What's the story? (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
What's the story?
Asking what something is about
When discussing films, books, or stories in Spanish, you'll need to know how to ask and explain what they're about. The key question is:
¿De qué se trata...? (What is it about?)
This versatile question structure can be adapted for any type of media or story. Simply replace the noun after "se trata" to ask about different subjects.
You can use this structure to ask about different types of media:
- ¿De qué se trata la película? (What is the film about?)
- ¿De qué se trata la novela? (What is the novel about?)
- ¿De qué se trata el drama? (What is the drama about?)
Key vocabulary for describing stories
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| seguir | to follow |
| el papel | role |
| el personaje | character |
| principal | main |
| verdadero/a | true |
| auténtico/a | authentic |
| la comedia | comedy |
| contar | to tell |
| el drama | drama |
| la obra | play |
Example sentences in context:
- La película trata de un personaje principal muy interesante. (The film is about a very interesting main character.)
- Es una comedia auténtica que cuenta una historia verdadera. (It's an authentic comedy that tells a true story.)
Describing what stories are about
To explain what a film or story is about, you can use these useful phrases:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| La película trata de... | The film is about... |
| Se trata de... | It's about... |
| La historia se basa en... | The story is based on... |
| Tiene un final feliz/triste | It has a happy/sad ending |
These phrases help you give clear explanations when discussing plots and storylines in your speaking and writing exams. Practice using them to build confidence in describing different types of stories.
The present continuous tense
The present continuous is essential for describing what's happening right now, especially when describing scenes in films or ongoing actions in stories. This tense is frequently tested in GCSE exams.
Formation
The present continuous is formed using: Present tense of estar + present participle
| Subject | Estar | + | Present participle |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | estoy | + | hablando/comiendo |
| tú | estás | + | hablando/comiendo |
| él/ella | está | + | hablando/comiendo |
| nosotros | estamos | + | hablando/comiendo |
| vosotros | estáis | + | hablando/comiendo |
| ellos | están | + | hablando/comiendo |
Present participle endings
Present participle formation rules:
- -ar verbs: Add -ando (hablar → hablando)
- -er/-ir verbs: Add -iendo (comer → comiendo, vivir → viviendo)
- Irregular: Some verbs like leer become leyendo
Example sentences with translations:
- Está trabajando. (She is working.)
- Están viendo una película. (They are watching a film.)
- Estoy leyendo un libro interesante. (I am reading an interesting book.)
Translation practice
Translation Practice Exercise
Spanish to English:
- La película trata de un joven español.
- Están siguiendo al personaje principal.
English to Spanish: 3. The story is based on true events. 4. He is working in a library.
Answers:
- The film is about a young Spanish man.
- They are following the main character.
- La historia se basa en hechos reales.
- Está trabajando en una biblioteca.
Exam tips
Essential Exam Strategies:
- Always give full answers when you know the details rather than risk losing marks by missing relevant information.
- Use varied vocabulary to demonstrate your knowledge. For example, instead of just saying "to escape", you could also use "to get away from" or "to hide from".
- In speaking exams, you might be asked questions like "Háblame de tu película favorita. ¿De qué se trata?" (Tell me about your favourite film. What is it about?)
- Present continuous is particularly useful for describing what's happening in pictures during speaking assessments.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Use ¿De qué se trata...? to ask what something is about
- Present continuous = estar + present participle (-ando/-iendo)
- Learn key story vocabulary to describe different types of films and books
- Practice using "Se trata de..." (It's about...) for clear explanations
- Always aim to give detailed answers in exams rather than brief responses