Is there a way to tell if verbs are stem changing?

Question

I am learning a lot of stem changers, but is there a way I can tell if they are stem changers, or will I have to learn them all and just recognize if a verb is a stem changer?

Answer 1

you have to just learn them and recognize them as a stem changer. The more you learn spanish the more stem changers will make sense. For example, the verb querer (to want) changes in the yo form to quiero. if it did not change, it would be quero which just doesn't sound right. It is one of those things you learn as you go along.

Actually, it also changes in the tu, el and ellos forms. - sauceman56, Oct 14, 2009

Answer 2

Actually there is one way to tell.

First we want to start the conjugation process as we normally would like we remove the last two letters Ar, Er or Ir. Then, if the verb is a stem-changer, then the very next vowel to the left will be the one that changes. As we all know that only o or e can be a stem changer, so if the first vowel from the right is either o or e then it is a stem changing verb else it is not.

E.g 1 - Entender - remover "er" then start from the right. The first vowel you come across is e. Thus it is a stem changing verb E.g 2 - Colgar - remover ar then start from the right. The first vowel you come across is o. Thus it is a stem changing verb E.g 3 - Decidir - remover "ir" then start from the right. The first vowel you come across is i. Thus it is not a stem changing verb E.g 4 - Buscar - remover "ar" then start from the right. The first vowel you come across is u. Thus it is not a stem changing verb

Hope this helps. But i really do no know how to tell whether it will be an e>i or e>ie. Guess that part has to be memorized.

Excellent! But don't forget "jugar" in which the "u" changes to "ue" That's the only one of that kind, however. - Daniela2041, May 28, 2016

As far as e>i verbs go, there's only a few of them. It's easy to remember that short list. - Daniela2041, May 28, 2016

Isn't colgar the same model as jugar? - Mardle, May 28, 2016

Answer 3

Yeah, I learned which ones need what letter changes and I know quite a few but I was just wondering if there was a way to tell. Thank you.