The school day (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
The school day
Key vocabulary for talking about your school day
Learning to discuss your daily school routine is essential for GCSE Spanish. This topic covers how you get to school, what you do during the day, and the key vocabulary you need to describe your educational experience.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Voy al instituto/colegio | I go to school |
| a pie | on foot |
| en bici(cleta) | by bike |
| en coche | by car |
| en autobús | by bus |
| el/la alumno/a | pupil |
| la clase | class, classroom, lesson |
| el/la compañero/a | classmate |
| el club | club |
| los deberes | homework |
| el/la estudiante | student |
| el recreo | break |
| el horario | timetable |
| la hora de comer | lunch/dinner time |
| el patio | yard, playground |
| durar | to last |
| empezar | to start/begin |
| estudiar | to study |
| volver a casa | to go back home |
These transport and school vocabulary terms are frequently tested in GCSE Spanish exams. Pay special attention to the gender of nouns (el/la) as this affects which articles and adjectives you'll use with them.
Grammar focus: Shortening adjectives
In Spanish, certain adjectives change their form when they come before a masculine singular noun. This is an important grammar rule that can help make your Spanish sound more natural and fluent.
Which adjectives shorten?
Several common adjectives drop their final -o when placed before a masculine singular noun:
Critical Rule: When these adjectives come BEFORE a masculine singular noun, they lose their final -o:
- primero → primer (first)
- tercero → tercer (third)
- bueno → buen (good)
- malo → mal (bad)
Worked Example: Adjective Shortening
Original form: primero Shortened form: primer Usage: el primer día (the first day)
Original form: bueno Shortened form: buen Usage: un buen estudiante (a good student)
Special cases with accents
Two adjectives require accent marks when they shorten:
Remember the Accents! These two adjectives must have accent marks when shortened:
- alguno → algún (some)
- ninguno → ningún (no/none)
Common mistake: Forgetting the accent mark completely changes the meaning and pronunciation.
Worked Example: Accented Shortened Adjectives
With accent: algún día (some day) ✓ Without accent: algun día ✗ (incorrect)
With accent: ningún recreo (no break) ✓ Without accent: ningun recreo ✗ (incorrect)
The adjective "grande"
The adjective grande (big/great) becomes gran before both masculine and feminine singular nouns:
Special Case: Unlike other adjectives, grande → gran works for both masculine AND feminine singular nouns:
- un gran colegio (a great school - masculine)
- una gran profesora (a great teacher - feminine)
Useful expressions about school routines
Here are some practical phrases you can use when describing your school day. These expressions are commonly used in speaking and writing tasks:
¿Cómo es un día típico en tu instituto? (What's a typical day like at your school?)
Tenemos nuestra primera clase a las ocho y cuarto (We have our first class at quarter past eight)
Las clases duran cuarenta y cinco minutos (The lessons last forty-five minutes)
Durante el primer recreo, tomo un bocadillo (During first break, I have a sandwich)
Ayer volví a casa a las tres y media (Yesterday I went back home at half past three)
Notice how these expressions use specific time references and first-person perspectives. This type of language is exactly what examiners look for in GCSE speaking and writing assessments.
Grammar tip: Articles with school vocabulary
Remember that in Spanish, you typically use the definite article (el/la) with school-related nouns, even when we might not use "the" in English.
Essential Rule: Spanish uses definite articles with school vocabulary even when English doesn't:
- el colegio = "school" (not "the school")
- el recreo = "break" (not "the break")
This is a common source of errors for English speakers learning Spanish.
Practice translation exercises
Test your understanding with these translation exercises that focus on the key vocabulary and grammar patterns covered:
Translation Practice
Spanish to English:
- Voy al colegio en bici
- Tenemos nuestra primera clase a las ocho y cuarto
English to Spanish: 3. The lessons last forty-five minutes 4. During break, I eat a sandwich
Answers:
- I go to school by bike
- We have our first class at quarter past eight
- Las clases duran cuarenta y cinco minutos
- Durante el recreo como un bocadillo
Key Points to Remember:
- Certain adjectives lose their final -o when placed before masculine singular nouns (primero → primer, bueno → buen)
- algún and ningún need accent marks when shortened
- grande becomes gran before any singular noun, regardless of gender
- Use definite articles with school vocabulary even when English doesn't require "the"
- Practice describing your daily routine using time expressions and school-related vocabulary