Spanish
Grade 7
15 min
¡A leer! Un perfil de un estudiante hispano
Read a short profile of a Hispanic student and answer comprehension questions.
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify formal commands (usted/ustedes) in the reading 'Un perfil de un estudiante hispano'.
Form regular affirmative and negative formal commands for -ar, -er, and -ir verbs.
Correctly apply spelling changes for -car, -gar, and -zar verbs when forming formal commands.
Form commands for the common irregular verbs: ser, ir, dar, estar, and saber.
Use formal commands to give polite instructions or advice to an adult.
Differentiate between a formal command for 'usted' and a formal command for 'ustedes'.
Imagine you need to ask your principal to open a door for you. How would you say it politely in Spanish? 🤔 Let's learn how to give respectful commands!
Today, we're learning about 'mandatos formales' (forma...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Mandato Formal (Formal Command)A type of verb used to give an order or instruction to someone you address as 'usted' (you, formal singular) or 'ustedes' (you, formal plural).Señor, hable más despacio, por favor. (Sir, speak more slowly, please.)
Usted (Ud.)The formal pronoun for 'you' when speaking to one person with respect.Usted es un buen profesor.
Ustedes (Uds.)The formal pronoun for 'you' when speaking to a group of people.Ustedes, abran los libros en la página diez.
Infinitivo (Infinitive)The basic, unconjugated form of a verb. In Spanish, infinitives end in -ar, -er, or -ir.hablar, comer, escribir
Mandato Afirmativo (Affirmative Command)A command that tells someone to do something.Coma la fruta. (Eat the fruit.)
Mandato...
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Grammar Rules & Patterns
The 'Yo-Drop-Swap' Formula
1. Start with the 'yo' form of the verb in the present tense. 2. Drop the final '-o'. 3. Add the 'opposite' ending: -e for -ar verbs, and -a for -er/-ir verbs. Add an '-n' for 'ustedes'.
This is the main pattern for forming almost all regular and many irregular formal commands. For example, for 'hablar': yo hablo -> habl- -> hable (usted) / hablen (ustedes).
Spelling Change Verbs: -car, -gar, -zar
To maintain the original consonant sound, verbs ending in -car change to -que(n), -gar to -gue(n), and -zar to -ce(n).
This rule applies before adding the 'opposite' ending. For example, 'practicar' (yo practico) becomes 'practique', not 'practic...
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Challenging
The school nurse is speaking to two parents whose children are sick. She says, 'Don't be worried.' Which is the correct way to form this command using the verb 'estar'?
A.Ustedes, no están preocupados.
B.Ustedes, no estén preocupados.
C.Ustedes, no está preocupados.
D.Ustedes, no estad preocupados.
Challenging
A guest speaker is finishing their presentation to the 7th-grade class from the story. Which sentence correctly uses a formal command to give them advice?
A.Ustedes siempre hacen su tarea.
B.¡Hagan su tarea siempre!
C.¡Haga su tarea siempre!
D.¡Haced vuestra tarea siempre!
Challenging
In the profile, the student asks the librarian for help. He wants to say, 'Please, don't start the search without me,' using the verb 'comenzar' (-zar). How should he phrase this polite, negative command?
A.Por favor, no comience la búsqueda sin mí.
B.Por favor, no comienzas la búsqueda sin mí.
C.Por favor, no comenza la búsqueda sin mí.
D.Por favor, no comienze la búsqueda sin mí.
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