Year 4 - Spanish
Age: 'tener' meaning 'be'
Describe things and people: singular adjective agreement, to be being
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils use reference resources to write picture descriptions inspired by authentic poems, and story adaptations. They learn determiners 'mi' and 'tu', pronouns 'él' and 'ella' and 'tener' with meaning be in the contexts of age, states, friends, favourite things and Christmas.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to say how old you am and ask someone their age using 'tener'.
Key Notes
- The sounds [n] and [ñ] are pronounced differently.
- Numbers 1-12 go before the noun to indicate how many. Numbers don't change spelling for gender.
- The verb 'tener' means 'to have, having' and with certain nouns, it also means 'to be, being'.
- We combine 'tener + number + años' to talk about age.
- To ask someone's age, say '¿Cuántos años tienes?'.
Vocabulary To Learn
- tengo: means 'I have' and is part of the verb 'tener'; in certain expressions 'tengo' also means 'I am'
- tienes: means 'you have' and is part of the verb 'tener'; in certain expressions 'tienes' also means 'you are'
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The verb 'tener' has one meaning, 'to have, having'.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.
The sounds [n] and [ñ] are pronounced differently. Numbers 1-12 go before the noun to indicate how many. Numbers don't change spelling for gender.
2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'tengo'
means 'I have' and is part of the verb 'tener'; in certain expressions 'tengo' also means 'I am'. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.
3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.
Mistake: The verb 'tener' has one meaning, 'to have, having'. Correction: The verb 'tener' means 'to have, having' and with certain nouns, it also means 'to be, being'.
More Lessons In This Unit
- At the zoo: adjective agreement Study Guide
- At the zoo: writing using a word list for reference Study Guide
- Belongings: determiners 'mi' and 'tu' Study Guide
- Christmas celebrations in Peru Study Guide
- Friends: subject pronouns 'él' and 'ella' for clarity and emphasis Study Guide
- How are you? What are you like? 'Estar' and 'ser' Study Guide
- I'm hungry: 'tener' meaning 'be' Study Guide
- My favourite things Study Guide
- Poems with pictures: arriba, abajo, en medio Study Guide
- Reference resources: understand symbols for nouns Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 4 Spanish guide library.