Preterite Stem-

Changing Verbs
Preterite of stem-changing verbs

In the Preterite -ir verbs like; dormir,pedir,

y preferir stem-change in the
él/ella/Ud.forms and the ellos/ellas/Uds
forms.
REMEMBER: There are NO stem-
changing –ar or –er verbs in the Preterite.
Preterite of stem-changing verbs

DORMIR – to sleep
(o to ue in the present tense)
(o to u in the preterite tense)

dormí dormimos
dormiste dormisteis
durmió durmieron
Preterite of stem-changing verbs

MORIR – to die
(o to ue in the present tense)
(o to u in the preterite tense)

Morí Morimos
Moriste Moristeis
Murió Murieron
Preterite of stem-changing verbs

PREFERIR – to prefer
(e to ie in the present tense)
(e to i in the preterite tense)

Preferí Preferimos
Preferiste Preferisteis
Prefirió Prefirieron
Preterite of stem-changing verbs

SENTIR – to feel
(e to ie in the present tense)
(e to i in the preterite tense)

Sentí Sentimos
Sentiste Sentisteis
Sintió Sintieron
Preterite of stem-changing verbs

DIVERTIRSE – to have fun

(e to ie in the present tense)
(e to i in the preterite tense)

Me divertí Nos Divertimos

Te divertiste Os Divertisteis
Se Divirtió Se Divirtieron
Preterite of stem-changing verbs
Verbs you are responsible for:

Preferir Repetir
Advertir Conseguir
Convertir Despedir
Convertirse en Despedirse
Divertirse Medir
Mentir Pedir
Sentir Seguir
Sentirse Servir
Vestir
Vestirse
Preterite of stem-changing verbs
Reír – to laugh
Reí Reímos
Reíste Reísteis
Rió Rieron

Sonreír – to smile
Sonreí Sonreímos
Sonreíste Sonreísteis
Sonrió Sonrieron
*In the third person singular and plural
line the E is dropped
Preterite of stem-changing verbs

LEER – to read
Leí Leímos
Leíste Leísteis
Leyó Leyeron

* In words with a vowel immediately before

the ending. The third person singular and
plural takes on a y.
Preterite of stem-changing verbs

CREER – to believe
Creí Creímos
Creíste Creísteis
Creyó Creyeron
Other verbs that change like Leer
y Creer
Caer
Oír
Poseer

Exceptions are: Traer, atraer, and all verbs

ending in –guir.
Preterite of stem-changing verbs

CONSTRUIR – to construct
Construí Construimos
Construiste Construisteis
Construyó Construyeron

• These are the same endings for other verbs

ending in –UIR.
Preterite of stem-changing verbs

Other verbs that change like

Constuir
Distribuir
Huir
Incluir
Contribuir
Preterite of stem-changing verbs

Words used with the Preterite

Ayer- yesterday el lunes por la noche - Monday night

ayer por la mañana-yesterday morning el mes pasado - last month

ayer por la tarde- yesterday afternoon el otro día - the other day

Anteayer- the day before yesterday en ese momento - at that moment

Anoche- last night Entonces – then

desde el primer momento - from the esta mañana - this morning

first moment
esta tarde - this afternoon
Después – afterwards
hace dos días, años - two days, years
durante dos siglos - for two centuries ago

el año pasado- last year la semana pasada - last week

Preterite of stem-changing verbs

Actividad
1. RELATIVE
2. ADJECTIVE
3. ADJECTIVE
4. NAME OF PERSON IN ROOM
5. TYPE OF FOOD
6. ADJECTIVE
7. ACTIVITY YOU LIKE
8. BODY PART
9. FAVORITE STORY
10. PLACE
11. DIFFERENT PLACE
12. VERB
13. VERB
14. LEAST FAVORITE FOOD
15. PERSON
16. RELATIVE
17. PERSON IN ROOM
 Mad Libs
Dear 1,
I am 2 here at Camp Pancho. The other day I met a
new friend who is very 3. Her/his name is 4. We ate 5 en
the cafeteria. The food was 6. Yesterday 4 walked but I
preferred to 7 for activity day. We had fun. Then, 4 fell
and broke his/her 8. Last night we went to fire and we
heard a story about 9. I was afraid (I had fear). I believed
it but 4 did not believe it. I slept in the 10 for two nights
and last night I slept in the 11. This morning 4 smiled at
me when I 12. I laughed and 13. We ate 14 for the last
time. I looked for 15 to give (don’t conjugate) them a hug
because it is our last (ultima) day.
See you soon!
Your 16,
17