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Year 7

Activities in school: 'poder', 'puedes'

Learning outcomes

I can talk about activities in school using the verb 'poder'.

I can pronounce words with the sounds [a], [e], [i], [o], [u] correctly.

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New
New
Year 7

Activities in school: 'poder', 'puedes'

Learning outcomes

I can talk about activities in school using the verb 'poder'.

I can pronounce words with the sounds [a], [e], [i], [o], [u] correctly.

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Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. The SSC [a] is as in 'casa', [e] as in 'elfante', [i] in 'idea', [o] as in 'dos' and [u] as in 'universo'.
  2. 'Poder' means 'to be able to'. 'Puedo' means 'I can', 'puedes' means 'you can' and 'puede' means 'she, he , it can.'
  3. The verb 'poder' is followed by an infinitive.

Keywords

  • Modal verb - verb of necessity or possibility used with a 2nd verb in the infinitive, e.g., must, can, want

  • Poder - modal verb that means to be able to/can, with singular forms 'puedo' - 'I can', 'puedes' - you can, 'puede'- she, he, it can

Common misconception

A sentence such as 'puedo participo' is correct and it means 'I can participate'. Both verbs are in the 'I' form.

The sentence 'Puedo participo' is not correct because the verb 'poder' is always followed by an infinitive. To say 'I can participate' we must say 'Puedo participar.'

To make activity A2 more interactive, the teacher might want to ask students to write their answers on mini whiteboards. They will enjoy it and the teacher will be able to check the understanding of the whole class.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
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Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the English to the Spanish.
Correct Answer:homework,los deberes
tick

los deberes

Correct Answer:sport,el deporte
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el deporte

Correct Answer:male classmate,el compañero
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el compañero

Correct Answer:drawing,el dibujo
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el dibujo

Correct Answer:team,el equipo
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el equipo

Correct Answer:job,el trabajo
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el trabajo

Q2.
What is the meaning of 'para' in this sentence?: 'Llevo un regalo para una amiga.'
from
Correct answer: for
of
with
Q3.
How would you say 'at night' in Spanish?
por la mañana
por la tarde
Correct answer: por la noche
Q4.
Choose the right verb to fill in the gap: 'Poder a la profesora es importante.'
Correct answer: preguntar
pregunto
preguntas
pregunta
Q5.
Match the Spanish to the English.
Correct Answer:poder,to be able to/ can
tick

to be able to/ can

Correct Answer:preguntar,to ask, asking
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to ask, asking

Correct Answer:pedir,to ask for, asking for
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to ask for, asking for

Correct Answer:jugar,to play, playing
tick

to play, playing

Correct Answer:cambiar,to change, changing
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to change, changing

Correct Answer:trabajar,to work, working
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to work, working

Q6.
Translate into Spanish: 'She can prepare food.'
Correct Answer: Puede preparar comida. , Puede preparar la comida.

5 Questions

Q1.
Complete the definition of a modal verb: 'A modal verb is a verb of necessity or used with a 2nd verb in the infinitive.'
Correct Answer: possibility
Q2.
Match the different forms of the verb 'poder'.
Correct Answer:poder,to be able to/can
tick

to be able to/can

Correct Answer:puedo,I can/I am able to
tick

I can/I am able to

Correct Answer:puedes,you can/you are able to
tick

you can/you are able to

Correct Answer:puede,she, he, it can/she, he, it is able to
tick

she, he, it can/she, he, it is able to

Q3.
Complete this question: '¿ ir al baño?' You want to say 'Can I go to the toilet?'
Correct Answer: Puedo, puedo
Q4.
Translate into Spanish: 'Can she use the phone?'
Correct Answer: ¿Puede usar el teléfono?
Q5.
Translate into Spanish: 'You can buy a newspaper.'
Correct Answer: Puedes comprar un periódico.

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