Stem-Change/Spelling-Change or Boot Verbs

Today we will:

Learn how to use Stem-changing or spelling-change verbs.

​

I like to call them "Boot verbs"

Why are they called "Boot verbs"?

• ​When you circle all except the Nosotros and Vosotros forms, the chart looks a little like a boot.

• ​All the forms inside the boot have a special spelling in the middle of the verb.

​1. the forms inside the boot have a spelling-change of o--> ue

​2. Use regular AR, ER, or IR endings

​contar:

​

​Yo cuento (I count)

​tú cuentas (you count)

​él cuenta (he counts)

​nosotros contamos (we count)

​ellas cuentan (they count)

​HINT: There's NO spelling-change in NOsotros ;-)

O > UE stem change

Multiple Choice

Where are the spelling-changes?

• the forms OUTSIDE the boot

• the forms INSIDE the boot

• ALL forms

Multiple Choice

The spelling change happens _______.

• in the beginning part (the stem) of the verb

• in the end of the verb

Multiple Choice

These verbs use ___ endings.

• regular -ar, -er or -ir

• no

• irregular

Multiple Choice

Uno, dos, tres... Yo ______ (count) en español.

• contar

• cuento

• cuentar

Multiple Choice

Marta _____ (returns) a casa a las tres de la tarde.

• volve

• vuelva

• vuelve

Multiple Choice

Nosotros ______ (sleep) en el sofá.

• duermimos

• dormamos

• dormimos

Multiple Choice

Las flores _____ (die) en el otoño.

• mueren

• muere

• moren

JUGAR

• *jugar* to play, is a u->ue stem changing verb

• It's the only verb that makes this change

Multiple Choice

The only U-->UE boot verb is:

• jugar (to play)

• buscar (to look for)

• mudar (to move)

Multiple Choice

Manuel y yo ______ al tenis.

• jugo

• juegamos

• jugamos

Multiple Choice

¿_____ tú al beisbol?

• jugas

• juegas

• jugar

Multiple Choice

Pedro _____ al hockey con Daniel.

• juega

• juga

• juegan

​1. the forms inside the boot have a spelling-change of e--> ie

​2. Use regular AR, ER, or IR endings

​empezar:

​

​yo empiezo (I begin)

​tú empiezas (you begin)

​ella empieza (she begins)

​nosotros empezamos (we begin)

​ellas empiezan (they begin)

​HINT: There's NO spelling-change in NOsotros ;-)

E > IE

• We have already learned a verb that sort of follows this pattern

• The verb Tener follows this pattern except in the yo forms

• This makes it a "sock verb" because it only changes where a "sock" would go inside a boot :D

Multiple Choice

Yo ___ (close) la puerta.

• cerras

• cerro

• cierro

Multiple Choice

¿Tú ___ (understand) francés?

• entiendo

• entendemos

• entiendes

Multiple Choice

Mi mejor amiga y yo ___ (want) una pizza.

• quieremos

• queremos

• quieren

Multiple Choice

Yo ____ (lose) el partido de tenis.

• pierdo

• perdo

• perda

Multiple Choice

El programa ______ (begins) a las ocho.

• empiesa

• empieza

• empieze

Multiple Choice

Mis amigos y yo ___ (prefer) tacos al pastor.

• preferimos

• preferemos

• prefieremos

Multiple Choice

¿ _____ tú la chaqueta roja?

• prefiero

• prefieres

• prefiere

​1. the forms inside the boot have a spelling-change of e--> i

​2. Use regular AR, ER, or IR endings (note the typo on the handout!!! Be sure to fix it! :)

​repetir:

​

​yo repito (I repeat)

​tú repites (you repeat)

​ella repite (she repeats)

​nosotros repetimos (we repeat)

​ustedes repiten (y'all repeat)

​HINT: There's NO spelling-change in NOsotros ;-)

Multiple Choice

Which forms never has a spelling change?

• nosotros and vosotros

• ustedes

• usted

Multiple Choice

¿Qué _____ (order) tú en un restaurante?

• pide
• pides
• pedimos

Multiple Choice

Daniel, Ricardo, y yo ___ (order) los tacos.

• pides

• pido

• pedimos

Multiple Choice

Ellos _____ (serve) la comida rapidamente.

• sirven

• sirvo

• servís

Multiple Choice

Nosotros _____ (tell) secretos.

• dicimos

• decimos

• dicen

What if I forget?

Sometimes, when you do it 'wrong,' it feels wrong, like when you spell a word wrong and it just doesn't look 'right'. It will take time & practice. This is just the introduction.

Mistakes are VERY common when learning a new language and generally do not affect comprehension/understanding: people will still usually understand what you're saying

But keep practicing!