Choose exam board for KS4 Computer Science (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 English
Choose exam board for KS4 French
Choose exam board for KS4 Geography
Choose exam board for KS4 German
Choose exam board for KS4 History
Choose tier for KS4 Maths
Choose exam board for KS4 Music
Choose exam board for KS4 Physical education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Religious education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Spanish

      My friend Max: understand descriptions

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can understand descriptions of others.

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. Practising and revisiting vocabulary reinforces learning and develops communication skills.
      2. 'Tener' means 'to have, having'; to say 'she, he, it has', use 'tiene'.
      3. 'Tiene' combines with the definite article, nouns and adjectives to describe facial features.
      4. Definite articles are used when describing facial features in Spanish; they agree with the noun number and gender.
      5. Adjectives often come after the noun; they agree with the number and gender of the noun they describe.

      Keywords

      • Definite article - words 'el', 'la', 'los' and 'las' meaning 'the'

      • Tiene - she, he, it has, part of the verb 'tener' meaning to have, having

      Common misconception

      Spanish doesn't use the definite article 'the' when describing facial features.

      In Spanish, the definite article 'the' is needed when describing facial features, e.g. 'tiene los ojos azules y la nariz pequeña'. In English, with plural features the article is omitted, e.g. 'she has blue eyes', or replaced by a/an; 'a small nose'.

      Teacher tip

      Pupils could create their own portraits of a secret agent and describe them to a partner.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

      Loading...

      Some of our videos, including non-English language videos, do not have captions.

      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which words means 'show'?

      cumpleaños
      fecha
      Correct answer: exposición
      espectáculo
      deporte

      Q2.
      'El tiene los ojos azules y la cara __________.' Which word best completes this sentence?

      redondo
      moreno
      Correct answer: redonda
      rubio
      especial

      Q3.
      Match the Spanish to the English.

      Correct Answer:cantar,to sing, singing
      Correct Answer:jugar,to play, playing
      Correct Answer:practicar,to practise, practising
      Correct Answer:leer,to read, reading
      Correct Answer:ser,to be, being (permanent traits)
      Correct Answer:tener,to have, having

      Q4.
      Order the words to say the days of the week from the end of the week to the beginning.

      1 - domingo
      2 - sábado
      3 - viernes
      4 - jueves
      5 - miércoles
      6 - martes
      7 - lunes

      Q5.
      'Tengo un sombrero bonito y una pelota.' Translate this sentence into English.

      Correct Answer: I have a pretty hat and a ball

      Q6.
      'You have a small nose.' Translate this sentence into Spanish.

      Correct Answer: Tienes la nariz pequeña

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which word means 'hair'?

      nariz
      ojo
      oreja
      Correct answer: pelo
      cara

      Q2.
      Match the Spanish to the English.

      Correct Answer:viejo,old
      Correct Answer:pequeño,small
      Correct Answer:grande,big
      Correct Answer:divertido,fun, funny
      Correct Answer:corto,short
      Correct Answer:largo,long

      Q3.
      Match the Spanish to the English.

      Correct Answer:estar,to be, being (temporary states)
      Correct Answer:escribir,to write, writing
      Correct Answer:escuchar,to listen, listening
      Correct Answer:llevar,to wear, wearing
      Correct Answer:pronunciar,to pronounce, pronouncing
      Correct Answer:necesitar,to need, needing

      Q4.
      Order the words to say 'I have a funny but rather ugly cat'.

      1 - tengo
      2 - un
      3 - gato
      4 - divertido
      5 - pero
      6 - bastante
      7 - feo

      Q5.
      'Tiene el pelo largo y moreno.' Translate this sentence into English.

      Correct Answer: She has long dark brown hair, she has long brown hair

      Q6.
      'She has big ears.' Translate this sentence into Spanish.

      Correct Answer: Ella tiene las orejas grandes

      To help you plan your 5 Spanish lesson on: My friend Max: understand descriptions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...