Understanding "-IE" Stem Changing Verbs in Spanish | The Language Tutor *Lesson 24*

Summary

In this lesson from 'The Language Tutor,' the host introduces stem-changing verbs in Spanish, explaining how the stem of a verb alters when conjugated. The lesson covers key rules, such as how two-syllable verbs change in the first syllable, while three-syllable verbs change in the middle. The tutor demonstrates examples like 'perder' (to lose) and 'preferir' (to prefer), focusing on 'IE' stem changers. Viewers are encouraged to practice by identifying stem-changing verbs and using them in conversations to master their conjugations naturally.

Takeaways

• 📚 Stem-changing verbs in Spanish may sound complex, but they are easy to master with practice.
• 🔄 Every Spanish verb has a stem, and when conjugated, some verbs change their stem.
• 🧐 The easiest way to identify a stem-changing verb is to learn and practice it in conversation.
• ✍️ Two-syllable verbs change the stem in the first syllable, while three-syllable verbs change in the middle syllable.
• 👢 Stem changes occur only in the 'boot' – the three conjugations on the left side of the chart and the bottom right conjugation.
• 🤓 The verb 'perder' (to lose) is an example of a two-syllable stem-changing verb, changing from 'e' to 'ie' in the boot.
• 🔠 Stem-changing verbs like 'perder' follow a pattern where 'e' in the first syllable changes to 'ie'.
• 📝 For three-syllable verbs like 'preferir' (to prefer), the stem change happens in the middle syllable, again following the 'e' to 'ie' rule.
• 🤔 Nosotros and vosotros forms do not undergo stem changes in stem-changing verbs.
• 💡 Practice and repetition are key to mastering stem-changing verbs, and using them in conversation helps make them feel natural.

Q & A

What are stem-changing verbs in Spanish?

Stem-changing verbs are verbs in Spanish whose stem changes when conjugated in certain forms, typically in the present tense.

How can you identify a stem-changing verb?

The easiest way to identify a stem-changing verb is to learn it as a stem-changer when you first encounter the verb. Additionally, if the stem contains an 'e' or 'o' in certain positions, it is often a stem-changing verb.

What is a verb stem in Spanish?

A verb stem is the base part of a verb, which remains after removing the verb endings like -ar, -er, or -ir. For example, in 'hablar,' the stem is 'habl-'.

Where does the stem change occur in a two-syllable verb?

In a two-syllable verb, the stem change occurs in the first syllable.

What happens to the stem in a three-syllable verb?

In a three-syllable verb, the stem change occurs in the middle syllable.

What does it mean when the tutor says stem-changing verbs change 'only in the boot'?

In the 'boot,' refers to the shape formed by the verb conjugation chart. Stem changes occur in the first, second, and third person singular forms and the third person plural form but not in the first and second person plural forms.

What is an 'ie' stem change?

An 'ie' stem change occurs when the letter 'e' in the stem changes to 'ie' in certain conjugations. For example, in the verb 'perder' (to lose), the stem changes from 'perd-' to 'pierd-' in forms like 'pierdo' (I lose).

Can you give an example of a two-syllable stem-changing verb?

Yes, the verb 'perder' (to lose) is a two-syllable stem-changing verb. The stem changes from 'perd-' to 'pierd-' in conjugations like 'pierdo' (I lose).

What is an example of a three-syllable stem-changing verb?

The verb 'preferir' (to prefer) is a three-syllable stem-changing verb. The stem changes in the middle syllable from 'prefer-' to 'prefier-' in forms like 'prefiero' (I prefer).

Why is it important to practice stem-changing verbs in conversation?

Practicing stem-changing verbs in conversation helps you become familiar with the changes and ensures they sound natural to you, making it easier to remember the correct conjugations without memorization.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding Stem-Changing Verbs in Spanish

The host introduces a lesson on stem-changing verbs in Spanish, explaining what they are and why they’re important. A verb’s stem is what remains after removing the endings like 'AR', 'ER', or 'IR'. Stem-changing verbs alter this stem during conjugation, often in predictable patterns. He emphasizes the importance of practice, suggesting that using these verbs frequently in conversation helps them feel natural. The easiest way to learn these verbs is by memorizing their changes and reinforcing them through usage.

05:01

🔍 Rules for Identifying and Conjugating Stem-Changing Verbs

The host details rules for stem-changing verbs: if a verb has two syllables, the change occurs in the first syllable; if three syllables, the change occurs in the middle syllable. Stem changes happen only within the 'boot' formation of conjugation charts—three forms on the left and the bottom right. Examples like 'perder' (to lose) and 'preferir' (to prefer) are used to illustrate these rules. He demonstrates how to conjugate these verbs, emphasizing that changes occur only within the boot, keeping other forms unchanged.

10:05

📝 Practice and Master Stem-Changing Verbs

The host encourages viewers to practice stem-changing verbs by looking up lists of 'IE' stem-changers. He advises learners to focus on using these verbs naturally in conversation, reinforcing their usage without memorization. The key is to learn the infinitive forms, understand where the changes occur, and repeatedly use them in speech. He ends the lesson with a call to action, urging viewers to engage in the learning process actively and seek out additional resources to deepen their understanding.

Keywords

💡Stem-changing verbs

Stem-changing verbs in Spanish undergo a change in the stem when conjugated in certain forms. This concept is central to the video, where the tutor explains how certain vowels in the verb's stem are modified, such as 'e' changing to 'ie'. For example, the verb 'perder' changes to 'pierdo' in the first-person singular form.

💡Stem

The stem is the part of the verb that remains after removing the infinitive ending (-ar, -er, -ir). It serves as the base for conjugation. The video emphasizes the importance of identifying the stem to understand when and where stem changes occur, as seen in 'perder', where 'perd' is the stem that changes.

💡Conjugation

Conjugation refers to changing the form of a verb to reflect various grammatical categories like tense, person, or number. In this video, conjugation is crucial for understanding how stem-changing verbs are modified in different forms, such as 'yo pierdo' and 'nosotros perdemos', where the stem change does not occur in all forms.

💡Two-syllable verbs

Two-syllable verbs are verbs with two syllables in their stem. In stem-changing verbs, if the verb has two syllables, the change occurs in the first syllable. The video uses the verb 'perder' as an example, where the 'e' in the first syllable changes to 'ie'.

💡Three-syllable verbs

Three-syllable verbs are verbs with three syllables, and in stem-changing verbs, the change happens in the middle syllable. The video provides 'preferir' as an example, where the 'e' in the middle syllable changes to 'ie', resulting in 'prefiero'.

💡Boot (conjugation chart)

The 'boot' refers to a pattern in conjugation charts where stem-changing occurs in all forms except 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'. This is visually represented as a boot shape in the conjugation chart. The video highlights this rule, showing how the stem changes for 'yo', 'tú', 'él/ella/usted', and 'ellos/ellas/ustedes', but not for 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'.

💡ER verbs

ER verbs are a category of Spanish verbs whose infinitive ends in '-er'. The video uses the ER verb 'perder' (to lose) to demonstrate how stem-changing verbs are conjugated, showing that the 'e' in the stem changes to 'ie' in certain forms, such as 'pierdo'.

💡IE stem changers

IE stem changers are verbs in which the vowel 'e' in the stem changes to 'ie' when conjugated in certain forms. The video focuses on this type of stem change, with examples like 'perder' (to lose) becoming 'pierdo' and 'preferir' (to prefer) becoming 'prefiero'.

💡Practice

Practice is emphasized in the video as essential for mastering stem-changing verbs. The tutor encourages learners to use verbs like 'perder' and 'preferir' in conversation to become more comfortable with the stem changes and make them sound natural in speech.

💡Infinitive

The infinitive is the base form of a verb before it is conjugated. It ends in -ar, -er, or -ir in Spanish. The video uses the infinitive forms 'perder' and 'preferir' to explain how the verbs are modified when conjugated, focusing on the changes that occur in the stem.

Highlights

Introduction to stem-changing verbs and explanation that they are not difficult to learn.

Stem-changing verbs occur in verbs with AR, ER, or IR endings once these endings are removed.

The 'stem' of a verb is the part left after removing the AR, ER, or IR ending.

Stem-changing verbs alter their stems when conjugated, but the changes are predictable and manageable.

Rule 1: In two-syllable verbs, the stem change happens in the first syllable.

Rule 2: In three-syllable verbs, the stem change occurs in the middle syllable.

Rule 3: Stem changes only occur within the 'boot' of the conjugation chart, affecting the forms inside the boot but not 'nosotros' or 'vosotros'.

Example of a two-syllable stem-changing verb: 'perder' (to lose), which changes in the first syllable from 'e' to 'ie'.

In the 'yo' form of 'perder', the stem changes to 'pierdo' following the 'ie' rule.

In 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms, there is no stem change (e.g., 'perdemos').

Example of a three-syllable stem-changing verb: 'preferir' (to prefer), which changes in the middle syllable from 'e' to 'ie'.

In the 'yo' form of 'preferir', the verb changes to 'prefiero' following the 'ie' rule.

'IR' and 'ER' verbs follow the same endings in the boot, making the rules easier to remember.

Emphasis on practicing the verbs in conversation for natural usage rather than strict memorization.

Encouragement to look up and practice additional 'ie' stem-changing verbs to reinforce the lesson.

Transcripts

[Music]

hola amigos welcome back friends today

on the language tutor I have a really

interesting lesson for you it's actually

gonna be a two part lesson for you I

want to talk to you about stem-changing

verbs now you might say oh what's a

stem-changing verb it might sound a

little intimidating but let me tell you

it's not a big deal we're gonna master

the ease and Cockrum with no problem

whatsoever so first of all let's just

talk about what is a stem-changing verb

well first of all every verb has a stem

you know you think about in Spanish

you've got ar verbs and ER verbs and IR

verbs

well if you take off that AR and the ER

in the IR well you're left with either

one syllable or two syllables well

that's a stem that has a stem in there

and so sometimes in Spanish verbs change

their stem when we conjugate them

sometimes and you know it's not a big

deal so we're gonna take those today

we're gonna take the first ones I'm

gonna show you how stem changing verbs

work and I know you're gonna take it on

and master it with no problem okay so

how do you know if a verb is a

stem-changing verb just by looking at it

well I've heard a lot of people say a

lot of things and the easiest way is

that when you learn a verb just learn

this is a stem changer and more

importantly practice that verb in

conversation as much as possible because

then you're just going to be using that

verb and it's going to sound right to

you it'll sound right and if you don't

change that stem you won't sound right

to you it's just like in English we

speak it and if someone says something

wrong or wrong conjugation well it

doesn't sound right so you're not gonna

have any problem with this now you will

see some people say yeah there's a way

to know if a verb is a stem-changing

verb I've seen people that say well if

you take off that ER or

I are or the AR and then you start on

the left and you go to the very next

vowel and some people say if that is an

O or an e well it's going to be a stem

changer now I'm not sure that we can say

that a hundred percent is effective but

the easiest way again is to simply learn

the word and learn that it's a stem

changer and we could also talk about the

the history and how the verbs came from

Latin from the Romans

but once again practice woman you're not

even have a problem with it okay

now I hope you have your equality I

don't already and your Lappe so uluma

because I'm gonna give you some rules

for stem changing verbs okay so once we

identified this is a stem-changing verb

first of all if the verb has two

syllables

well that stem change is gonna occur in

the first syllable and you'll see what

I'm talking about in just a minute so

that's rule number one for stem changing

verbs if it's a two syllable verb the

stem change will occur in the first

syllable now think about this it

couldn't be in that last syllable right

because that's where the AR the ER are

the IR is and that's where we're gonna

put that ending that we you know we

learned those before in a previous

lesson so two syllables we change the

first syllable if it's a three syllable

verb we're gonna change the middle

syllable okay so that's rule number two

three syllable Bert verbs change the

middle syllable all right now rule

number three just jot this down and I'm

gonna explain it to you men in just a

minute

stem changing verbs only change their

stem in the boot only in the boot now in

a previous lesson we talked about what

the boot is if you're looking at the

chart it's the three conjugations on the

left in the bottom right that's the boot

it almost forms the shape of a boot

right okay so there are three

stem-changing verb rules number one if

it's a two syllable we change the stem

in the first syllable number two if it's

a three syllable verb we change the stem

in the middle

syllable all right I think now we just

need to talk about what some

stem-changing verbs are and actually see

this in context okay so I want to give

you a couple of stem-changing verbs

really quick I'm gonna give you a two

syllable and I want to give you a three

syllable first of all here's the verb

better dad better dad it means to lose

okay you can also mean to miss the bus

if you say pedal dad left loose that's

one way to say you missed the bus you

lose at the bus okay so here's a three

syllable stem-changing verb but they

fede it but they fede it so we have

better dad and playfully it both of

these are stem changers and we're gonna

use those as our examples today all

right let's take away but if ad it

really quick and let's look at the verb

better dad all right now let's think

about what we got to do with this verb

first of all better there is an ER verb

so in just a little bit we're gonna put

ER verb endings on it but first of all

we have to change the stem okay so let's

put the chart up right here for you bear

dad now let's identify where we're

changing this down better dad two

syllables so that means we're gonna

change the syllable in the first

syllable right rule number one in the

first syllable okay so what this means

is we got to look for the vowel that is

there okay we got to look for that vowel

and we see that in the first syllable of

fat of data that vowel is an e so I want

to go ahead and tell you if that vowel

is ever an E like this one it is going

to be what we call an IE stem changer

okay an IE stem changer in the next

lesson we're gonna talk about UE stem

changers but right now let's just use ie

stem changers as our example

okay we've identified we've stem change

in the first syllable we've identified

the vowel there it's an e so we know

that's going to be an IE stem changer

alright now this is what we do we have

our chart up we are going to simply

change that stem in the boot so the

three left conjugation

and the bottom right now we call this

this is really simple guys we call this

an IE stem changer because we need an IE

there it's that simple we need an IE now

let's look at the first syllable of fare

today we've got p/e Rd now if we need it

ie there we've already got 2 e so we

just simply have to insert an eye in the

boot only we don't stem change nosotros

and vosotros they don't change their

stem so what we get now let's look at

the yo form first p i.e

our d and now we put the ending on it

for ER verbs yo form is o so we have yet

a dog yet a dog that means I lose now

let's go down to the next one

cool again change that stem because it's

in the boot and we're gonna put the

ending for ER verbs for two and that's

es so we get the end of this now look at

the bottom left just an e on this stem

change it and we put the e on it the

ending for LA and instead so we have PA

today I know it's at the bottom right we

have p IE rd e in yeah then ok because

they lose or will stay this the other

then you all lose now let's go to the

nosotros and vosotros form we don't stem

change there we don't stem change so

we're just gonna leave it p ER d so

better demos and better days

alright now let's erase this and let's

try the verb but they fit here it means

to prefer as I bet you can guess now so

three syllable verb so let's think about

the rule that tells us where that stem

change is gonna occur and you're already

getting in our bet three syllables we're

gonna change the middle right after that

F so we're gonna it's an IE stem changer

so we're gonna insert an eye right after

that if only in the boot right so let's

look at the yo form here we've got but a

almost like prefer in English if you

take off the IR now we're gonna put that

eye in there now let's put on IR verb

endings this time so now we have but a

Fiero a Fiero alright let's go down to

the next one

remember what we talked about before IR

and ER verbs are the same they have the

same endings in the boot okay so we're

gonna use the same endings in the boot

just where we still change so you prefer

dual but a fee eres prefieres

now the LA I will stead form el or AI

usted prefiere a now look at the bottom

right we stem change right after that F

because it's in the middle syllable

there and we have ustedes or else my ass

but if en en now let's go to the

nosotros and vosotros form don't stem

change outside of the boot right so

we're simply just gonna put IR endings

on this but a fatty Mo's and play Feliz

okay friends now you see how ie stem

changers work now this is what I want to

encourage you to do before the next

lesson try to google or look up if you

have a verb book in Spanish look up some

ie stem changing verbs maybe you can

research that and try to learn as many

as you can

now all you need to do is learn that

infinitive form right just learn the

verb itself to prefer to lose and then I

want to challenge you to start using

those in conversation making those stem

changes and I promise you the more you

say it over and over the more it's gonna

sound right to you and you'll have those

stem changers down without any

memorization okay that's it for this

lesson guys thanks for joining us and I

will see you on the next lesson of the

language tutor Prince thanks for

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[Music]