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Year 5 - Spanish

How are they? 'Son' and 'están'

Me and others: plural 'estar' (for states) and 'ser' (for traits)

Unit Summary

This unit requires pupils to use 'estar' and 'ser' effectively to communicate about how others are today and what they are like in general. When using the new plural forms 'están' and 'son' in the context of the festival 'El Día de los Muertos', pupils also use plural forms of familiar adjectives.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe people using 'son' and 'estan'.

Key Notes

  • The vowel [i] is a weak vowel and it merges with [a], [e] and [o] to make a single syllable.
  • There are two verbs 'to be, being' in Spanish: 'ser' and 'estar'.
  • From the verb 'estar', 'están' is 'they are' for location and temporary states.
  • From the verb 'ser', 'son' is 'they are' for general traits.
  • To describe more than one noun, plural masculine adjectives end in -os, feminine in -as; adjectives ending in -e add -s.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • weak vowel: the vowels [i] and [u] which merge with [a], [e] and [o] to make a single syllable
  • están: 'they are' for location and temporary state, part of the verb 'estar'
  • son: 'they are' for general traits, part of the verb 'ser'
  • adjective: a word that gives information about a noun

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • There is only one way to say 'they are' in Spanish.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.

The vowel [i] is a weak vowel and it merges with [a], [e] and [o] to make a single syllable. There are two verbs 'to be, being' in Spanish: 'ser' and 'estar'.

2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'weak vowel'

the vowels [i] and [u] which merge with [a], [e] and [o] to make a single syllable. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.

3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.

Mistake: There is only one way to say 'they are' in Spanish. Correction: There are two verbs meaning to be, being. To say 'they are' for location and temporary state, we use 'estan' from the verb 'estar'. To say 'we are' for general traits, we use 'son' from the verb 'ser'.

More Lessons In This Unit

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