Test 2

1. In Exploraciones gramaticales 1 you learned that some verbs have changes in the stem. Notice that in the verbs below the e changes to ie and that the endings are the same as other -ar, -er, and -ir verbs.

The verbs listed below are also e → ie stem-changing verbs.

• comenzar (a) to begin (to do something)

• nevar to snow

• empezar (a) to begin (to do something)

• pensar to think

• encender to turn on

• perder to lose

• entender to understand

• preferir to prefer

The verbs empezar and comenzar always require the preposition a when they are followed by a verb.

• Empezamos a estudiar a las ocho.

• We begin to study at eight o’clock.

2. Pensar en means to think about and pensar + an infinitive means to plan to do something.

• Ella piensa mucho en sus abuelos.

• She thinks about her grandparents a lot.

• Yo pienso buscar un apartamento.

• I plan to look for an apartment.

• Pienso que la casa es muy bonita.

• I think that the house is very pretty.

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There are some -ir verbs in which the e in the stem changes to i. As with the e → ie stem-changing verbs, these verbs also change in all forms except nosotros and vosotros, and the endings are the same as regular -ir verbs.

The verbs listed below are also e → i stem-changing verbs.

• competir to compete

• pedir to ask for

• reír to laugh

• servir to serve

• sonreír to smile

4. Notice that the verb reír requires an accent mark on the i when it is conjugated. The same rule applies for sonreír.

5. Pedir means to ask for (something) and preguntar means to ask (a question). The preposition for is part of the verb pedir, so you should not use por or para with it.

• Los niños les piden permiso a sus padres.

• Children ask permission from their parents.

• Él pregunta si van a vender su casa.

• He is asking if they are going to sell their house.

2. In Capítulo 4, you learned to use the verb estar to indicate location, and earlier in this chapter you learned to use it to express an emotional, mental, or physical condition.

   • Mis padres están felices.

   • My parents are happy.

   • Estoy cansado hoy.

   • I am tired today.

   • Estamos muy ocupados.

   • We are very busy.

3. The verb estar is also used with present participles to form the present progressive. The present progressive is used to describe actions in progress at the moment.

   To form the present participle, add -ando (-ar verbs) or -iendo (-er and -ir verbs) to the stem of the verb.

   hablar	→	hablando
   comer	→	comiendo
   vivir	→	viviendo

   • El profesor está hablando con Tito ahora.

   • The teacher is talking to Tito now.

1. The verb ser is used in the following ways:

   1. to describe characteristics of people, places, or things

      • La maestra es inteligente.

      • The teacher is intelligent.

      • Nuestro coche es muy viejo.

      • Our car is very old.

   2. to identify a relationship, occupation, or nationality

      • Esta es mi novia; es peruana.

      • This is my girlfriend; she is Peruvian.

      • Ellos son mecánicos.

      • They are mechanics.

   3. to express origin

      • Yo soy de Cuba.

      • I am from Cuba.

   4. to express possession

      • Este libro es de Álvaro.

      • This book belongs to Álvaro.

   5. to tell time and give dates

      • Es tres de marzo y son las dos.

      • It is March third, and it is two o’clock.

. The verb estar is used in the following ways:

a. to indicate location

• El perro está enfrente de la casa.

• The dog is in front of the house.

b. to express an emotional, mental, or physical condition

• Estoy muy feliz.

• I am very happy.

• Mi madre está enferma hoy.

• My mother is sick today.

• Las secretarias están ocupadas.

• The secretaries are busy.

c. in the present progressive

• Estoy estudiando.

• I am studying.

. It is important to realize that the use of ser and estar with some adjectives can change the meaning of those adjectives. The use of ser indicates a characteristic or a trait, while the use of estar indicates a condition. Here are some common adjectives that change meaning:

Investiguemos la gramática

While estar is generally used to indicate location, if you want to say where an event takes place, use ser.

• La fiesta es en la casa de Alejandro.

• The party is at Alejandro’s house.

1. Some verbs in the present tense are irregular only in the first person (yo) form. You have already seen the verb hacer. There are a number of common expressions that use the verb hacer.

   hacer (to do; to make)
   yo	hago	nosotros(as)	hacemos
   tú	haces	vosotros(as)	hacéis
   él, ella, usted	hace	ellos, ellas, ustedes	hacen

   hacer la cama to make the bed

   hacer ejercicio to exercise

   hacer una fiesta to give a party

   hacer una pregunta to ask a question

   hacer la tarea to do homework

   hacer un viaje to take a trip

2. The following verbs also have irregular first person forms:

   poner (to put; to set)	pongo, pones, pone, ponemos, ponéis, ponen
   salir (to go out; to leave)	salgo, sales, sale, salimos, salís, salen
   traer (to bring)	traigo, traes, trae, traemos, traéis, traen
   conducir (to drive)	conduzco, conduces, conduce, conducimos, conducís, conducen
   dar (to give)	doy, das, da, damos, dais, dan
   ver (to see)	veo, ves, ve, vemos, veis, ven

Verbs with changes in the first person 2

3. The following verbs are not only irregular in the first person form, but also have other changes:

1. Like other verbs in this chapter, saber and conocer are irregular in the first person form.

   saber

   sé, sabes, sabe, sabemos, sabéis, saben

   conocer

   conozco, conoces, conoce, conocemos, conocéis, conocen

2. While the verbs saber and conocer both mean to know, they are used in different contexts.

   • Saber is used to express knowledge of facts or information as well as skills.

   • Conocer is used to express acquaintance or familiarity with a person, place, or thing.

   Notice the difference in meaning in the following sentences:

   • Ana conoce Chile. (familiarity)

   • Ana sabe dónde está Chile. (fact)

   • Paco conoce a Diego. (acquainted with)

   • Paco sabe dónde vive Diego. (information)

   • Conozco la poesía de Neruda. (familiarity)

   • Sé que Neruda es un poeta famoso. (fact)

When using saber to mean to know how to do something, it is followed by the infinitive.

• El ingeniero sabe diseñar edificios.

• The engineer knows how to design buildings.

• El cantante sabe cantar.

• The singer knows how to sing.

4. When expressing some knowledge or familiarity with general concepts or subjects, the verb conocer is used.

• El artista conoce el arte prehispánico.

• The artist knows (is familiar with) pre-Hispanic art.

• La enfermera conoce la medicina.

• The nurse knows (is familiar with) medicine.

5. When the recipient of the action (direct object) is a person or a pet, an a is used in front of the object. This is known as the a personal and is not translated into English. It is not necessary to use it with the verb tener; however when using the verb conocer to tell that someone knows a person, it is necessary to use the a personal.

• La profesora conoce a los estudiantes.

• The professor knows her students.

• El jefe conoce a sus empleados.

• The boss knows his employees.