Spanish Speaking Practice: Build Sentences with Venir, Poder, Querer, Saber – Episode 110

Spanish Speaking Practice: Build Sentences with Venir, Poder, Querer, Saber

Podcast episode 110 – 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: venir (to come), poder (to be able to), querer (to want), and saber (to know), all in the present tense.

First, we’re going to practise conjugating the verb venir (to come) in the present tense. Then you’re going to build five short sentences with venir. After that, we’ll practise the other three verbs.

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Let’s start:

Verb number 1: Venir – to come:
This is how you conjugate the verb VENIR in the present tense:

vengo – I come
vienes – you [tú] come
viene – he/she/it comes
venimos – we come
venís – you [vosotros] come
vienen – they come

The six forms only in Spanish are: vengo, vienes, viene, venimos, venís, vienen.

Drill: Practising VENIR
1 I come to the swimming-pool every Saturday.
Translation: Vengo a la piscina todos los sábados.

2 They come to school by bike.
Translation: Vienen a la escuela en bicicleta.

3 We come home at half past five.
Translation: Venimos a casa a las cinco y media.

4 You [tú] come to the gym in the evening.
Translation: Vienes al gimnasio por la tarde.

5 She comes to visit us often.
Translation: Viene a visitarnos a menudo.

Verb number 2: Poder – to be able to:
This is how you conjugate the verb PODER in the present tense:

puedo – I can/am able to
puedes – you [tú] can/are able to
puede – he/she/it can/is able to
podemos – we can/are able to
podéis – you [vosotros] can/are able to
pueden – they can/are able to

The six forms only in Spanish are: puedo, puedes, puede, podemos, podéis, pueden.

Drill: Practising PODER
1 You [tú] can go tomorrow.
Translation: Puedes ir mañana.

2 She can do it.
Translation: Puede hacerlo.

3 We can go to the concert tomorrow.
Translation: Podemos ir al concierto mañana.

4 They can finish their project today.
Translation: Pueden terminar su proyecto hoy.

5 I can help you with your homework.
Translation: Puedo ayudarte con tu tarea.

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Verb number 3: Querer – to want:
This is how you conjugate the verb QUERER in the present tense:

quiero – I want
quieres – you [tú] want
quiere – he/she/it wants
queremos – we want
queréis – you [vosotros] want
quieren – they want

The six forms only in Spanish are: quiero, quieres, quiere, queremos, queréis, quieren.

Drill: Practising QUERER
1 I want to eat meat.
Translation: Quiero comer carne.

2 She wants to travel to Spain.
Translation: Quiere viajar a España.

3 You [tú] want a new phone.
Translation: Quieres un teléfono nuevo.

4 We want to learn Spanish.
Translation: Queremos aprender español.

5 They want to watch a comedy.
Translation: Quieren ver una comedia.

Verb number 4: Saber – to know:
This is how you conjugate the verb SABER in the present tense:

sé – I know
sabes – you [tú] know
sabe – he/she/it knows
sabemos – we know
sabéis – you [vosotros] know
saben – they know

The six forms only in Spanish are: sé, sabes, sabe, sabemos, sabéis, saben.

Drill: Practising SABER
1 I know the answer to the question.
Translation: Sé la respuesta a la pregunta.

2 You [tú] know how to cook.
Translation: Sabes cocinar.

3 He knows where the bank is.
Translation: Sabe dónde está el banco.

4 We know how to do it.
Translation: Sabemos cómo hacerlo.

5 They know many interesting things.
Translation: Saben muchas cosas interesantes.

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Final Drill: Combining Venir, Poder, Querer, and Saber
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 come to the club on Wednesdays.
Translation: Vengo al club los miércoles.

2 You [tú] can do it if you try.
Translation: Puedes hacerlo si lo intentas.

3 He wants to play football.
Translation: Quiere jugar al fútbol.

4 We know where they are.
Translation: Sabemos dónde están.

5 They come to visit us on Mondays.
Translation: Vienen a visitarnos los lunes.

6 She can help you with your project.
Translation: Puede ayudarte con tu proyecto.

7 You [tú] want to go to the concert.
Translation: Quieres ir al concierto.

8 I know she’s tired.
Translation: Sé que está cansada.

9 We come home after work.
Translation: Venimos a casa después del trabajo.

10 They can go tomorrow.
Translation: Pueden ir mañana.

Find out more about my Spanish courses.