The internet (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
The internet
This topic covers essential vocabulary and language structures for discussing internet usage in Spanish. You'll learn how to express opinions about online activities and vary your language to achieve higher grades in your GCSE Spanish exam.
Essential vocabulary for internet usage
Understanding key internet-related vocabulary is crucial for discussing technology topics in Spanish. These terms appear frequently in exam questions about media and technology.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| afectar | to affect |
| apagar | to turn off |
| el correo electrónico | |
| en línea | online |
| falso/a | false |
| gratuito/a | free |
| hacer las compras | to do the shopping |
| la información | information |
| la página web | web page |
| el periódico | newspaper |
Ejemplo: Using basic internet vocabulary
- Mi padre usa el correo electrónico para trabajar. (My father uses email for work.)
- Hacemos las compras en línea los fines de semana. (We do the shopping online at weekends.)
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| reconocer | to recognise |
| reservar | to reserve, book |
| el sitio web | website |
| el seguidor / la seguidora | follower |
| el uso | use |
| el virus | virus |
| el artículo | article |
| enviar | to send |
| el usuario / la usuaria | user |
| la imagen | image |
Ejemplo: Advanced internet vocabulary in context
- Es importante reconocer los virus en tu ordenador. (It's important to recognise viruses on your computer.)
- Mi hermana tiene muchos seguidores en las redes sociales. (My sister has many followers on social media.)
Learning vocabulary in themed groups like this makes it easier to remember related words together. Focus on the most common terms first: el correo electrónico, en línea, la información, and enviar.
Expressing opinions about internet activities
To achieve higher grades, you need to vary your opinion phrases when discussing internet usage. These expressions help you sound more sophisticated and natural in Spanish.
Opinion phrases followed by infinitive verbs:
- es bueno para... (it's good for...)
- es excelente para... (it's excellent for...)
- es perfecto para... (it's perfect for...)
- es ideal para... (it's ideal for...)
- es útil para... (it's useful for...)
Critical Grammar Rule: These phrases are always followed by the infinitive form of verbs. Never use conjugated verbs after these expressions.
Ejemplo: Opinion phrases in practice
- Es ideal cuando quieres buscar información. (It's ideal when you want to look for information.)
- Es útil cuando tienes que enviar un correo electrónico. (It's useful when you have to send an email.)
Varying your verbs when introducing opinions
Instead of repeatedly using the same verbs, demonstrate variety by using different ways to introduce what family members think about internet usage.
| Spanish phrases | English translations |
|---|---|
| Mi madre dice que... | My mother says that... |
| Mi padrastro piensa que... | My stepfather thinks that... |
| Según mi abuelo... | According to my granddad... |
| Mi hermano cree que... | My brother thinks that... |
Using different family members and varied opinion verbs shows linguistic sophistication and helps you avoid repetition in your responses.
Ejemplo: Varied opinion introduction
Mi madre dice que es ideal para hacer las compras de la semana. (My mother says that it's ideal for doing the weekly shopping.)
Translation practice
Ejemplo: Spanish to English translations
Spanish to English:
- Es excelente para buscar información sobre las vacaciones.
- Según mi padre, es útil cuando tienes proyectos para el instituto.
English to Spanish: 3. It's perfect for sending electronic messages. 4. My stepmother thinks that it's good for reading online articles.
Answers:
- It's excellent for looking for information about holidays.
- According to my father, it's useful when you have projects for school.
- Es perfecto para enviar correos electrónicos.
- Mi madrastra piensa que es bueno para leer artículos en línea.
Sample exam response structure
When answering questions about family internet usage, structure your response to include varied vocabulary and opinion phrases. A good response should:
- Use different family members to introduce varied opinions
- Include specific internet activities with proper vocabulary
- Demonstrate opinion phrases followed by infinitive verbs
- Show awareness of different internet uses (work, school, leisure)
Ejemplo: Sample response framework
Mi familia usa Internet de diferentes maneras. Mi madre dice que es esencial para trabajar desde casa y mandar correos electrónicos. Según mi hermano, es muy útil para hacer proyectos del instituto - lee artículos en línea y usa las imágenes en su trabajo. Mi padre piensa que es ideal para organizar las vacaciones porque puedes reservar vuelos y hoteles.
Notice how this sample response uses three different family members (Mi madre, mi hermano, mi padre) and varies the opinion verbs (dice que, según, piensa que) to create sophisticated language variety.
Writing task practice
Task: Write a blog about the internet. You must include:
- How you and your family use the internet
- Your favourite website and why you like it
- How you used the internet in school last week
- How you will use the internet this weekend
Exam tip: Aim to write 80-90 words and vary your vocabulary and verb forms to demonstrate language skills.
Key Points to Remember:
- Learn vocabulary in themed groups - it's easier to remember related words together
- Opinion phrases are always followed by infinitive verbs - this is a key grammar rule
- Vary your language - use different family members and opinion phrases to show sophistication
- Include specific internet activities - demonstrate detailed vocabulary knowledge
- Structure your responses logically - past, present, and future uses show tense variety