Conjugate Spanish stem-changing -er verbs: (o > ue) in the present subjunctive (El Presente de Subjuntivo)

Written by qualified Spanish expert Inma Sánchez BA
Last updated: 2024-09-04
10 questions

Spanish -er verbs that undergo a stem change o>ue in El Presente have the same stem change in El Presente de Subjuntivo in Spanish.

Learn how to conjugate stem-changing -er verbs: o>ue in El Presente de Subjuntivo in Spanish

Volver (to return) and mover (to move) are two common verbs that undergo this change: o > ue in El Presente de Subjuntivo in Spanish

Volver and mover in El Presente de Subjuntivo in Spanish

 

VOLVER

to return

 MOVER
to move
 yo vuelva mueva
 tú vuelvas muevas

él / ella
usted

 vuelva mueva
nosotros 
nosotras		 volvamos movamos
vosotros 
vosotras

volváis

 mováis
ellos / ellas
ustedes		 vuelvan muevan

 

Notice how the -o- from the infinitive has changed to a -ue- in all forms except for nosotros and vosotros.

The endings are the same as other regular -er verbs in El Presente de Subjuntivo in Spanish.

Other verbs affected by this change are:

  • Poder (to be able to [modal verb])
  • Devolver (to return [something])
  • Remover (to stir)
  • Promover (to promote)
  • Disolver (to dissolve)
  • Envolver (to wrap)
  • Demoler (to demolish)
  • Cocer (to boil)

Dudo que vuelva antes de las 5.I doubt I'll be back before 5.

No vuelvas con él; es un mentiroso.Don't go back with him; he's a liar.

No creo que ella vuelva a ese bar tan cutre.I don't think she'll go back to that shabby bar.

Movamos estas cajas a ese lado.Let's move these boxes to that side.

Cuando mováis los muebles tened cuidado.When you move the furniture be careful. (you=vosotros)

Por favor, no muevan ustedes esos papeles de sitio.Please, do not move those papers around. (directed at you = ustedes)

¿Quieres que yo cueza la pasta?Do you want me to boil the pasta?

Está bien que promuevan sus descuentos con folletos.It's good that they promote their discounts with brochures.

Es una pena que demoláis el edificio.It's a pity that you are demolishing the building. (you = vosotros)

Be extra careful as some verbs that undergo the o>ue stem change also have a consonant change to keep the sound of their infinitive. For example: "cocer" (to boil)

cocer → yo cueza

See the A2 Spanish verb list: Stem-changing verbs - present tense (o > ue). 

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Examples and resources

No creo que ella vuelva a ese bar tan cutre.I don't think she'll go back to that shabby bar.
Movamos estas cajas a ese lado.Let's move these boxes to that side.
¿Quieres que yo cueza la pasta?Do you want me to boil the pasta?
No vuelvas con él; es un mentiroso.Don't go back with him; he's a liar.
Dudo que vuelva antes de las 5.I doubt I'll be back before 5.
Está bien que promuevan sus descuentos con folletos.It's good that they promote their discounts with brochures.
Cuando mováis los muebles tened cuidado.When you move the furniture be careful. (you=vosotros)
Por favor, no muevan ustedes esos papeles de sitio.Please, do not move those papers around. (directed at you = ustedes)
Es una pena que demoláis el edificio.It's a pity that you are demolishing the building. (you = vosotros)
Clever stuff happening!