Stem-Changing Verbs (E→IE, O→UE)

Stem-changing verbs, also called "boot verbs" (verbos con cambio de raiz), are among the most commonly used verbs in Spanish. They follow the regular -AR, -ER, or -IR endings, but the vowel in the stem changes in certain forms. Understanding these patterns is essential for natural-sounding Spanish.

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Why "Boot Verbs"?

The stem change occurs in all forms except nosotros and vosotros. If you draw a line around the forms that change, the shape looks like a boot:

    yo (change)          nosotros (NO change)
    tu (change)          vosotros (NO change)
    el/ella (change)     ellos/ellas (change)

The forms inside the "boot" have the stem change. The forms outside the boot (nosotros and vosotros) keep the original stem.

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Type 1: E → IE

In these verbs, the e in the stem changes to ie in the boot forms.

querer (to want / to love)