Spanish Speaking Practice: Build Sentences with Empezar, Perder, Cerrar, Preferir – Episode 114

Spanish Speaking Practice: Build Sentences with Empezar, Perder, Cerrar, Preferir

Podcast episode 114 – SEE ALL EPISODES

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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¡Hola! Welcome back to my free podcast ‘Speak Spanish with Maria Fernandez’. Today, we’re going to focus on building sentences with four essential irregular verbs: EMPEZAR (to start/begin), PERDER (to lose), CERRAR (to close), and PREFERIR (to prefer), all in the present tense.

First we’re going to practise conjugating the verb EMPEZAR (to start/begin) in the present tense. Then you’re going to build five short sentences with EMPEZAR. And after that we’ll practise the other three verbs.

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Let’s start:

Verb number 1: EMPEZAR – to start/begin:

This is how you conjugate the verb EMPEZAR in the present tense:
empiezo – I start/begin
empiezas – you [tú] start/begin
empieza – he/she/it starts/begins
empezamos – we start/begin
empezáis – you [vosotros] start/begin
empiezan – they start/begin

The six forms only in Spanish are: empiezo, empiezas, empieza, empezamos, empezáis, empiezan.

Let’s now practise EMPEZAR with five sentences. I’ll say the sentences in English. Can you translate them into Spanish? I’ll tell you the answers after you tell me.

Drill: Practising EMPEZAR

1 I start work at 9.
Translation: Empiezo a trabajar a las nueve.

2 They begin their holidays in July.
Translation: Empiezan sus vacaciones en julio.

3 We start at 3 pm.
Translation: Empezamos a las tres de la tarde.

4 You [tú] start university next month.
Translation: Empiezas la universidad el mes que viene.

5 She begins to feel better.
Translation: Empieza a sentirse mejor.

That’s great! Now let’s move on to our second verb.

Verb number 2: PERDER – to lose:

This is how you conjugate the verb PERDER in the present tense:
pierdo – I lose
pierdes – you [tú] lose
pierde – he/she/it loses
perdemos – we lose
perdéis – you [vosotros] lose
pierden – they lose

The six forms only in Spanish are: pierdo, pierdes, pierde, perdemos, perdéis, pierden.

Let’s now practise PERDER with five sentences. I’ll say the sentences in English. Can you translate them into Spanish? I’ll tell you the answers after you tell me.

Drill: Practising PERDER

1 You [tú] lose your keys often.
Translation: Pierdes las llaves a menudo.

2 She loses her patience.
Translation: Pierde la paciencia.

3 You [vosotros] lose the match.
Translation: Perdéis el partido.

4 They lose money.
Translation: Pierden dinero.

5 I always lose weight in the summer.
Translation: Siempre pierdo peso en verano.

Well done! Let’s move on to the third verb.

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Verb number 3: CERRAR – to close:

This is how you conjugate the verb CERRAR in the present tense:
cierro – I close
cierras – you [tú] close
cierra – he/she/it closes
cerramos – we close
cerráis – you [vosotros] close
cierran – they close

The six forms only in Spanish are: cierro, cierras, cierra, cerramos, cerráis, cierran.

Let’s now practise CERRAR with five sentences. I’ll say the sentences in English. Can you translate them into Spanish? I’ll tell you the answers after you tell me.

Drill: Practising CERRAR

1 She closes the door.
Translation: Cierra la puerta.

2 He closes the shop at 8 pm.
Translation: Cierra la tienda a las ocho de la tarde.

3 We close the windows when it rains.
Translation: Cerramos las ventanas cuando llueve.

4 You [tú] close your eyes when you’re tired.
Translation: Cierras los ojos cuando estás cansado.

5 They close the office in the summer.
Translation: Cierran la oficina en verano.

Let’s go to our last verb.

Verb number 4: PREFERIR – to prefer:

This is how you conjugate the verb PREFERIR in the present tense:
prefiero – I prefer
prefieres – you [tú] prefer
prefiere – he/she/it prefers
preferimos – we prefer
preferís – you [vosotros] prefer
prefieren – they prefer

The six forms only in Spanish are: prefiero, prefieres, prefiere, preferimos, preferís, prefieren.

Let’s now practise PREFERIR with five sentences. I’ll say the sentences in English. Can you translate them into Spanish? I’ll tell you the answers after you tell me.

Drill: Practising PREFERIR

1 I prefer coffee to tea.
Translation: Prefiero el café al té.

2 We prefer to travel by train.
Translation: Preferimos viajar en tren.

3 You [tú] prefer to study in the morning.
Translation: Prefieres estudiar por la mañana.

4 You [vosotros] prefer Spanish food.
Translation: Preferís la comida española.

5 She prefers to read at night.
Translation: Prefiere leer por la noche.

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Final Drill: Combining EMPEZAR, PERDER, CERRAR, and PREFERIR

Now that we’ve practised each verb separately, let’s combine all four into one final drill. I’ll say ten sentences in English. Can you say them to me in Spanish? Let’s start:

1 I start work at 8 am.
Translation: Empiezo a trabajar a las ocho de la mañana.

2 You [tú] lose your gloves often.
Translation: Pierdes los guantes a menudo.

3 He closes the window.
Translation: Cierra la ventana.

4 We prefer to eat at home.
Translation: Preferimos comer en casa.

5 They start the meeting late.
Translation: Empiezan la reunión tarde.

6 She loses her keys every week.
Translation: Pierde las llaves todas las semanas.

7 You [tú] close the book.
Translation: Cierras el libro.

8 I prefer coffee.
Translation: Prefiero café.

9 We start this year.
Translation: Empezamos este año.

10 You [vosotros] close the shop at 7 pm.
Translation: Cerráis la tienda a las siete de la tarde.

Find out more about my Spanish courses.