What is the stem of a verb?

The stem of a verb is the part of the verb that generally remains consistent. Other letters can be added to the stem to show the number or person of the noun or to show when in time the verb happened.

For example, in the verb look, 'look' is the stem. The stem is the present form, meaning that the stem expresses the verb as happening in the present.

"I look out the window."

If we want to show a different number or person, we add 's' to or remove 's' from the stem of the verb.

"You look out the window."

"Ellen looks out the window."

"Ellen and her friends look out the window."

If we want to show the verb happening at different points in time we add such endings as 'ed' and 'ing'.

"Samuel looked out the window yesterday, but Josh is looking out the window right now."

We can also put verbs such as "will", "was", and "have" before the verb stem to indicate various points in time.

"She will look out the window later."

"Miguel was looking out the window earlier."

"We have looked out the window already."

But beware, for in some verbs the stem changes to indicate various points in time. For example, in the verb 'run'. Notice how the vowel 'u' in run often changes to an 'a'.

"I run today."

"Samuel ran yesterday, but Josh is running now.

"She will run later."

The stem of the verb 'see' is even more inconsistent.

"I see her."

"Samuel saw her yesterday, but Josh is seeing her now."

"We have seen her."

Aside from verbs such as 'run' and 'see', the stem of the verb is consistent. It is what we add to when we want to indicate different number, person, and points in time.