SPANISH NOTEBOOK

STEM CHANGING VERBS IN THE PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

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SPANISH VERBS WITH STEM CHANGES IN THE PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE
Verbs with stem-changes in the present tense also have stem changes in the present subjunctive. Some important things to notice:

-AR and -ER verbs have stem changes in all the forms except the  nosotros and the vosotros forms.

-IR verbs change their stems in all the forms (yo, tú, él/ella/Ud, nosotros(as), vosotros(as), ellos/ellas/Uds.); however, they do it differently.

These stem change takes place on the vowel next to the last syllable.

All the stem changing verbs, when conjugated, have the same endings as the regular subjunctive verbs do.

-AR AND -ER VERBS

Verbs that change from E to IE:

LISTEN

Cerrar (to close)
Present subjunctive
Yo cierre
Tú cierres
Él/ella/Ud. cierre

Empezar* (to begin/start)
Present subjunctive
Yo empiece
Tú empieces
Él/ella/Ud. empiece

Present tense: cierro

Nosotros(as) cerremos
Vosotros(as) cerréis
Ellos/ellas/Uds. cierren

Present tense: empiezo

Nosotros(as) empecemos
Vosotros(as) empecéis
Ellos/ellas/Uds. empiecen

*Empezar has not only a stem change, but it is also a verb that ends in -ZAR; therefore, the Z changes to C when it is conjugated in the present subjunctive. The same rule applies for Comenzar (to star/to begin).

More verbs that change from E to IE
Despertar(se) (to wake up/to arouse), entender (to understand), merendar (to eat snack), perder (to lose/to miss), pensar (to think), querer (to want/to love), sentarse (to seat/to sit).  

Verbs that change from O to UE

Volver (to go back/to return)
Present subjunctive:
Yo vuelva
Tú vuelvas
Él/ella/Ud. vuelva

Contar (to tell/to count)
Present subjunctive:
Yo cuente
Tú cuentes
Él/ella/Ud. cuente
Present tense: vuelvo

Nosotros(as) volvamos
Vosotros(as) volváis
Ellos/ellas/Uds. vuelvan


Present tense: cuento

Nosotros(as) contemos
Vosotros(as) contéis
Ellos/ellas/Uds. cuenten

More verbs that change from O to UE:
Acostar(se) (to lie down/to go to bed), almorzar (to have lunch), costar (to cost), devolver (to return/to refund), encontrar (to find/to meet), poder (to be able to/ can), probar(se) (to try on), recordar (to remember/to remind), resolver (to solve/to resolve).

Verbs that change from U to UE:
**Jugar has not only a stem change, but it is also a verb that ends in -GAR; therefore, the G changes to GU to keep the pronunciation when conjugated in present subjunctive.

Jugar** (to play game or sport)
Present subjunctive:
Yo juegue
Tú juegues
Él/ella/Ud. juegue
Present tense: juego

Nosotros(as) juguemos
Vosotros(as) juguéis
Ellos/ellas/Uds. jueguen


-IR VERB


Verbs that change from O to UE and U:

Notice that nosotros and vosotros forms change from O to U

LISTEN

Dormir (to sleep)
Present subjunctive:
Yo duerma
Tú duermas
Él/ella/Ud. duerma

Morir (to die)
Present subjunctive:
Yo muera
Tú mueras
Él/ella/Ud. muera
Present tense: duermo

Nosotros(as) durmamos
Vosotros(as) durmáis
Ellos/ellas/Uds. duerman

Present tense: muero

Nosotros(as) muramos
Vosotros(as) muráis
Ellos/ellas/Uds. mueran

Verbs that change from E to I:

The stem changes happen in all forms of the subjunctive including nosotros and vosotros.

Servir: to serve
Present subjunctive:
Yo sirva
Tú sirvas
Él/ella/Ud. sirva

Pedir: to ask for
Present subjunctive:
Yo pida
Tú pidas
Él/ella/Ud. pida
Present tense: sirvo

Nosotros(as) sirvamos
Vosotros(as) sirváis
Ellos/ellas/Uds. sirvan

Present tense: pido

Nosotros(as) pidamos
Vosotros(as) pidáis
Ellos/ellas/Uds. pidan

More verbs that change from E to I:
Conseguir (to get/to achieve), reir(se) (to laugh), repetir (to repeat), seguir (to follow/to continue), vestir (to dress/to wear).

Verbs that change from E to IE and I

Notice that nosotros and vosotros forms change for E to I.

Preferir: to prefer
Present subjunctive:
Yo prefiera
Tú prefieras
Él/ella/Ud. prefiera

Sentir: to feel
Present subjunctive:
Yo sienta
Tú sientas
Él/ella/Ud. sienta
Present tense: prefiero

Nosotros(as) prefiramos
Vosotros(as) prefiráis
Ellos/ellas/Uds. prefieran

Present tense: siento

Nosotros(as) sintamos
Vosotros(as) sintáis
Ellos/ellas/Uds. sientan

More verbs that change form E to IE and I:
Divertirse (to enjoy oneself), mentir (to lie).