbs, and will be one step closer to mastering the Spanish language.