E-I Stem Change verbs: E-I Stem change verbs Concept: The stem is the part of the verb that remains once you drop the AR, ER or IR, for example HABL BEB and VIV. You've already learned that you drop the ending and add the appropriate personal endings directly on to the stem. Stem change verbs are not irregular. They are STEM-CHANGE, which means that 1) you still drop the AR ER or IR, 2) you still add the same endings as before, and 3) this time, there's an adaptation in the stem. There are three types of traditional stem change verbs in Spanish: 0-UE; E-IE and E-I. When you search these verbs in a dictionary, frequently you will see (ue), (ie) or (I) signaling to you that this is a stem change verb. Pedir: Here is how a typical E-I stem change verb works: First, drop the IR and you are left with PED. Second, change the E to a I in four of the six persons. DO NOT change it in nosotros or vosotros. You will be left with this: Pid Pid Pid PED PED pid Finally, since this is an IR verb, add the regular IR present tense endings and you should have: Pido Pides Pide Pedimos Pedís piden In the exercise that follows, match the correct infinitive and subject with the conjugated verb.