KS4 · Spanish · Year 11
Experiencias del colegio: 'ser' and 'estar', present and imperfect (Edexcel)
Studying and my future: Repaso - el colegio y el trabajo
Learn it. Recall it. Make it stick.
IllumED Slides
IllumED · 1/10
Your learning goal
I can combine present and imperfect tenses of 'ser' and 'estar' to describe school experiences.
1 of 10
Experiencias del colegio: 'ser' and 'estar', present and imperfect (Edexcel): slides adapted from the imported teaching text; recall questions created from its keywords, learning points and common mistakes. Self-check practice, with no automatic grading or XP. Answers stay on this page and are cleared when you leave.
Original teaching resources
The original illustrated PowerPoint is available as well as the IllumED text slides. It retains the publisher’s design and credits.
Download original PowerPoint ↓What you’ll learn
I can combine present and imperfect tenses of 'ser' and 'estar' to describe school experiences.
Key learning points
- In Spanish there are two verbs for 'to be'. Use 'estar' for location, state or mood and 'ser' for permanent traits.
- The imperfect tense is used to express how things were or used to be in the past, or to say what was happening.
- 'Estar' is an irregular verb in many tenses, but it follows regular patterns in the imperfect tense.
- In the imperfect tense, 'estar' is conjugated regularly using -ar verb endings.
Words to know
- simple present
- describes habitual events in the present, e.g. 'I do'
- imperfect
- tense used to describe how things were or used to be in the past
- ser
- verb 'to be, being' used to describe permanent traits
- estar
- verb 'to be, being' used to describe temporary state/mood and location
Common mistakes
It is acceptable to only give short answers in the conversation element of the speaking exam.
It is important to give answers in the conversation that include at least three verb clauses, and regularly practise developing answers with different verb tenses, subjects, opinions and reasons.
For parents, carers and teachers
- Brainstorming questions before tackling a conversation on a given theme is a step often missed out by students. If they do this regularly in class, it will also help them to anticipate possible questions in the speaking exam.