Talking about one thing versus more than one

Talking about one thing versus more than one: Using ‘es’ and ‘son’

Talking about one thing vs more than one: Using ‘es’ and ‘son’ Spanish often uses the verb forms ‘es’ and ‘son’ when describing one thing and multiple things. These are from ‘ser’ (to be). Compare ‘The teacher is tall. ’ ‘The teachers are tall. ’ ‘El profesor es alto. ’ ‘Los profesores son altos. ’ So, we use ‘es’ to describe one thing (singular, ‘is’). We use ‘son’ to describe two or more things (plural, ‘are’). Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes

La nueva profesora Marta has written about her new Spanish teacher, Señora Ramírez, and about all her other teachers. Who is she talking about in each sentence? Tick the subject that goes before the verb. Only one option is correct. 1 Señora Ramírez Los otros profesores es alegre. 2 Señora Ramírez Los otros profesores son carismáticos. 3 Señora Ramírez Los otros profesores es atenta. 4 Señora Ramírez Los otros profesores son estrictos. 5 Señora Ramírez Los otros profesores es inteligente. leer Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes

She also compares her science teacher, Señor Mc. Donell, to her other teachers. 6 Señor Mc. Donell Los otros profesores son serios. 7 Señor Mc. Donell Los otros profesores es muy responsable. 8 Señor Mc. Donell Los otros profesores es guapo. 9 Señor Mc. Donell Los otros profesores son tranquilos. 10 Señor Mc. Donell Los otros profesores son divertidos. leer Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes

ANSWERS La nueva profesora Marta has written about her new Spanish teacher and her other teachers. Who is she talking about in each sentence? Tick the subject that goes before the verb. Only one option is correct. 1 Señora Ramírez Los otros profesores 2 Señora Ramírez Los otros profesores 3 Señora Ramírez Los otros profesores 4 Señora Ramírez Los otros profesores 5 Señora Ramírez Los otros profesores ✔ ✔ ✔ es alegre. son carismáticos. es atenta. son estrictos. es inteligente. leer Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes

ANSWERS She also compares her science teachers to her other teachers. 6 Señor Mc. Donell Los otros profesores 7 Señor Mc. Donell Los otros profesores ✔ 8 Señor Mc. Donell Los otros profesores ✔ 9 Señor Mc. Donell Los otros profesores ✔ 10 Señor Mc. Donell Los otros profesores ✔ ✔ son serios. es muy responsable. es guapo. son tranquilos. son divertidos. leer Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes

Now listen to Marta talk about her new art teacher and two new biology teachers. Listen carefully - part of the sentence is missing. El profesor de arte Los profesores de biología 1 Who is tall? 2 Who is young? 3 Who is clear? 4 Who is responsible? 5 Who is patient? 6 Who is friendly? ✔ ✔ 7 Who is dynamic? ✔ 8 Who is attentive? 9 Who is intelligent? 10 Who is shy? ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes escuchar

Your new teachers! This year you have some new teachers and you’re telling a friend about them. Using the prompts on your cards, talk about: a) the new history teacher. b) the two new maths teachers. Your partner will be listening and taking notes. Remember to use ‘es’ and ‘son’! hablar / escuchar Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes

Student A 1. tall 2. attentive 3. young 4. intelligent 5. patient 6. shy hablar / escuchar Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes

Student B 1. friendly 2. dynamic 3. clear 5. patient 4. attentive 6. intelligent hablar / escuchar Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes

Need some help? • tall – alto • attentive – atento • young – joven • intelligent – inteligente • patient – paciente • shy – tímido hablar / escuchar Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes

Need some help? • friendly – amable • dynamic – dínamica • clear – clara • attentive – atenta • patient – paciente • intelligent – inteligente hablar / escuchar Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes

Student B The maths teachers The history teacher Who is tall? Who is attentive? Who is young? Who is intelligent? Who is patient? Who is shy? hablar / escuchar Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes

ANSWERS Student B The maths teachers Who is tall? The history teacher ✔ Who is attentive? ✔ Who is young? ✔ Who is intelligent? ✔ Who is patient? Who is shy? ✔ ✔ hablar / escuchar Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes

Student A The Spanish teachers The geography teacher Who is friendly? Who is dynamic? Who is clear? Who is attentive? Who is patient? Who is intelligent? hablar / escuchar Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes

ANSWERS Student A The Spanish teachers Who is friendly? ✔ Who is dynamic? ✔ The geography teacher Who is clear? ✔ Who is attentive? ✔ Who is patient? ✔ Who is intelligent? ✔ hablar / escuchar Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes

Student A Using the prompt cards, write 5 sentences about your new history teacher / maths teachers. 1) __________________ altos. 2) __________________ atento. 3) __________________ joven. 4) __________________ inteligentes. 5) __________________ paciente. 6) __________________ tímidos. Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes escribir

ANSWERS Student A Using the prompt cards, write 5 sentences about your new history teacher / maths teachers. profesores de matemáticas son 1) Los __________________altos. El profesor de historia es 2) __________________ atento. El profesor de historia es 3) __________________ joven. profesores de matemáticas son 4) Los __________________ inteligentes. El profesor de historia es 5) __________________ paciente. Los profesores de matemáticas son 6) __________________ tímidos. escribir Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes

Student B Using the prompt cards, write 5 sentences about your new history teacher / maths teachers. 1) __________________ amables. 2) __________________ dinámicas. 3) __________________ clara. 4) __________________ atenta. 5) __________________ pacientes. 6) __________________ inteligente. Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes escribir

ANSWERS Student B Using the prompt cards, write 5 sentences about your new history teacher / maths teachers. profesoras de matemáticas son 1) Las __________________ amables. Las profesoras de matemáticas son 2) __________________ dinámicas. La profesora de historia es 3) __________________ clara. La profesora de historia es 4) __________________ atenta. Las profesoras de matemáticas son 5) __________________ Las profesoras de matemáticas son pacientes. 6) __________________ inteligente. Nick Avery / Emma Marsden / Rachel Hawkes escribir