Year 8 - Spanish
Exercise and fitness: present continuous with -ar verbs
What is happening now: present continuous, 'este' and 'esta'
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn how to form the present continuous of -ar, -er, and -ir verbs to talk about what is happening now. Demonstratives 'esta' and 'estas' and modal verb 'querer' are revisited. In phonics, pupils revisit ante-penultimate syllable stress.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to use the present continuous of -ar verbs in their singular forms to describe current or ongoing events.
Key Notes
- When a word has antepenultimate (third-last) syllable stress, it always has an accent on the vowel of that syllable.
- Words with penultimate syllable stress ending in any consonant other than -n or -s have an accent on that syllable.
- The singular forms of 'estar' in the present tense are 'estoy' ('I am'), 'estás' ('you are') and 'está' ('she, he is').
- We use the present continuous to express an ongoing event. It is formed by using 'estar' + the present participle.
- The present particple of -ar verbs is formed by removing the -ar from the infinitive and adding -ando.
Vocabulary To Learn
- estar: Spanish verb meaning 'to be', also the auxiliary verb for the present continuous
- present continous: describes events happening right now, e.g. 'I am doing'
- present participle: verb form that forms the present continuous, together with the auxiliary verb 'estar'
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- To form the present continuous I use the present tense of 'estar' followed by an infinitive, as with other two-verb structures I know, i.e. modal verbs.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.
When a word has antepenultimate (third-last) syllable stress, it always has an accent on the vowel of that syllable. Words with penultimate syllable stress ending in any consonant other than -n or -s have an accent on that syllable.
2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'estar'
Spanish verb meaning 'to be', also the auxiliary verb for the present continuous. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.
3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.
Mistake: To form the present continuous I use the present tense of 'estar' followed by an infinitive, as with other two-verb structures I know, i.e. modal verbs. Correction: To form the present continuous you use the present tense of 'estar' followed by the present participle. For -ar verbs this is formed by removing the -ar ending and adding -ando, e.g. 'estoy saltando' ('I am jumping').
More Lessons In This Unit
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