A unit of the course: the story, then chapter by chapter — sections, numbered lessons, a source or the numbers to read, three checks each — a review per chapter, and the wrap-up at the end.
Drawn scene: the Andes with a big mother llama and three little llamas grazing below snowy peaks, a condor overhead
4Unit
One and Many, Big and Little
Describing
One cat is nice. A basket of kittens is even better! In this unit you will learn to talk about more than one thing in Spanish. Gato becomes gatos. Flor becomes flores.
You will also learn to tell what things are like. Is the dog big or little? Is the girl happy or sad? You will say el perro grande and la niña feliz, and make the words match.
The story of the language
Step 1
Add -s to words that end in a vowel: gato, gatos.
Step 2
Count plural things: tres perros.
Step 3
Add -es to words that end in a consonant: flor, flores.
Step 4
Change z to c before -es: lápiz, lápices.
Step 5
Change el to los and la to las.
Step 6
Name big, little, tall, short, happy and sad.
Step 7
Put the describing word after the thing: el perro grande.
Step 8
Make words match: la gata pequeña, los perros grandes.
7
Chapter
More Than One
Plurals
Big questionHow do Spanish words change when there is more than one?
The story
A Basket of Kittens
One cat at Tomás's house turns into a whole basket of kittens.
Tomás has one cat. Her name is Luna. "Tengo un gato," he says. That means "I have a cat." Luna is soft and gray. She sleeps in a basket by the door.
One morning Tomás looks in the basket. He sees Luna. He sees something else too. There are tiny kittens! "¡Mamá, mira!" he shouts. That means "Mom, look!"
Tomás counts them. Uno, dos, tres, cuatro. "¡Cuatro gatitos!" he says. That means four kittens. The word gatito got an s at the end. Now it means more than one.
Mamá smiles. "Un gato," she says, pointing to Luna. "Los gatitos," she says, pointing to the babies. Tomás hears it. One word becomes many words with a little s.
Talk about itWhat do you have more than one of at home? How would you say it in Spanish?
Section 1
Just Add -s
7.1
One Cat, Two Cats
Main ideaWhen a word ends in a vowel, add -s to mean more than one.
Look at one cat. In Spanish it is (cat). Now look at two cats. They are (cats). We just added an s.
Gato ends in o. The letters a, e, i, o, u are vowels. When a word ends in a vowel, add -s. Casa becomes casas. Mesa becomes mesas.
More than one is called plural. English does this too: cat, cats. So this one is easy for you!
Words to know
el gato
the cat — one cat
los gatos
the cats — more than one cat
Check yourself
1. What does gatos mean?
Why: Gato means cat. Adding -s makes it plural: gatos means cats.
2. Casa ends in a vowel. What is the plural?
Why: Casa ends in the vowel a, so we just add -s: casas.
3. Which word means more than one book?
Why: Libro ends in o, a vowel, so add -s: libros.
7.2
Counting Plural Things
Main ideaAfter a number bigger than one, the thing is plural: tres perros.
Picture one dog. That is un perro (a dog). Now picture three dogs. That is (three dogs).
After dos, tres, cuatro or any bigger number, the word gets an s. Dos gatos. Cinco libros. Diez casas.
Uno is different. With just one, there is no s. Un perro. Una casa. Only one, so no plural.
Words to know
el perro
the dog — one dog
tres perros
three dogs — the s shows more than one
Check yourself
1. How do you say five dogs?
Why: After cinco there is more than one, and perro ends in a vowel, so add -s: cinco perros.
2. Which one is right for one dog?
Why: With just one, there is no plural s: un perro.
3. What does dos gatos mean?
Why: Dos means two and gatos means cats.
Section 2
Add -es
7.3
One Flower, Many Flowers
Main ideaWhen a word ends in a consonant, add -es: flor becomes flores.
Look at one flower. It is (the flower). Flor ends in r. R is not a vowel. It is a consonant.
When a word ends in a consonant, add -es. Flor becomes (flowers). Tren becomes trenes. Color becomes colores.
Why -es? Try to say flors. It is hard to say! The e makes it easy. Say it slowly: flo-res.
Words to know
la flor
the flower — ends in r
las flores
the flowers — add -es after a consonant
Check yourself
1. What is the plural of flor?
Why: Flor ends in the consonant r, so add -es: flores.
2. What is the plural of tren?
Why: Tren ends in the consonant n, so add -es: trenes.
3. Which word needs -es to be plural?
Why: Color ends in r, a consonant, so it becomes colores. Gato and casa end in vowels.
7.4
Z Changes to C
Main ideaWhen a word ends in z, change z to c and add -es: lápiz becomes lápices.
Look at one pencil. It is (the pencil). It ends in z. Now look at many pencils.
The z changes to c. Then add -es. Lápiz becomes (pencils). Pez (fish) becomes peces. Luz (light) becomes luces.
Many kids write lápizes. That is a mistake. Remember: the z turns into c, then add -es.
Words to know
el lápiz
the pencil — ends in z
los lápices
the pencils — z changes to c, then add -es
el pez
the fish (a live fish) — plural is peces
Check yourself
1. What is the plural of lápiz?
Why: Z changes to c, then add -es: lápices.
2. What does peces mean?
Why: Pez means fish. Peces is the plural, more than one fish.
3. What happens to the z in luz?
Why: In the plural, z changes to c: luz becomes luces.
Section 3
Two Words Change
7.5
El Becomes Los
Main ideaEl means the for one thing. Los means the for more than one.
Look at one cat. It is gato. Now look at many cats. It is gatos. The word the changed!
El goes with one thing. Los goes with many things. El libro, los libros. El perro, los perros.
In English, the never changes. In Spanish it does. So two words change: el becomes los, and gato becomes gatos.
Words to know
el
the — for one thing like el perro
los
the — for many things like los perros
Check yourself
1. What is the plural of el libro?
Why: Both words change: el becomes los and libro becomes libros.
2. Which word means the for many things like gatos?
Why: Los goes with many things like gatos: los gatos.
3. What is wrong with el perros?
Why: Perros is plural, so the must be plural too: los perros.
7.6
La Becomes Las
Main ideaLa means the for one thing. Las means the for more than one.
Look at one house. It is casa (the house). Now look at many houses. It is casas.
La goes with one thing. goes with many things. La flor, las flores. La mesa, las mesas.
Just add s to la! La becomes las. Casa becomes casas. Both words get an s at the end.
Words to know
la
the — for one thing like la casa
las
the — for many things like las casas
Check yourself
1. What is the plural of la flor?
Why: La becomes las, and flor becomes flores: las flores.
2. What is the plural of la mesa?
Why: La becomes las, and mesa gets -s: las mesas.
3. Las casas means…
Why: Las and casas are both plural, so it means the houses.
Chapter review
More Than One
0 / 6
1. What is the plural of el gato?
Why: Both words change: el becomes los and gato becomes gatos.
2. What is the plural of la flor?
Why: Flor ends in a consonant, so add -es. La becomes las: las flores.
3. What is the plural of el lápiz?
Why: Z changes to c, then add -es. El becomes los: los lápices.
4. How do you say four houses?
Why: Casa ends in a vowel, so add -s: cuatro casas.
5. In the story, what does cuatro gatitos mean?
Why: Cuatro means four and gatitos means kittens.
6. Which word ends in a vowel and just needs -s?
Why: Libro ends in the vowel o, so it becomes libros.
Send it to your teacher
8
Chapter
Big, Little, Happy, Sad
Adjectives
Big questionHow do we tell what something is like in Spanish?
The story
The Elephant and the Mouse
A big elephant and a little mouse find out they can be friends.
In a green park lives an elephant. He is very big. In Spanish we say el elefante grande. That means the big elephant. He is also sad. He has no friends.
Under a rock lives a mouse. She is very little. In Spanish we say la ratona pequeña. That means the little mouse. She is sad too. She is all alone.
One day the mouse sees the elephant. "¡Hola!" she says. The elephant looks down. "¡Hola!" he says. They play all day in the park.
Now the big elephant is feliz. That means happy. The little mouse is feliz too. Big or little, happy or sad, they are good friends now.
Talk about itWho is big and who is little in the story? How did they feel at the end?
Section 1
Big and Little
8.1
Grande and Pequeño
Main ideaGrande means big. Pequeño means little.
Picture an elephant. It is very big. In Spanish, big is (big). El elefante grande.
Now picture a mouse. It is very little. Little is (little). El ratón pequeño.
Grande and pequeño are opposites. Opposites mean very different things, like big and little.
Words to know
grande
big — el elefante grande, the big elephant
pequeño
little or small — el ratón pequeño, the little mouse
Check yourself
1. What does grande mean?
Why: Grande means big.
2. Which word is the opposite of grande?
Why: Pequeño means little, the opposite of big.
3. An elephant is…
Why: An elephant is very big, so it is grande.
8.2
Alto and Bajo
Main ideaAlto means tall. Bajo means short.
Picture a giraffe. It is very tall. In Spanish, tall is (tall). La jirafa is tall.
Now picture a little puppy. It is short. Short is (short). Alto and bajo are opposites.
Be careful! Bajo means short, like not tall. It does not mean a short time or a short trip.
Words to know
alto
tall — el árbol alto, the tall tree
bajo
short (not tall) — el perro bajo, the short dog
Check yourself
1. What does alto mean?
Why: Alto means tall.
2. Which word is the opposite of alto?
Why: Bajo means short, the opposite of tall.
3. A very tall tree is el árbol…
Why: Alto means tall: el árbol alto.
Section 2
Happy and Sad
8.3
Feliz and Triste
Main ideaFeliz means happy. Triste means sad.
Picture a kid at a birthday party. She smiles and laughs. She is (happy).
Now picture a kid who lost his ball. He frowns. He is (sad). Feliz and triste are opposites.
Feliz and triste stay the same for a boy or a girl. El niño feliz. La niña feliz.
Words to know
feliz
happy — like a smile at a party
triste
sad — like a frown when you lose something
Check yourself
1. What does triste mean?
Why: Triste means sad.
2. A kid smiles at a party. The kid is…
Why: A smiling kid is happy: feliz.
3. Which word is the opposite of feliz?
Why: Triste means sad, the opposite of happy.
8.4
The Describing Word Goes After
Main ideaIn Spanish, the describing word comes after the thing: el perro grande.
In English we say the big dog. Big comes first. In Spanish we say . Grande comes after!
The thing comes first. Then the describing word. La casa pequeña. El niño feliz. El árbol alto.
English speakers often say el grande perro. That sounds wrong. Say the thing first, then what it is like.
Words to know
el perro grande
the big dog — the describing word grande comes after perro
Check yourself
1. How do you say the big dog?
Why: In Spanish the describing word goes after the thing: el perro grande.
2. What does el gato feliz mean?
Why: Gato is cat and feliz is happy: the happy cat.
3. Which one has the right Spanish order?
Why: The thing comes first, then the describing word: el árbol alto.
Section 3
Words That Match
8.5
Matching -o and -a
Main ideaDescribing words ending in -o change to -a to match la words.
Look at a little boy cat. He is el gato . Now look at a little girl cat. She is la gata .
Pequeño ends in o. With la gata it changes to a. The words match. Alto becomes alta. Bajo becomes baja.
Grande, feliz and triste do not end in o. They stay the same. El gato grande. La gata grande.
Words to know
pequeño
little — goes with el words: el gato pequeño
pequeña
little — goes with la words: la gata pequeña
Check yourself
1. How do you say the little house?
Why: Casa goes with la, so pequeño changes to pequeña, and it goes after: la casa pequeña.
2. Which one is right?
Why: Niña goes with la, so alto changes to alta.
3. Which describing word stays the same for el and la?
Why: Grande does not end in o, so it stays the same: el perro grande, la casa grande.
8.6
Many Big Dogs
Main ideaWhen the thing is plural, the describing word gets -s or -es too.
Look at one big dog: el perro grande. Now look at many big dogs: . Every word gets an s!
Pequeña becomes pequeñas: las casas pequeñas. Triste becomes tristes: los niños tristes.
Feliz ends in z. Remember the rule? Z changes to c, then add -es. Feliz becomes felices: los gatos felices.
Words to know
los perros grandes
the big dogs — every word is plural
felices
happy (for many) — feliz changes z to c and adds -es
Check yourself
1. What is the plural of el perro grande?
Why: Every word becomes plural: los perros grandes.
2. What is the plural of feliz?
Why: Z changes to c, then add -es: felices.
3. Which one means the little houses?
Why: Casas goes with las and -a, and everything is plural: las casas pequeñas.
Chapter review
Big, Little, Happy, Sad
0 / 6
1. What does pequeño mean?
Why: Pequeño means little or small.
2. How do you say the sad dog?
Why: The describing word goes after the thing: el perro triste.
3. Which one matches?
Why: Gata goes with la, so pequeño becomes pequeña.
4. In the story, how is the elephant at the end?
Why: At the end the elephant has a friend, so he is feliz, happy.
5. What is the opposite of alto?
Why: Alto means tall and bajo means short.
6. What is the plural of el niño feliz?
Why: Everything is plural, and feliz changes z to c before -es: los niños felices.
Send it to your teacher
★
Unit wrap-up
One and Many, Big and Little
Twelve words, twelve meanings
0 / 8
Tap a word, then tap its meaning. A right pair locks in green.
Words
Meanings
Unit test
Fifteen questions across the unit
0 / 10
1. What is the plural of el libro?
Why: Both words change: el becomes los and libro gets -s.
2. What is the plural of la flor?
Why: Flor ends in a consonant, so add -es, and la becomes las.
3. What is the plural of el pez?
Why: Z changes to c, then add -es: los peces.
4. How do you say two cats?
Why: After dos there is more than one, so add -s: dos gatos.
5. What does triste mean?
Why: Triste means sad.
6. How do you say the big house?
Why: The describing word goes after the thing, and casa goes with la: la casa grande.
7. Which one matches?
Why: Niña goes with la, so alto changes to alta.
8. What is the opposite of grande?
Why: Grande means big and pequeño means little.
9. What is the plural of el gato feliz?
Why: Everything is plural, and feliz changes z to c before -es.
10. Which word means the for many la words?
Why: La becomes las for more than one: las casas.
Send it to your teacher
Spiral review
Five questions from earlier units
0 / 5
1. (Unit 3) What do el and la mean?
Why: El and la both mean the. Un and una mean a.
2. (Unit 2) Which word means twelve?
Why: Doce is twelve.
3. (Unit 1) How do you say helado?
Why: The h is quiet in Spanish.
4. (Unit 3) Which is right?
Why: Hermana ends in -a and goes with la.
5. (Unit 2) What color is verde?
Why: Verde means green.
Send it to your teacher
Write it
Draw some animals. Label them or say 3 sentences in Spanish, like: Tres perros grandes. Una gata pequeña. Los gatos felices. Use a number, the thing, and a describing word that matches.
Put the describing word after the thing.
Add -s or -es when there is more than one.
Check el, la, los and las.
Say each one out loud.
0 wordsSaved on this device as you type.
Practice rooms
Rooms already on the site that belong to this unit — cards, quizzes, a lab.
Every lesson keeps its own three checks; a lesson is ticked when all three are right. Chapter reviews, the unit test and its spiral review (five questions from earlier units in this band) score on the page. When the site is connected to your sheet, or the link carries ?dest=, each one also has a Send box: the first-try score, the standards, the supports used, the attempt number and the minutes go to your sheet as an IEP data point.
Print this page for a paper copy of the readings, the sources, the words and the questions; the answers print as dashed boxes under each question.
Fact-check notes for this course live in the handoff: quotes marked (paraphrased) were set that way on purpose.