Need help with spanish. whats the verb stem mean?

Question

What does the term "verb stem" mean?

Answer 1

for example hablar, the stem of this verb is habl

conjugation:            

hablar-(minus)ar+(plus)o

hablar-ar+as

hablar-ar+a

hablar-ar+amos

hablar-ar+ais

hablar-ar+an

as you can see, when you conjugate the ar is eliminated and o/as/a/amos/ais/an are added

P.S

this is when verb is ending with ar, but other verbs (ending with er, ir) are VERY similar to this.

Answer 2

Look at the infinitive of a verb (hablar, comer, vivir) and drop the last two letters.  The remainder is the stem.

The stem of hablar is habl, of comer is com and of vivir is viv.

Some verbs have their stem changed when conjugated and they are called stem-changing verbs.  For example, verb "dormir" (to sleep)=duermo, duermes, duerme.....  Dorm becomes duerm.