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Introduction to Spanish
Introduction to Spanish

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4 Verbs for jobs

Described image

In this activity you will learn more verbs you can use to describe jobs, so that you can say more about the activities you carry out.

Paso A

Now put the verbs from the previous activity into the correct form and write full sentences describing these occupations. Check the language note first if you need to.

Ejemplo:

El barrendero barre la calle.

el barrendero

barrer

la calle

el escritor

escribir

libros

el repartidor

entregar

pizzas

el estudiante

aprender

el vocabulario

el pianista

tocar

el piano

el diseñador gráfico

editar

la página web

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Answer

  1. El barrendero barre la calle.

  2. El escritor escribe libros.

  3. El repartidor entrega pizzas.

  4. El estudiante aprende el vocabulario.

  5. El pianista toca el piano

  6. El diseñador gráfico edita la página web.

Language 5: Present tense of verbs ending in ‑er and ‑ir

To form the present tense of verbs ending in ‑er and ‑ir, you need to do the same as you did with ‑ar verbs: remove the ‑er or ‑ir ending, then add the different endings for each person to the stem (the part that is left).

Here are the endings for the singular of the regular verbs aprender and vivir. Note that the endings in singular are the same for both.

Verbs are grouped into ‘conjugations’ according to their different types: ‑ar verbs belong to the first conjugation, verbs ending in ‑er belong to the second conjugation, and verbs ending in ‑ir belong to the third conjugation.

aprender

(yo)

aprendo

Aprendo japonés.

I learn Japanese.

()

aprendes

Aprendes gallego.

You learn Galician.

(usted)

aprende

Aprende galés.

You learn Welsh.

(él/ella)

aprende

Aprende galés.

He/She learns Welsh.

vivir

(yo)

vivo

Vivo en San José.

I live in San José.

()

vives

Vives en Managua.

You live in Managua.

(usted)

vive

Vive en Jaén.

You live in Jaén.

(él/ella)

vive

Vive en Jaén.

He/She lives in Jaén.

Paso B

Now look at your sentences from Paso A, change them into the feminine and read them out aloud. Use the feminine form of each profession. Then listen to Audio 6 below to check your answers.

1. El barrendero barre la calle.

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2. El escritor escribe libros.

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3. El repartidor entrega pizzas.

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4. El estudiante aprende el vocabulario.

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5. El pianista toca el piano

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6. El diseñador gráfico edita la página web.

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Audio 6
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Paso C

Write the correct forms of the verb vivir in each dialogue.

1. ¿Dónde _______ usted?

(yo) _______ en Londres.

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Answer

¿Dónde vive usted?

(yo) Vivo en Londres.

2. ¿Tú _______ en Inglaterra, no?

No, (yo) _______ en Escocia.

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Answer

¿Tú vives en Inglaterra, no?

No, (yo) vivo en Escocia.

3. Alberto _______ en Barcelona.

No, Alberto _______ en Alicante.

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Answer

Alberto vive en Barcelona.

No, Alberto vive en Alicante.

Paso D

Listen to Audio 7 and decide whether you hear the first person (yo) or third person (él/ella/usted) of the verbs.

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Audio 7
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a. 

él/ella/usted


b. 

yo


The correct answer is a.

a. 

él/ella/usted


b. 

yo


The correct answer is b.

a. 

él/ella/usted


b. 

yo


The correct answer is a.

a. 

él/ella/usted


b. 

yo


The correct answer is b.

a. 

él/ella/usted


b. 

yo


The correct answer is a.

a. 

él/ella/usted


b. 

yo


The correct answer is a.

a. 

él/ella/usted


b. 

yo


The correct answer is b.

Paso E

The pronunciation of word-final e in Spanish is very different from that in English (where it is often not pronounced at all or is pronounced long). Now focus on this sound only. Make sure you pronounce it clearly but at the same time make it short.

Listen to Audio 8 and repeat.

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Audio 8
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