Madrigals Magic Key to Spanish (94 page)

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Authors: Margarita Madrigal

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BOOK: Madrigals Magic Key to Spanish
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  2. Remove “er” from each of the following infinitives and write out all the tenses as shown in “aprender” above. All the letters and words that are printed in capital letters in “aprender” must be added to each “er” verb.

vender,
to sell
comprender,
to understand
correr,
to run
sorprender,
to surprise
comer,
to eat
prometer,
to promise
beber,
to drink
barrer,
to sweep
coser,
to sew
 

“Ir” and “er” verbs are identical in all their forms except one. The first person present of “er” verbs ends in EMOS in the plural.

   
EXAMPLE
: “aprendemos” (
WE LEARN
). HOWEVER, THE FIRST PERSON PRESENT OF “IR” VERBS ENDS IN “IMOS” IN THE PLURAL.

   
EXAMPLE
: vivimos,
we live
.

Remove “ir” from each of the following infinitives and write out all the tenses as shown in “aprender” above, but remember to change the first person plural ending of the present to “imos.”

vivir,
to live
recibir,
to receive
decidir,
to decide
persuadir,
to persuade
dividir,
to divide
asistir,
to attend
subir,
to go up
discutir,
to discuss, to argue
resistir,
to resist
interrumpir,
to interrupt

You probably will be tempted to skip some of the verbs above because there are so many of them. Resist the temptation. This is by far the most important exercise in the book. MASTER THE VERBS.

The three most important things to remember about verbs are:

  1. IN THE PAST TENSE, END ALL VERBS IN “Ó” WHEN SPEAKING ABOUT ANYBODY BUT YOURSELF (SINGULAR).

  2. END ALL AUXILIARY VERBS IN “A” WHEN SPEAKING ABOUT ANYBODY BUT YOURSELF (SINGULAR).

va a comprar,
anybody
(except me)
is going to buy

ha comprado,
anybody
(except me)
has bought

está comprando,
anybody
(except me)
is buying

  3. VERBS THAT APPEAR IN QUESTIONS ARE GENERALLY IN THE THIRD MAN VERB FORM IN ALL TENSES. You usually ask questions about other people and not about yourself.

WORDS TO REMEMBER
he estado,
I have been
este año,
this year
una taza de café,
a cup of coffee
contestar,
to answer
el trabajo, the work
siempre,
always
por dos años,
for two years
hermano,
brother
Aprendí a nadar.
I learned to swim
.
Aprendí a manejar el auto.
I learned to drive the car
. (Use “a” when “aprender” is followed by a verb.)
Aprendí las palabras.
I learned the words
.
He visto.
I have seen
(irregular).
He escrito.
I have written
(irregular).
EXERCISE IN TRANSLATION

Translate the following sentences into Spanish. Check your sentences with the correct translations that follow this exercise.

  1. I am studying Spanish.
  2. Do you speak Spanish?
  3. Where do you live?
  4. Where does Charles live?
  5. She works in a store.
  6. Did you write the letter?
  7. They live in an apartment on Madison Avenue.
  8. I read (past) the newspaper this morning.
  9. Have you read “Don Quixote”?
  10. Martha speaks Spanish very well.
  11. I have studied the lesson.
  12. I had eggs for breakfast this morning.
  13. He is going to Cuba tomorrow.
  14. Is he going by boat or by plane?
  15. Who bought the tickets?
  16. Do you understand?
  17. We have been very busy.
  18. Have you seen Henry?
  19. Have you written the card?
  20. Did you have a cup of coffee for breakfast?
  21. He has deposited a lot of money in the bank this year.
  22. How are you?
  23. How is your mother?
  24. Where is your sister?
  25. Who is going to buy the tickets?
  26. We have finished the work.
  27. Have you received the cable?
  28. I saw an interesting film last night.
  29. I have lived in this house for two years.
  30. What did you decide?
  31. He is talking on the phone.
  32. I’m learning to drive a car.
  33. We are learning to speak Spanish.
  34. I have learned many words in the class.
  35. My grandfather always smokes a pipe after dinner.
  36. When did you sell the house?
  37. I’m going to take an aspirin.
  38. Henry spent a week in Cuba.
  39. They have traveled a lot this year.
  40. Have you answered the letter?

Check your sentences with the following translations.

  1. Estoy estudiando español.
  2. ¿Habla usted español?
  3. ¿Dónde vive usted?
  4. ¿Dónde vive Carlos?
  5. Trabaja en una tienda.
  6. ¿Escribió usted la carta?
  7. Viven en un departamento en la Avenida Madison.
  8. Leí el periódico esta mañana.
  9. ¿Ha leído “Don Quixote”?
  10. Marta habla español muy bien.
  11. He estudiado la lección.
  12. Tomé huevos para el desayuno esta mañana.
  13. Va a Cuba mañana.
  14. ¿Va en barco o en avión?
  15. ¿Quién compró los boletos?
  16. ¿Comprende? (You can also say, ¿Comprende usted?)
  17. Hemos estado muy ocupados.
  18. ¿Ha visto a Enrique?
  19. ¿Ha escrito la tarjeta?
  20. ¿Tomó usted una taza de café para el desayuno?
  21. Ha depositado mucho dinero en el banco este año.
  22. ¿Cómo está?
  23. ¿Cómo está su mamá?
  24. ¿Dónde está su hermana?
  25. ¿Quién va a comprar los boletos?
  26. Hemos terminado el trabajo.
  27. ¿Ha recibido el cable?
  28. Ví una película interesante anoche.
  29. He vivido en esta casa dos años.
  30. ¿Qué decidió?
  31. Está hablando por teléfono.
  32. Estoy aprendiendo a manejar un auto.
  33. Estamos aprendiendo a hablar español.
  34. He aprendido muchas palabras en la clase.
  35. Mi abuelo siempre fuma una pipa después de la cena.
  36. ¿Cuándo vendió la casa?
  37. Voy a tomar una aspirina.
  38. Enrique pasó una semana en Cuba.
  39. Han viajado mucho este año.
  40. ¿Ha contestado la carta?

PRESENT PERFECT

   He trabajado,
I have worked
Ha trabajado,
you have worked, he, she has worked
   Hemos trabajado,
we have worked
Han trabajado,
they, you
(pl.)
have worked

PAST PERFECT

Había trabajado,
I had worked
Había trabajado,
you had worked
   Habíamos trabajado,
we had worked
Habían trabajado,
they had worked

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