Verbs (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Spanish verbs
Verbs are the backbone of any language, and Spanish is no exception! They help us express actions, states of being, and emotions. This comprehensive guide will help you master essential Spanish verbs that you'll encounter frequently in your GCSE studies.
Understanding Spanish verbs
Spanish verbs follow specific patterns based on their infinitive endings (-ar, -er, -ir). Learning these common verbs will significantly improve your ability to communicate effectively in Spanish, whether you're describing daily activities, expressing feelings, or discussing future plans.
Understanding verb patterns is crucial for Spanish fluency. Once you recognise the pattern for one verb in a group, you can apply the same rules to hundreds of other verbs with the same ending.
Essential Spanish verb vocabulary
Here's a comprehensive table of important Spanish verbs you should know. These verbs form the foundation of everyday Spanish communication and are essential for GCSE success:
| Spanish Verb | English Translation | Spanish Verb | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| abrir | to open | encontrar | to find, to meet |
| aceptar | to accept | entender | to understand |
| acercarse | to come close, to approach | entrar | to enter |
| acordar | to agree on, to remember | escoger | to choose |
| afectar | to affect | escuchar | to listen (to) |
| aguantar | to put up with | esperar | to wait, to hope |
| ahorrar | to save (time, money) | estar | to be (state, location) |
| andar | to walk | evitar | to avoid |
| aumentar | to increase | explicar | to explain |
| ayudar | to help | guardar | to keep, to save |
| bajar | to go down, to download | gustar | to please, to like |
| caer | to fall | hablar | to speak, to talk |
| cambiar | to change | hacer | to do, to make |
| cambiarse | to get changed | importar | to matter, to be important |
| causar | to cause | intentar | to try |
| cerrar | to close | interesar | to interest |
| coger | to take, to catch | ir | to go |
| comenzar | to start | llegar | to arrive, to manage to |
| comparar | to compare | llevar | to take, to carry, to wear |
| compartir | to share | mantener | to keep |
| conocer | to know, to meet | mejorar | to improve |
| contestar | to answer | mirar | to look, to watch |
| continuar | to continue | molestar | to bother, to be offended |
| crear | to create | mostrar | to show |
| creer | to believe, to think | necesitar | to need |
| criticar | to criticise | odiar | to hate |
| dar | to give | oír | to hear |
| deber | to have to | olvidar | to forget |
| decidir | to decide | organizar | to organise |
| decir | to say, to tell | parar | to stop |
| dejar de | to stop (doing) | parecer | to seem, to look like |
| depender | to depend | pasar | to spend (time), to happen |
| describir | to describe | pedir | to ask for |
| descubrir | to discover | pensar | to think |
| despertar | to wake (someone) | permitir | to allow |
| despertarse | to wake up | poder | to be able to, to put on |
| disfrutar | to enjoy | poner | to get, to become |
| durar | to last | practicar | to practise |
| empezar | to begin, to start | preferir | to prefer |
| empujar | to push | preguntar | to ask |
| Spanish Verb | English Translation | Spanish Verb | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| preocupar | to worry | seguir | to follow |
| preocuparse por | to worry about | sentir | to feel, to sense |
| preparar | to prepare | sentirse | to smile |
| presentar | to introduce, to present | sonreír | to go up, to upload |
| producir | to produce | subir | to have, to take (time) |
| prohibir | to prohibit | tardar | to finish |
| quedar | to arrange to meet, to stay | tener | to throw, to pull |
| quedarse | to stay | terminar | to take, to have, to drink |
| querer | to want, to love | tirar | to bring |
| quitar | to remove, to take away | tomar | to use |
| quitarse | to take off (clothes) | traer | to see, to watch |
| recibir | to receive | usar | to dress, to get dressed |
| recomendar | to recommend | ver | to visit |
| recordar | to remember, to remind | vestir | to live |
| reducir | to reduce | vestirse | to return, to do again |
| repetir | to repeat | visitar | |
| resolver | to solve, to resolve | vivir | |
| responder | to reply | volver | |
| sabre | to know (how to) | ||
| sacar | to take out, to get, to obtain | ||
| salir | to go out, to leave |
Many of these verbs have multiple meanings depending on context. For example, "llevar" can mean "to take," "to carry," or "to wear." Pay attention to how they're used in different situations to understand their full range of meanings.
Example sentences in context
Understanding how to use these verbs in different tenses is crucial for effective communication. Here are practical examples showing these verbs in action across various tenses:
Present Tense Examples:
- Hablo español todos los días. (I speak Spanish every day.)
- Mi hermana estudia en la universidad. (My sister studies at university.)
- ¿Puedes ayudarme con este problema? (Can you help me with this problem?)
Preterite Tense Examples:
- Ayer comí en un restaurante italiano. (Yesterday I ate at an Italian restaurant.)
- Visitamos el museo el fin de semana pasado. (We visited the museum last weekend.)
- ¿Terminaste tus deberes? (Did you finish your homework?)
Future Tense Examples:
- Mañana viajaré a Madrid. (Tomorrow I will travel to Madrid.)
- Mis padres comprarán una casa nueva. (My parents will buy a new house.)
- ¿Vendrás a mi fiesta de cumpleaños? (Will you come to my birthday party?)
Grammar and pronunciation tips
Mastering Spanish verbs requires understanding both their conjugation patterns and proper pronunciation. Here are the essential rules you need to know:
Critical Conjugation Patterns:
- Regular -ar verbs follow the pattern: hablo, hablas, habla, hablamos, habláis, hablan
- Regular -er verbs follow the pattern: como, comes, come, comemos, coméis, comen
- Regular -ir verbs follow the pattern: vivo, vives, vive, vivimos, vivís, viven
Memorising these patterns is essential as they apply to hundreds of Spanish verbs!
Pronunciation Guidance:
- The letter 'r' in Spanish is rolled, especially the double 'rr'
- 'H' is always silent in Spanish
- Stress usually falls on the second-to-last syllable unless marked with an accent
Helpful Learning Patterns:
- Many Spanish verbs ending in -ar are similar to English verbs (practicar = practise)
- Reflexive verbs (like levantarse, vestirse) require reflexive pronouns
- Stem-changing verbs alter their root in certain conjugations (querer → quiero)
Translation practice
Test your understanding with these translation exercises. Practice is key to building confidence with Spanish verbs:
Translation Practice:
Spanish to English:
- Me gusta leer libros en español.
- ¿Puedes explicarme este ejercicio?
English to Spanish: 3. I need to finish my homework. 4. We want to visit Barcelona next summer.
Answers:
- I like reading books in Spanish.
- Can you explain this exercise to me?
- Necesito terminar mis deberes.
- Queremos visitar Barcelona el próximo verano.
Key Points to Remember:
- Spanish verbs are categorised by their infinitive endings: -ar, -er, and -ir verbs each follow distinct conjugation patterns
- Many common Spanish verbs are cognates with English words, making them easier to remember and recognise
- Reflexive verbs require special pronouns and often describe actions done to oneself (like getting dressed or waking up)
- Regular practice with verb conjugations in different tenses will improve your fluency and confidence in Spanish communication
- Context is key - the same verb can have different meanings depending on how it's used in a sentence