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Year 7 - Spanish

Activities in school: 'poder', 'puedes'

What we can and must do: -AR verbs 1st person plural, modals 'poder' 'deber'

Unit Summary

In this unit pupils are introduced to the first person plural of -ar verbs, which they contrast with the singular. Pupils learn singular forms of modal verbs 'deber' and 'poder', modal verbs in negative statements, 'querer' with an infinitive. Key sounds revisited are e, i, u, ca, co, cu.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to talk about activities in school using the verb 'poder'.

Key Notes

  • The SSC [a] is as in 'casa', [e] as in 'elfante', [i] in 'idea', [o] as in 'dos' and [u] as in 'universo'.
  • 'Poder' means 'to be able to'. 'Puedo' means 'I can', 'puedes' means 'you can' and 'puede' means 'she, he , it can.'
  • The verb 'poder' is followed by an infinitive.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • modal verb: verb of necessity or possibility used with a 2nd verb in the infinitive, e.g., must, can, want
  • poder: modal verb that means to be able to/can, with singular forms 'puedo' - 'I can', 'puedes' - you can, 'puede'- she, he, it can

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • A sentence such as 'puedo participo' is correct and it means 'I can participate'. Both verbs are in the 'I' form.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

The SSC [a] is as in 'casa', [e] as in 'elfante', [i] in 'idea', [o] as in 'dos' and [u] as in 'universo'. 'Poder' means 'to be able to'. 'Puedo' means 'I can', 'puedes' means 'you can' and 'puede' means 'she, he , it can.'.

2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'modal verb'

verb of necessity or possibility used with a 2nd verb in the infinitive, e.g., must, can, want. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.

3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.

Mistake: A sentence such as 'puedo participo' is correct and it means 'I can participate'. Both verbs are in the 'I' form. Correction: The sentence 'Puedo participo' is not correct because the verb 'poder' is always followed by an infinitive. To say 'I can participate' we must say 'Puedo participar.'.

More Lessons In This Unit

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