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      Aprender un idioma: stem-change verbs like 'encontrar', 'pensar', 'poder'

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can use stem-changing verbs to describe effective ways to learn a language.

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. It is important to revisit previously learnt words regularly to store them in your long-term memory.
      2. Stem-changing verbs have a change in the stem for some grammatical persons.
      3. Some verbs with 'e' in the stem (e.g. pensar) change to 'ie' for persons 1, 2, 3 and 6 in the simple present.
      4. Some verbs with 'o' in the stem (e.g. encontrar, poder) change to 'ue' for persons 1, 2, 3 and 6 in the simple present.

      Keywords

      • Stem - part of the verb that is present in all forms

      • Stem-changing verb - verb that has a spelling change in the stem for some grammatical persons

      Common misconception

      Stem-changing verbs like 'encontrar' and 'pensar' have a stem change in all conjugations of the simple present.

      Stem-changing verbs 'encontrar' and 'pensar' have a stem change in persons 1, 2, 3 and 6 of the simple present. The stem reverts back to the original for persons 4 and 5.

      Teacher tip

      The second Learning Cycle contains Higher Tier vocabulary and grammar.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which word means 'no-one' or 'none'?

      alguno(s)
      menos
      Correct answer: ninguno(s)
      todo(s)
      último

      Q2.
      Match the Spanish and English.

      Correct Answer:cuenta (f),account
      Correct Answer:distancia (f),distance
      Correct Answer:imagen (f),image
      Correct Answer:nivel (m),level
      Correct Answer:palabra (f),word
      Correct Answer:cerebro (m),brain

      Q3.
      Match the Spanish and English.

      Correct Answer:aprender,to learn, learning
      Correct Answer:encontrar,to find, finding
      Correct Answer:pensar,to think, thinking
      Correct Answer:poder,to be able to, can
      Correct Answer:decir,to say, saying
      Correct Answer:practicar,to practise, practising

      Q4.
      Order the words to say: 'obviously you have to practise every day'.

      1 - evidentemente
      2 - hay
      3 - que
      4 - practicar
      5 - todos
      6 - los
      7 - días

      Q5.
      Write in English: 'aprendo palabras nuevas'.

      Correct Answer: I learn new words., I am learning new words.

      Q6.
      Write in Spanish: 'outside the city'.

      Correct Answer: fuera de la ciudad

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Stem-changing verbs like 'encontrar' and 'pensar' do not have a stem change in the forms of the simple present.

      first person singular (I)
      second person singular (you)
      third person singular (she, he, it)
      Correct answer: first person plural (we)
      Correct answer: second person plural (you all)

      Q2.
      Which verb is not a stem-changing verb in the simple present?

      empezar
      practicar
      Correct answer: probar
      recomendar
      volver

      Q3.
      'La escuela a las nueve'. Write the correct form of 'comenzar'.

      Correct Answer: comienza

      Q4.
      Order the words to say: 'you can swim and you all can dance'.

      1 -
      2 - puedes
      3 - nadar
      4 - y
      5 - vosotros
      6 - podéis
      7 - bailar

      Q5.
      Write in Spanish: 'we think that it is interesting'.

      Correct Answer: Pensamos que es interesante.

      Q6.
      Write in Spanish: 'they resolve the problem'.

      Correct Answer: Resuelven el problema., Ellos resuelven el problema., Ellas resuelven el problema.

      To help you plan your 10 Spanish lesson on: Aprender un idioma: stem-change verbs like 'encontrar', 'pensar', 'poder', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...