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Learn to Speak Spanish Online:
Spanish Grammar Guidebook

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Subjunctive: Stem Changing Verbs

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In the present subjunctive, the -ar and -er stem-changing verbs have the same pattern of stem changes as in the present indicative, only the endings are different.
 

PENSAR VOLVER
(ie) (ue)
piense vuelva
pienses vuelvas
piense vuelva
pensemos volvamos
penséis volváis
piensen vuelvan
 
DORMIR PREFERIR
(ue, u) (ie,i)
duerma prefiera
duermas prefieras
duerma prefiera
durmamos prefiramos
durmáis prefiráis
duerman prefieran

-Ir stem-changing verbs have a slightly different pattern in the subjunctive than in the present indicative. Recall that these are the same verbs that have a different stem change in the preterite, in the third person form. The same stem change seen in the preterite is seen in the subjunctive in the nosotros/as and vosotros/as forms.

Verbs ending in -car, -gar, and -zar have a spelling change in all forms of the present subjunctive, with c > qu, g > gu, and z > c:
 

BUSCAR PAGAR EMPEZAR
busque pague empiece
busques pagues empieces
busque pague empiece
busquemos paguemos empecemos
busquéis paguéis empecéis
busquen paguen empiecen