Intro to ar stem change verbs

Stem-Changing –AR Verbs

Let’s give them the boot!

We already know our subject pronouns …

yo nosotrosnosotras

tú vosotrosvosotras

él ellaUd.

ellosellasUds.

… and we already know our –AR verb endings …

-o -amos

-as -áis

-a -an

So what else do we need to know about the present tense of –AR verbs?

• Some –AR verbs are regular stem-changing verbs. Sometimes they are called “boot” verbs. You will see why very soon.

• There are two categories of regular stem-changing –AR verbs, o to ue and e to ie.

• There are three rules that apply to these stem-changing verbs.

The Three Rules

1. The stem change occurs in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.

2. The stem change occurs in the syllable directly before the verb ending.

3. The verbs have regular endings in the present tense.

Let’s try one together.• We are going to start with an o to ue –AR verb,

contar (ue): to count, to tell.• Rule 1 says that the stem change will occur in

all forms except nosotros and vosotros, so we know that those will be contamos and contáis.

• Rule 2 says that the stem change will occur in the syllable directly before the verb ending, in this case it is the only o.

• Rule 3 says the endings will be regular.• Let’s put this together in a chart.

contar (ue): to count, to tell

• yo cuento• tú cuentas• él cuenta• ella cuenta• Ud. cuenta

• nosotros/as contamos• vosotros/as contáis• ellos cuentan• ellas cuentan• Uds. cuentan

So, what does this have to do with a boot?

• yo cuento• tú cuentas• él cuenta• ella cuenta• Ud. cuenta

• nosotros/as contamos• vosotros/as contáis• ellos cuentan• ellas cuentan• Uds. cuentan

First, let’s X out the forms that don’t have a stem change.

• yo cuento• tú cuentas• él cuenta• ella cuenta• Ud. cuenta

• nosotros/as contamos• vosotros/as contáis• ellos cuentan• ellas cuentan• Uds. cuentan

XX

Then, let’s “circle” the forms that do have a stem change.

• yo cuento• tú cuentas• él cuenta• ella cuenta• Ud. cuenta

• nosotros/as contamos• vosotros/as contáis• ellos cuentan• ellas cuentan• Uds. cuentan

XX

Alright, it is not a perfect boot.

• yo cuento• tú cuentas• él cuenta• ella cuenta• Ud. cuenta

• nosotros/as contamos• vosotros/as contáis• ellos cuentan• ellas cuentan• Uds. cuentan

XX

Here is a list of common –AR o to ue stem-changing verbs.

• almorzar (ue): to eat lunch• contar (ue): to count, to tell• costar (ue): to cost• encontrar (ue): to find, to meet• mostrar (ue): to show• recordar (ue): to remember• sonar (ue): to sound, to ring• volar (ue): to fly• jugar (ue): to play*

1, 2, 3

Wait. Did you see that last verb? jugar (ue): to play

It’s an irregular stem-changing verb, but it still honors the boot.

• yo juego

• tú juegas

• él juega

• nosotros jugamos

• vosotros jugáis

• ellos juegan

Take note!!!

• If it’s in the boot, change the root!• When stem-changing verbs are listed in a

glossary, they will indicate the change. (ue) indicates the stem change of o to ue.

Let’s try another one together.• We are going to try an e to ie –AR verb, cerrar

(ie): to close.• Rule 1 says that the stem change will occur in

all forms except nosotros and vosotros, so we know that those will be cerramos and cerráis.

• Rule 2 says that the stem change will occur in the syllable directly before the verb ending, in this case it is the only e.

• Rule 3 says the endings will be regular.• Let’s put this together in a chart.

If it’s in the boot, change the root!cerrar (ie): to close

• yo cierro• tú cierras• él cierra• ella cierra• Ud. cierra

• nosotros/as cerramos• vosotros/as cerráis• ellos cierran• ellas cierran• Uds. cierran

XX

Here’s a list of common –AR e to ie stem-changing verbs.

• cerrar (ie): to close• comenzar (ie): to begin• confesar (ie): to confess• empezar (ie): to begin• pensar (ie): to think

Take note!!!

• If it’s in the boot, change the root!• When stem-changing verbs are listed in a

glossary, they will indicate the change. – (ue) indicates the stem change of o to ue. – (ie) indicates the stem change of e to ie.

Can you translate the following sentences into Spanish?

• He closes the door.• Él cierra la puerta.• We begin the class.• Nosotros empezamos la clase.• They think about the family.• Ellas piensan en la familia.• Do you close the windows?• ¿Cierras tú las ventanas?

Can you translate the following sentences into Spanish?

• We eat lunch in Lak Dining Hall.• Nosotros almorzamos en Lak Dining Hall.• He finds my mother.• Él encuentra a mi madre.• They show the books.• Ellos muestran los libros.• How much does the pen cost?• ¿Cuánto cuesta la pluma?

EL FIN

almorzar (ue): to eat lunch

• yo almuerzo• tú almuerzas• él almuerza• ella almuerza• Ud. calmuerza

• nosotros/as almorzamos• vosotros/as almorzáis• ellos almuerzan• ellas almuerzan• Uds. almuerzan