Year 9 - Spanish
Where people go and went: simple present and preterite
School is out! 'Ir' and 'ir' + a + infinitive
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit focuses on 'ir'. Pupils learn the present tense second person plural form 'vais'. They revisit preterite singular forms of 'ir' and contrast these with present tense singular forms. Pupils also revisit plural forms of 'ir a' with an infinitive to express future meaning.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to use present and past tense verbs to talk about where people go and went.
Key Notes
- Many English adverbs ending in -ly become -mente in Spanish, e.g. 'especial' - 'especialmente'.
- If an adjective has -o/-a forms, use the -a form + -mente to make the adverb, e.g. 'lento' - 'lenta' - 'lentamente'.
- Words ending in -n or -s generally stress the penultimate syllable and do not need an accent, e.g. 'examen'.
- Adding the plural ending -es shifts stress to the antepenultimate syllable, so an accent is needed, e.g. 'exámenes'.
- 'Voy', 'vas', 'va' are the simple present forms of the verb 'ir', and 'fui', 'fuiste', 'fue' are the preterite forms.
Vocabulary To Learn
- penultimate syllable stress: pronouncing the second-last syllable more heavily than other syllables in a word
- antepenultimate stress: pronouncing the third-last syllable more heavily than other syllables in a word
- simple present: describes habitual events in the present, e.g. 'I do'
- preterite: a tense used for events completed in the past, e.g. 'I did'
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- All Spanish adverbs are made by simply adding -mente to any adjective form.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.
Many English adverbs ending in -ly become -mente in Spanish, e.g. 'especial' - 'especialmente'. If an adjective has -o/-a forms, use the -a form + -mente to make the adverb, e.g. 'lento' - 'lenta' - 'lentamente'.
2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'penultimate syllable stress'
pronouncing the second-last syllable more heavily than other syllables in a word. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.
3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.
Mistake: All Spanish adverbs are made by simply adding -mente to any adjective form. Correction: When an adjective has masculine -o and feminine -a forms, you must use the -a form before adding -mente, e.g. 'rápido' - 'rápida' - 'rápidamente'.
More Lessons In This Unit
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