Verbs and adverbs (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Verbs and adverbs
Understanding verbs and adverbs is crucial for expressing actions and describing how those actions are performed in Spanish. This higher-level vocabulary will help you communicate more precisely and naturally.
Mastering verbs and adverbs is essential for advancing from basic to intermediate Spanish proficiency. These word types form the foundation of natural, fluent communication.
Spanish verbs
Verbs are action words that form the backbone of Spanish sentences. These verbs will help you express a wide range of actions, emotions, and states of being. Learning their meanings and how to conjugate them properly is essential for fluent Spanish communication.
Remember that Spanish verbs must be conjugated to match the subject (who) and tense (when). The infinitive forms shown in the tables below are the base forms that need to be changed according to grammar rules.
Common action verbs
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| abandonar | to abandon | alcanzar | to reach |
| acompañar | to accompany | alegrar | to make happy |
| acostumbrarse | to get used | añadir | to add |
| advertir | to warn | animar | to encourage, cheer up |
| agradecer | to be grateful for | aparecer | to appear |
Verbs of communication and thinking
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| apreciar | to appreciate | comentar | to comment |
| arreglar/arreglarse | to repair, tidy; to get ready | comprender | to understand |
| asegurar/asegurarse (de que) | to assure; to ensure (that) | conseguir | to get, obtain |
| atreverse | to dare | considerar | to consider |
| contar | to tell, count | consistir (en) | to consist (of) |
Verbs of movement and change
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| contribuir | to contribute | escapar/escaparse | to escape |
| controlar | to control | esconder | to hide |
| convertirse | to transform | existir | to exist |
| crecer | to grow, increase | formar | to form, set up |
| cubrir | to cover | identificar | to identify |
Complex action verbs
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| dedicar | to dedicate | equivocarse | to be wrong, make a mistake |
| desaparecer | to disappear | reunir/reunirse | to gather; to meet |
| desarrollar | to develop | significar | to mean |
| despedir/despedirse (de) | to sack, dismiss; to say goodbye (to) | soler | to normally (+ verb) |
| destacar | to emphasise, highlight | sorprender | to surprise |
Many of these verbs have both transitive (taking a direct object) and intransitive (not taking a direct object) uses. Pay attention to context when learning their meanings and applications.
Spanish adverbs
Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, providing additional information about how, when, where, or to what extent an action occurs.
Time and frequency adverbs
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| todavía | still, yet |
| pronto | soon, early, quick |
| apenas | hardly, barely |
| jamás | never |
| actualmente | now, at present, currently |
Place and manner adverbs
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| fuera | outside, out |
| incluso | even, including |
| dentro | inside, within |
| arriba | upstairs, above |
| abajo | down, below, downstairs |
Degree and completeness adverbs
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| completamente | completely |
| enseguida | straight away |
| despacio | slow |
| afortunadamente | fortunately |
| desafortunadamente | unfortunately |
Grammar and pronunciation tips
Verb conjugation reminder: Remember that Spanish verbs change their endings depending on who is performing the action and when it happens. The infinitive forms shown here (ending in -ar, -er, -ir) need to be conjugated appropriately.
Reflexive verbs: Notice that some verbs like "acostumbrarse" and "asegurarse" are reflexive, meaning the action reflects back on the subject. These require reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se).
Common mistake to avoid: Spanish adverbs typically come after the verb they modify, unlike English where they often come before. Placing adverbs incorrectly can make your Spanish sound unnatural.
Pronunciation tip: The stress in Spanish words generally falls on the second-to-last syllable unless there's an accent mark indicating otherwise.
Example sentences
Here are some practical examples showing these verbs and adverbs in context:
Present Tense Examples:
- Me acostumbro rápidamente a la comida española. (I get used to Spanish food quickly.)
- Todavía no comprendo esta lección. (I still don't understand this lesson.)
Past Tense Examples:
- Ayer conseguí los billetes para el concierto. (Yesterday I managed to get the tickets for the concert.)
- Se escaparon completamente del problema. (They completely escaped from the problem.)
Future Tense Examples:
- Mañana contribuiré al proyecto del colegio. (Tomorrow I will contribute to the school project.)
- Pronto aparecerá la solución. (The solution will appear soon.)
Translation exercise
Practice translating these sentences to reinforce your understanding of the verbs and adverbs in context. Focus on proper conjugation and word order.
Spanish to English:
- El estudiante se atrevió a preguntar al profesor.
- Afortunadamente, logramos alcanzar nuestros objetivos.
English to Spanish:
- We still need to develop our speaking skills.
- Unfortunately, the train disappeared from sight completely.
Answers:
- The student dared to ask the teacher.
- Fortunately, we managed to reach our objectives.
- Todavía necesitamos desarrollar nuestras habilidades de hablar.
- Desafortunadamente, el tren desapareció de la vista completamente.
Key Points to Remember:
- Verbs are the action words that drive Spanish sentences - learn their conjugations as well as their meanings
- Adverbs provide crucial context about how, when, and where actions happen
- Many Spanish verbs have reflexive forms that change their meaning slightly
- Practice using these words in context rather than just memorising translations
- Pay attention to word stress and pronunciation patterns to sound more natural