Everyday life (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Everyday life
Daily routine vocabulary
Learning how to talk about your daily activities is essential for describing your typical day. Here are key verbs and phrases you'll need:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| chatear | to chat (online) |
| coger el autobús | to catch the bus |
| despertarse | to wake up |
| dormir la siesta | to have a nap |
| dormirse | to fall asleep |
| escuchar música | to listen to music |
| hacer los deberes | to do homework |
| ir a la cama | to go to bed |
| lavarse | to have a wash |
| levantarse | to get up |
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| salir de casa | to leave the house |
| tomar el desayuno | to have breakfast |
| ver la televisión | to watch television |
| vestirse | to get dressed |
Practice with these example sentences:
- Normalmente me levanto a las siete. (I normally get up at seven.)
- Por las tardes suelo chatear con mis amigos. (In the evenings, I usually chat to my friends.)
- Después de cenar, veo la televisión. (After dinner, I watch television.)
Radical-changing verbs (stem-changing verbs)
Some Spanish verbs change their stem (the part before the ending) in the present tense. The endings remain the same as regular verbs - only the stem changes. There are three main patterns:
The three patterns
| e → ie | o → ue | e → i |
|---|---|---|
| querer (to want) | mostrar (to show) | pedir (to ask for) |
Conjugation examples
| Pronoun | querer | mostrar | pedir |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | quiero | muestro | pido |
| tú | quieres | muestras | pides |
| él/ella | quiere | muestra | pide |
| nosotros | queremos | mostramos | pedimos |
| vosotros | queréis | mostráis | pedís |
| ellos/ellas | quieren | muestran | piden |
Key point: The stem change only affects the stressed syllables. Notice that nosotros and vosotros forms don't change because the stress falls on the ending.
Worked Example: Using Radical-Changing Verbs
- Quiero ir al cine esta noche. (I want to go to the cinema tonight.)
- Mi profesor muestra las fotos de su viaje. (My teacher shows the photos from his trip.)
- Siempre pido pizza los viernes. (I always ask for pizza on Fridays.)
Time expressions and flexible phrases
These phrases help you create more natural-sounding descriptions of your routine:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| normalmente | normally |
| durante la semana | during the week |
| los sábados | on Saturdays |
| suelo + infinitive | I usually... |
| sin embargo | however |
| el fin de semana pasado | last weekend |
| depende | it depends |
Using "suelo" + infinitive
The verb suelo is a useful way to say "I usually do something". It's always followed by an infinitive verb.
Examples with "suelo":
- Suelo levantarme a las siete. (I usually get up at seven.)
- Los sábados suelo salir con amigos. (On Saturdays I usually go out with friends.)
Describing your day
When describing a typical day, use a variety of time expressions and connectives to make your Spanish flow naturally. Start with when you wake up, then work through your day chronologically.
Worked Example: Daily Routine Structure
- Start with waking up time
- Describe morning routine
- Talk about school/work activities
- Mention afternoon/evening activities
- End with bedtime routine
Translation Practice:
Spanish to English:
- Me despierto a las siete y media.
- Después del instituto, hago los deberes.
English to Spanish:
- I usually have breakfast at eight o'clock.
- In the evenings, I watch television with my family.
Answers:
- I wake up at half past seven. 2. After school, I do my homework.
- Suelo tomar el desayuno a las ocho. 2. Por las tardes, veo la televisión con mi familia.
Exam tips
Essential Exam Strategies:
- Use a variety of time expressions to show sophisticated language skills
- Include radical-changing verbs to demonstrate grammar knowledge
- Connect your ideas with phrases like sin embargo and depende
- Remember that suelo + infinitive is an excellent way to express habits
- Practice pronunciation: radical-changing verbs follow predictable sound patterns
Key Points to Remember:
- Daily routine vocabulary forms the foundation for describing everyday activities
- Radical-changing verbs only change the stem, never the endings - learn the three patterns: e→ie, o→ue, e→i
- "Suelo" + infinitive is your go-to structure for expressing what you usually do
- Time expressions like normalmente, los sábados, and sin embargo make your Spanish sound more natural
- Chronological order helps structure your descriptions logically from morning to night