My Spanish Class

Question

One of the Spanish class lessons we are doing is conjugations. On the list the instructor has Almorzar o >ue. Also Dormir o >ue. Is this another reflective verb indicating to yourself?

Answer 1

No, there are special verbs that have a change in their stem. They are usually called "stem-changing verbs" or "boot verbs".

You probably already know that you change the end of Spanish verbs to say who is doing the action.

hablar ---> hablo (I) / hablas (you) / hablamos (we)

There are some verbs that also have a change in the vowel of their stems (the "stem" being the part of the word that usually does NOT change when conjugating).

There is no way to predict a stem-changing verb: you just have to memorize that verbs have a change in their stem.

In addition, the nosotros/vosotros forms do NOT have the stem-change, which is why some people call them "boot verbs" because on a verb chart, the stem-changing shape looks like a boot: (That misses the vosotros form, though.)

In your case, you have some O to UE changing verbs, which means that the O from the stem (dOrmir / almOrzar) changes to UE when you conjugate

There are verbs that change from E to IE, from O to UE, and from E to I.

You can read more about stem changing verbs by searching "Stem changing Spanish verbs" on a search engine. Many people have written websites regarding the topic.

Here's one you could start with.

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Answer 2

It makes it a shoe verb. watch-

with juego-

The ones that don't change the stem are out of the "shoe."

Nice drawing! - yogamamaof2, Feb 10, 2010

That's funny. You call it a "shoe" verb and your drawing looks like a boot. Luciente calls it a "boot verb" and his looks more like a shoe. - samdie, Feb 10, 2010

Answer 3

So I would say Yo almorzue. ??

No, you wouldn't/shouldn't. "Almorzé". - samdie, Feb 10, 2010

Answer 4

Yo almuerzo

Tu almuerzas

Ella Almuerza

Nosostros Almorzamos

vosostros Almorzaís

Almuerzan

You change the o in the base form almorzar to the ue and only do it with the verbs that are ¨in the boot¨ (not nosotros and vosotros).

Answer 5

Also known as "stem changing" verbs. There´s quite a few of them and I find it easier to make a list of the infinitives and learn them off by heart so you know how to conjugate them when you come across them.

I think you are probably dealing with the present tense at the moment so beware - the same ruling does´nt always apply in the different tenses.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Duhh I get it, it's not the ending it's the main word body. Almorzar -- Yo almuerzo. I need another cup of café to get my brain engaged. Thanks

Answer 7

When you are conjugating, you change the letter O to a UE.

Such as duermo or almuerzo.