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Year 8

Christmas preparations: simple present and continuous with -ar verbs

Learning outcomes

I can use the present continuous to talk about how I and others are preparing for Christmas.

I can pronounce words with [ce] and [ci] confidently.

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New
New
Year 8

Christmas preparations: simple present and continuous with -ar verbs

Learning outcomes

I can use the present continuous to talk about how I and others are preparing for Christmas.

I can pronounce words with [ce] and [ci] confidently.

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Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. The sound symbol correspondence [ce] is pronounced as in the word 'centro' and [ci] as in the word 'decir'.
  2. The simple present of -ar verbs is used to talk about habits and routines, e.g. 'trabajo', 'trabajas', 'trabaja'.
  3. The present continuous is used to talk about actions happening now.
  4. The present continuous of -ar verbs is formed with the verb 'estar' ('estoy', 'está', 'está') + -ando.
  5. Sometimes we use adverbs of time to indicate clearly if the action we refer to is a habit or it is happening now.

Keywords

  • Simple present - 1-verb form that describes habitual actions and routines, e.g. 'I read'

  • Present continuous - 2-verb structure that describes actions happening at this moment, e.g. 'I’m reading'

  • Present participle - verb form that forms the present continuous, together with the auxiliary verb 'estar'

  • Adverb of time - word that describes when an action takes place, e.g. 'normally', 'now'

Common misconception

In Spanish, the simple present can be used for routine as well as for ongoing events.

The simple present is used to describe routine actions, and also immediate plans for today, but the present continuous is used to describe ongoing events.


To help you plan your year 8 spanish lesson on: Christmas preparations: simple present and continuous with -ar verbs, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

The teacher might want to ask students to write their own sentences about this year's Christmas preparations using the present continuous.
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Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the Spanish and English.
Correct Answer:botella (f),bottle
tick

bottle

Correct Answer:carne (f),meat
tick

meat

Correct Answer:comida (f),food
tick

food

Correct Answer:bebida (f),drink
tick

drink

Correct Answer:pena (f),pity
tick

pity

Correct Answer:risa (f),laughter
tick

laughter

Q2.
Match the Spanish and English.
Correct Answer:buscar,to look for, looking for
tick

to look for, looking for

Correct Answer:comprar,to buy, buying
tick

to buy, buying

Correct Answer:empezar,to start, starting
tick

to start, starting

Correct Answer:llegar,to arrive, arriving
tick

to arrive, arriving

Correct Answer:terminar,to finish, finishing
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to finish, finishing

Correct Answer:usar,to use, using
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to use, using

Q3.
'¿ te llamas?' - Which is the correct missing word?
Correct answer: cómo
como
qué
que
dónde
Q4.
Order the words to say: 'she prepares the food but you prepare the drinks'.
1 - prepara
2 - la
3 - comida
4 - pero
5 - preparas
6 - las
7 - bebidas
Q5.
Write in English: 'eschucho música todos los días'.
Correct Answer: I listen to music every day.
Q6.
Write in Spanish: 'normally I dance'.
Correct Answer: Normalmente bailo., Normalmente yo bailo.

6 Questions

Q1.
Which words include the [ci] sound?
Correct answer: __ne
__ntro
di__embre
Correct answer: do__
ne__sario
Q2.
Which adverbs of time indicate the present continuous?
Correct answer: ahora
a veces
Correct answer: en este momento
Correct answer: hoy
normalmente
Q3.
Which sentence is in the simple present?
Hablar con mis amigos.
Correct answer: Hablo con mis amigos.
Estoy hablando con mis amigos.
Hablé con mis amigos.
Voy a hablar con mis amigos.
Q4.
Order the words to say: 'Normally I work but today I am organising a party'.
1 - normalmente
2 - trabajo
3 - pero
4 - hoy
5 - estoy
6 - organizando
7 - una fiesta
Q5.
Write in Spanish: 'I am washing the dishes'.
Correct Answer: Estoy lavando los platos., Yo estoy lavando los platos.
Q6.
Write in Spanish: 'she is carrying the cups'.
Correct Answer: Está llevando los vasos., Ella está llevando los vasos.

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