Spanish
Grade 9
15 min
Debate: ¿Qué Podemos Hacer?
Participate in a class debate about potential solutions to a specific social problem.
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Use the present subjunctive to propose solutions to community problems.
Formulate debate questions using '¿Qué podemos hacer para...?' and other interrogative phrases.
Express agreement and disagreement using specific phrases like 'Estoy de acuerdo con que...' and 'No creo que...'.
Structure a simple argument with a proposal and a justification using impersonal expressions (e.g., 'es importante que...').
Connect ideas in a debate using transition words such as 'además', 'sin embargo', and 'por lo tanto'.
Correctly apply verbs of influence (sugerir, proponer, recomendar) followed by 'que' and the subjunctive.
🤔 ¿Ves un problema en tu escuela o barrio y te preguntas '¿qué...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
El Subjuntivo PresenteA verb mood used to express desires, doubts, wishes, recommendations, and other non-factual or subjective situations. It's essential for making suggestions.Sugiero que nosotros **reciclemos** más. (I suggest that we recycle more.)
La PropuestaA formal suggestion or plan of action presented for others to consider.Mi propuesta es que **organicemos** un día de limpieza en el parque.
El ArgumentoA reason or set of reasons given to persuade others that an action or idea is right or wrong.Debemos hacerlo porque es necesario que **cuidemos** el medio ambiente.
Expresiones ImpersonalesPhrases that do not have a specific subject (like 'it is important' or 'it is necessary'). In Spanish, they often trigger the use of the subjuncti...
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Grammar Rules & Patterns
Formula for Impersonal Expressions + Subjunctive
Es + [adjetivo] + que + [sujeto 2] + [verbo en subjuntivo]
Use this structure to state the importance, necessity, or value of an action. The phrase 'Es [adjetivo] que' triggers the subjunctive because it expresses a subjective opinion or judgment about what someone else should do.
Formula for Verbs of Influence + Subjunctive
[Sujeto 1] + [verbo de influencia] + que + [Sujeto 2] + [verbo en subjuntivo]
Use this pattern when one person (Sujeto 1) wants to influence the action of another person or group (Sujeto 2). The verb of influence (like proponer, sugerir, querer) creates the need for the subjunctive in the following clause.
Forming the Present Subjunctive (Regular Verbs)
1. Start with the 'yo' form...
4 more steps in this tutorial
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Challenging
Read the exchange. PROPOSAL: 'Sugiero que empecemos un jardín comunitario.' RESPONSE: 'Entiendo la idea. Sin embargo, no creo que sea práctico. En vez de eso, propongo que la escuela colabore con granjas locales.' Which learning objective is BEST demonstrated by the RESPONSE?
A.Formulating a basic debate question using '¿Qué podemos hacer para...?'
B.Using a logical connector to add a similar idea
C.Expressing simple agreement with 'Estoy de acuerdo con que...'
D.Disagreeing with a proposal and offering a structured, grammatically correct alternative
Challenging
A student wants to argue for a 4-day school week. Which sequence of sentences creates the most logical and grammatically correct argument based on the tutorial's structure?
A.Propongo que tengamos una semana escolar de 4 días. Es importante que estudiemos menos. Sin embargo, los profesores trabajarán más.
B.Mi propuesta es una semana de 4 días. Recomiendo que los días escolares sean más largos para compensar. Por lo tanto, es posible que los estudiantes tengan más tiempo para actividades extracurriculares.
C.Quiero una semana de 4 días. No creo que la escuela es buena. Además, es necesario que los estudiantes duermen más.
D.¿Qué podemos hacer para tener una semana de 4 días? Sugiero que nosotros no venimos a la escuela los viernes.
Challenging
In the sentence, 'No creo que la biblioteca pueda cerrar temprano,' why is the subjunctive 'pueda' used instead of the indicative 'puede'?
A.Because the main clause 'No creo que' expresses doubt or denial, which triggers the subjunctive.
B.Because the action is happening in the future.
C.Because 'biblioteca' is a feminine noun.
D.Because 'cerrar' is an -AR verb.
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