10.1 Not Quite Stem-Change Verbs
There's another group that, while not stem-changers in the same way as we saw before, follow a similar pattern to the stem-changing groups. This is the UIR → Y subgroup, with verbs like incluir (to include).
-UIR is typically pronounced like weird without the -d. The exception is when -UIR comes after the letter G, like seguir (to follow). In that case, it's pronounced 'eer.'
Below is a list of some UIR → Y verbs:
UIR → Y
| incluir (to include) | excluir (to exclude) |
| instruir (to instruct) | construir (to construct) |
| destruir (to destroy) | contribuir (to contribute) |
| distribuir (to distribute) | influir (to influence) |
| intuir (to intuit) | huir (to flee) |
| sustituir (to substitute) | disminuir (to decrease) |
One group to watch out for: verbs that end in -GUIR, like seguir (to follow), conseguir (to get, obtain), and perseguir (to pursue). They look like they belong in this group, but they don't.
In incluyo, the Y bridges the U and the O. In seguir, the U is silent. There is nothing to bridge, so no Y appears.
Instead, these are E → I stem-changers, just like pedir from the last lesson.
Practice Time!
Master these verb conjugations from Lesson 10