News events: present and imperfect continuous
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe ongoing events in the present and the past, using the present and imperfect continuous tenses.
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- The sound-spelling correspondences [n] and [ñ] are pronounced differently: like the [n] in 'poner' and the [ñ] in 'año'.
- 'Estar' means 'to be' and is used to express a state or location. 'You are' is 'estás' and 'you were' is 'estabas'.
- We use 'estar' in the present + present participle to describe ongoing events. This is called the present continuous.
- We use 'estar' in the imperfect + present participle to describe past ongoing events; this is the imperfect continuous.
- The present participle stays the same: remove the infinitive ending and add -ando for -ar verbs and -iendo for -er/-ir.
Keywords
Present continuous - describes events happening right now, e.g. 'I am doing'
Imperfect continuous - verb tense used to talk about ongoing actions in the past, what was happening
Estar - verb meaning 'to be', also the auxiliary verb for the present and imperfect continuous tenses
Common misconception
In the imperfect continuous I can tell who the subject of the verb is by looking at the form of 'estar' being used.
The 'I' and 'he, she, it' forms of the imperfect tense of 'estar' are the same: 'estaba'. Therefore you have to use the context to work out who the subject of the verb is when this form is being used.
Teacher tip
The final C4 speaking task can be adapted by providing person A/B with the full Spanish phrases to read aloud rather than having to translate from English first.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which word means 'backward'?
Q2.Match the Spanish and English.
German
arm
scene
gesture
fear
anger
Q3.Match the Spanish and English.
building
French
phone call
step
leg
police, police officer
Q4.Order the words to say: 'the dog is on the right and the classmate is on the left'.
Q5.Write in English: 'mi hijo hace ruido'.
Q6.Write in Spanish: 'I need help'.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which words are missing the sound [ñ]?
Q2.Match the Spanish and English.
to be, being
I am
you are
she, he, it is
I, she, he, it was
you were
Q3.Write in Spanish: 'I am learning'.
Q4.Write in Spanish: 'you were dancing'.
To help you plan your 9 Spanish lesson on: News events: present and imperfect continuous, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 Spanish lesson on: News events: present and imperfect continuous, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
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