Stem-Changing Verbs: "O">"Ue"

Notes:

1. The written lesson is below.
2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

Remember, there are three types of infinitives: -ar, -er, -ir. Infinitives are made up of two parts: the ending and the stem. In the following examples, the stem is underlined and the ending is in bold.

hablar
comer
vivir

With regular verbs, the stem stays the same, and the ending changes as they are conjugated.

With some verbs, the stem also changes when you conjugate them. In the present tense, there are three groups of stem-changing verbs:

o:ue
e:ie
e:i

With the first group of stem-changing verbs, the letter o in the stem changes to ue in all forms except the nosotros and vosotros.

contar

cuento
cuentas
cuenta

contamos
contáis

cuentan

Here’s another o:ue stem changing verb. Compare it to the regular verb comer. Notice that the endings are the same for regular verbs and stem-changing verbs.

mover (o:ue)
comer (regular -er verb)

muevo
como

mueves
comes

mueve
come

movemos
comemos

movéis
coméis

mueven
comen

Here’s another o:ue stem-changing verb. Notice how the stem doesn’t change in the nosotros and vosotros forms.

dormir (o:ue)

duermo
duermes
duerme

dormimos
dormís

duermen

Here is a list of common o:ue stem-changing verbs.

almorzar
to eat lunch

morir
to die

aprobar
to approve

mostrar
to show

colgar
to hang

mover
to move (an object)

contar
to count, to tell

probar
to prove, test, sample, taste

costar
to cost

recordar
to remember

devolver
to return (an object)

resolver
to solve

volver
to return (from someplace)

rogar
to beg, pray

dormir
to sleep

sonar
to sound, ring

encontrar
to find

soñar (con)
to dream (about)

envolver
to wrap

tostar
to toast

morder
to bite

volar
to fly

Let’s add a flashcard for o:ue stem-changers:

Verb Flashcards
Complete List

o:ue stem-changers (dormir)

duermo
duermes
duerme
dormimos
dormís
duermen

(almorzar, contar, costar, volver, recordar, volar)