Spanish Speaking Practice: Build Sentences with Pedir, Dormir, Volver, Jugar – Episode 113

Spanish Speaking Practice: Build Sentences with Pedir, Dormir, Volver, Jugar

Podcast episode 113 – 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: PEDIR (to ask for), DORMIR (to sleep), VOLVER (to return), and JUGAR(to play), all in the present tense.

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

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Let’s start:

Verb number 1: PEDIR – to ask for:

This is how you conjugate the verb PEDIR in the present tense:
pido – I ask for
pides – you [tú] ask for
pide – he/she/it asks for
pedimos – we ask for
pedís – you [vosotros] ask for
piden – they ask for

The six forms only in Spanish are: pido, pides, pide, pedimos, pedís, piden.

Let’s now practise PEDIR 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 PEDIR

1 I ask for a coffee every morning.
Translation: Pido un café todas las mañanas.

2 They ask for bread.
Translation: Piden pan.

3 We ask for the bill.
Translation: Pedimos la cuenta.

4 You [tú] ask for help.
Translation: Pides ayuda.

5 He asks for a raise every year.
Translation: Pide un aumento todos los años.

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

Verb number 2: DORMIR – to sleep:

This is how you conjugate the verb DORMIR in the present tense:
duermo – I sleep
duermes – you [tú] sleep
duerme – he/she/it sleeps
dormimos – we sleep
dormís – you [vosotros] sleep
duermen – they sleep

The six forms only in Spanish are: duermo, duermes, duerme, dormimos, dormís, duermen.

Let’s now practise DORMIR 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 DORMIR

1 You [tú] sleep eight hours.
Translation: Duermes ocho horas.

2 She sleeps a lot.
Translation: Duerme mucho.

3 You [vosotros] sleep well.
Translation: Dormís bien.

4 They sleep quite well.
Translation: Duermen bastante bien.

5 I sleep better in the winter.
Translation: Duermo mejor en invierno.

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

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Verb number 3: VOLVER – to return/to go back:

This is how you conjugate the verb VOLVER in the present tense:
vuelvo – I return/go back
vuelves – you [tú] return/go back
vuelve – he/she/it returns/goes back
volvemos – we return/go back
volvéis – you [vosotros] return/go back
vuelven – they return/go back

The six forms only in Spanish are: vuelvo, vuelves, vuelve, volvemos, volvéis, vuelven.

Let’s now practise VOLVER 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 VOLVER

1 She goes back home late.
Translation: Vuelve a casa tarde.

2 He returns from work at 6 pm.
Translation: Vuelve del trabajo a las seis de la tarde.

3 We go back to Spain every summer.
Translation: Volvemos a España todos los veranos.

4 You [tú] go back twice a year.
Translation: Vuelves dos veces al año.

5 They only go back once a year.
Translation: Solo vuelven una vez al año.

Let’s go to our last verb.

Verb number 4: JUGAR – to play:

This is how you conjugate the verb JUGAR in the present tense:
juego – I play
juegas – you [tú] play
juega – he/she/it plays
jugamos – we play
jugáis – you [vosotros] play
juegan – they play

The six forms only in Spanish are: juego, juegas, juega, jugamos, jugáis, juegan.

Let’s now practise JUGAR 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 JUGAR

1 I play football on Sundays.
Translation: Juego al fútbol los domingos.

2 We play chess.
Translation: Jugamos al ajedrez.

3 You [tú] play tennis after work.
Translation: Juegas al tenis después del trabajo.

4 You [vosotros] play a lot of tennis.
Translation: Jugáis mucho al tenis.

5 She plays with her children.
Translation: Juega con sus hijos.

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Final Drill: Combining PEDIR, DORMIR, VOLVER, and JUGAR

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 ask for a glass of water.
Translation: Pido un vaso de agua.

2 You [tú] sleep very well.
Translation: Duermes muy bien.

3 He goes back in the summer.
Translation: Vuelve en verano.

4 We play with two friends.
Translation: Jugamos con dos amigos.

5 They ask for more bread.
Translation: Piden más pan.

6 She sleeps eight hours.
Translation: Duerme ocho horas.

7 You [tú] return very late.
Translation: Vuelves muy tarde.

8 I play tennis this afternoon.
Translation: Juego al tenis esta tarde.

9 We go back home at half past three.
Translation: Volvemos a casa a las tres y media.

10 You [vosotros] ask for the bill.
Translation: Pedís la cuenta.

Find out more about my Spanish courses.