Spanish
Grade 9
15 min
¿Qué comes? (What do you eat?)
Practice asking and answering what someone eats for different meals.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Identify and use vocabulary for at least 20 common food items and meals.
Describe their own eating habits in the present indicative tense.
Form the present subjunctive of regular -ar, -er, and -ir verbs.
Use the subjunctive mood to make food and drink recommendations with verbs like 'recomendar' and 'sugerir'.
Construct complex sentences to express desires about food using the structure 'querer que + subjunctive'.
Ask and answer questions about food preferences and recommendations.
Imagine you're a food critic for a day! 🧑🍳 How would you recommend the perfect dish to a friend visiting your city for the first time?
In this lesson, we'll go beyond simply naming foods. You will learn how to describe what you eat an...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
El Desayuno, El Almuerzo, La CenaThe main meals of the day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, 'el almuerzo' is the largest meal of the day.Para el desayuno, como huevos. Para el almuerzo, prefiero pollo con arroz. Para la cena, como algo ligero como una sopa.
Verbos de Comida (Indicativo)Action words used to state facts about eating and drinking, such as 'comer' (to eat), 'beber' (to drink), and 'desayunar' (to have breakfast).Yo como una manzana todos los días. (I eat an apple every day.)
El Subjuntivo PresenteA verb mood used to express subjectivity, such as desires, doubts, recommendations, and opinions. It's often triggered by a specific verb in the main clause followed by 'que'...
3
Grammar Rules & Patterns
Forming the Present Subjunctive (Regular Verbs)
1. Start with the 'yo' form of the present indicative (e.g., como, hablo, vivo). 2. Drop the '-o'. 3. Add the opposite ending: '-e, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en' for -ar verbs, and '-a, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an' for -er/-ir verbs.
This three-step formula is the foundation for conjugating the majority of verbs into the present subjunctive. It is used after a subjunctive trigger.
Triggering the Subjunctive with Recommendations
Verb of Influence (Indicative) + 'que' + Different Subject + Verb (Subjunctive)
Use this structure when one person wants to influence the actions of another. The change in subject between the main clause and the subordinate clause is what requires the subjunct...
4 more steps in this tutorial
Sign up free to access the complete tutorial with worked examples and practice.
Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
Your friend is deciding between steak and fish. You think the fish is a better choice. What is the most effective and grammatically sound recommendation you can make?
A.Recomiendo que pides el pescado porque es más ligero.
B.Recomiendo que pidas el pescado porque es más ligero.
C.Recomiendo pedir el pescado porque es más ligero.
D.Recomiendo el pescado porque pides algo más ligero.
Challenging
Analyze this sentence: 'Yo quiero probar la paella.' Why is the verb 'probar' in the infinitive and not the subjunctive?
A.Because 'querer' is not a subjunctive trigger.
B.Because the sentence is a statement of fact.
C.Because there is no change of subject from the main clause to the subordinate clause.
D.Because 'probar' is an irregular verb.
Challenging
Translate the following complex idea into the best Spanish sentence: 'The chef suggests that the diners share the appetizer.'
A.El chef sugiere que los comensales comparten el entremés.
B.El chef sugiere que los comensales compartan el entremés.
C.El chef sugiere los comensales a compartir el entremés.
D.El chef sugiere compartir el entremés a los comensales.
Want to practice and check your answers?
Sign up to access all questions with instant feedback, explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practicing Free