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Vocab test
- Volver – To return
- Almorzar – To have lunch
- Ayudar – To help
- Viajar – To travel
- Volver – To return
- Comenzar – To start
- Comenzamos el trabajo – We start work
- Quiero ir – I want to go
- Siempre – Always
- Nunca – Never
Verb of the day
Conjugate the verb VOLVER (To return) in the present tense.
| Yo | Nosotros |
| Tú | Vosotros |
| Él/ Ella/ Usted | Ellos/ Ellas/ Ustedes |
Questions to answer
¿Cuándo vuelves a España?
¿Puede usted hablar ahora?
¿Por qué no volvemos al parque mañana?
¿Por qué cierras la ventana?
¿Cuándo empiezas el nuevo trabajo?
¿Me entiende usted?
¿A qué hora almorzamos?
¿Siempre pierdes tus llaves?
A simple dialogue
Use the Spanish phrases to translate the English dialogue. Write it out and perform it.
- Do you want to go back to Spain with me next week?
- Yes, I would like to, but I can’t. I am starting a new job on Monday.
- That is good. What do you have to do?
- I am a food journalist.
- I don’t understand.
- I have to go to restaurants and hotels, and try their food. Then I write about it.
- You are so lucky! That is a dream job! What are you doing today?
- Nothing. Do you want to have lunch on the beach with me?
- Good idea. The weather is perfect!
Use these phrases to translate the dialogue.
¡Qué bien! ¿Qué tienes que hacer?
¡Qué suerte tienes! ¡Ese es el trabajo de mis sueños! ¿Qué vas a hacer hoy?
¿Quieres volver a España conmigo la semana que viene?
Buena idea. ¡El clima es perfecto!
Nada. ¿Quieres almorzar en la playa conmigo?
No entiendo.
Sí, me gustaría, pero no puedo. El lunes empiezo un nuevo trabajo.
Soy periodista gastronómico.
Tengo que ir a restaurantes y hoteles y probar su comida. Luego escribo sobre ello.
Choose from a range of voices to read your dialogue here.
Grammar notes
* Read this information, then use it to quiz a friend.
STEM CHANGING VERBS
In Spanish, some verbs change their stem when conjugated in the present tense. These stem changes occur in all forms except the nosotros and vosotros forms. The stem-changing verbs can be grouped into three main types, based on how their stem changes.
| e → ie | o → ue | e → i |
1. e → ie Example: Pensar (to think)
Stem: “pens-” but the e in the stem changes to ie in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
| Yo pienso | Nosotros pensamos |
| Tú piensas | Vosotros pensáis |
| Él, ella, usted piensa | Ellos, ellas, ustedes piensan |
Other examples
Cerrar (to close): cierro, cierras, cierra, cerramos, cerráis, cierran
Preferir (to prefer): prefiero, prefieres, prefiere, preferimos, preferís, prefieren
2. o → ue Example: Dormir (to sleep)
| Yo duermo | Nosotros dormimos |
| Tú duermes | Vosotros dormís |
| Él, ella, usted duerme | Ellos, ellas, ustedes duermen |
Other examples
Poder (to be able to): puedo, puedes, puede, podemos, podéis, pueden
Volver (to return): vuelvo, vuelves, vuelve, volvemos, volvéis, vuelven
3. e → i Example: Pedir (to ask for)
| Yo pido | Nosotros pedimos |
| Tú pides | Vosotros pedís |
| Él, ella, usted pide | Ellos, ellas, ustedes piden |
Other examples
Repetir (to repeat): repito, repites, repite, repetimos, repetís, repiten
Decir (to say): digo, dices, dice, decimos, decís, dicen
Journal prompts
Write short sentences. Keep them as simple as you can.
Use a translation tool to put them into Spanish.
Write them out, then check them with your teacher. Present them to a friend, teaching your friend any new Spanish, and making sure they learn it!
| What is a place you regularly return to, and why do you keep going back? What are you starting this week, this month or this year? How do you feel about this new activity? What is something you often lose? What can you do to stop this from happening? | ¿A qué lugar vuelves regularmente y por qué sigues volviendo? ¿Qué vas a empezar esta semana, este mes o este año? ¿Cómo te sientes con esta nueva actividad? ¿Qué es algo que pierdes a menudo? ¿Qué puedes hacer para evitar que esto suceda? |
Next lesson: 3.2 Talk about the weather, use stem changing verbs
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