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: a hillside town seen through one day, the sun rising, high at noon and setting in three arcs, with a rooster, a clock tower and lit windows
8Unit
First, Then, Last: Telling a Day
Sequencing
Every day has an order. You wake up, you eat, you go to school, you play and you sleep. In this unit you learn to tell that order in Spanish with small signpost words: primero (first), luego (then), después (after that) and finalmente (finally).
You also learn to name the parts of the day, the days of the week and the time on the hour, like Es la una and Son las tres. You use everyday verbs such as como (I eat), voy (I go), juego (I play) and leo (I read).
Then you become a writer. You join ideas with y, pero and también. You build a short story with a beginning, a middle and an end, or draw it as a comic strip. Finally, you check your verbs and describing words and read your story aloud.
The story of the language
1492
Antonio de Nebrija publishes the first grammar of the Castilian Spanish language
1508
Juan Ponce de León founds an early Spanish settlement in Puerto Rico
1605
Miguel de Cervantes publishes the first part of Don Quijote, a famous story told in Spanish
1713
The Real Academia Española (RAE) is founded in Madrid to care for the Spanish language
1898
Puerto Rico becomes a territory of the United States after the Spanish-American War
1917
The Jones Act makes people born in Puerto Rico United States citizens
1945
Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral wins the Nobel Prize in Literature
1952
Puerto Rico adopts its own constitution as a commonwealth of the United States
1968
The United States begins National Hispanic Heritage Week
1988
Hispanic Heritage Week grows into a full month, from September 15 to October 15
15
Chapter
My Day in Order
Daily Routine
Big questionHow can a few small Spanish words turn a list of actions into a day someone can follow?
The story
A Day with Sofía in San Juan
Sofía lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and she tells her whole day in order.
Sofía is ten years old. She lives in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico, people speak Spanish and English. Sofía speaks both. Today she tells us her day in Spanish, one step at a time.
"Primero, desayuno." (First, I eat breakfast.) Sofía eats bread and fruit in the kitchen. It is la mañana (the morning). "Luego, voy a la escuela." (Then, I go to school.) She walks with her little brother. The sun is already warm.
At school, Sofía reads and writes. "Leo un libro." (I read a book.) At lunch she says, "Como arroz con habichuelas." (I eat rice and beans.) After lunch she plays outside with her friends. "Juego con mis amigos." (I play with my friends.)
"Después, voy a casa." (After that, I go home.) It is la tarde (the afternoon). She does her homework at the table. Outside, she hears a tiny frog sing: "co-quí, co-quí." The coquí is a small frog famous in Puerto Rico.
It is la noche (the night) now. Sofía looks at the clock. "Son las nueve." (It is nine o'clock.) "Finalmente, duermo." (Finally, I sleep.) Her day had a first step, middle steps and a last step. That order makes her story easy to follow.
Talk about itSofía used primero, luego, después and finalmente. Which of those words would you use to tell the first thing you do each morning?
Section 1
Words That Put Things in Order
15.1
Primero and Luego
Main ideaPrimero means first and luego means then; they start the first and next steps of a day.
Picture your morning. You wake up. You eat. You go to school. In Spanish, you can show the order with small words. The first step starts with (first). "Primero, desayuno." means "First, I eat breakfast."
The next step starts with (then, later). "Luego, voy a la escuela." means "Then, I go to school." Put the order word at the start of the sentence. Put a comma after it, just like in English.
A common mistake is to say "primer" alone for "first" in a list of steps. When you mean "first, I do this," say primero. Another mistake is to forget the comma. Say it: Primero, como. Luego, leo.
Words to know
primero
first — starts the first step: Primero, desayuno (First, I eat breakfast)
luego
then, later — starts the next step: Luego, voy a la escuela
Check yourself
1. What does primero mean?
Why: Primero means first. It starts the first step in a list.
2. Which sentence means "Then, I go to school"?
Why: Luego means then, and voy means I go. The order word goes first, with a comma.
3. Mateo says: "Luego, leo. Primero, como." What does he do first?
Why: Primero, como means First, I eat. Primero marks the first step, even if he says it second.
15.2
Después and Finalmente
Main ideaDespués means after that and finalmente means finally; finalmente marks the last step.
Your day keeps going after school. To add another step, use (after that, afterward). "Después, voy a casa." means "After that, I go home." Look at the accent mark on the last e: des-PUÉS.
To tell the very last step, use (finally). "Finalmente, duermo." means "Finally, I sleep." It sounds a lot like the English word finally. Words that look alike in two languages help you guess.
A common mistake is to drop the accent in después. Without it, the word is spelled wrong. Another mistake is to use finalmente in the middle. Save it for the end. Try it: Después, leo. Finalmente, duermo.
Words to know
después
after that, afterward — adds a later step: Después, voy a casa
finalmente
finally — marks the last step: Finalmente, duermo (Finally, I sleep)
Check yourself
1. Which word is spelled correctly?
Why: The word is después, with the accent on the last e.
2. What does "Finalmente, duermo" mean?
Why: Finalmente means finally, and duermo means I sleep.
3. Where does finalmente belong in a list of steps?
Why: Finalmente marks the last step, so it goes at the end.
15.3
Putting Steps in Order
Main ideaUse primero, luego, después and finalmente in that order to tell four steps clearly.
Now use all four words together. Think of making a sandwich. First, you get bread. Then, you add cheese. After that, you close it. Finally, you eat it. Spanish uses the same kind of chain.
Here is Sofía’s morning: "Primero, desayuno. Luego, voy a la escuela. Después, leo. Finalmente, como." Each word is a signpost. It tells the listener where we are in the day: start, next, later, end.
The usual order is primero, luego, después, finalmente. Luego and después can swap places. Both mean a later step. But primero always starts, and finalmente always ends. A mixed-up order confuses the listener.
Words to know
el orden
the order — the way steps follow each other: primero, luego, después, finalmente
el paso
the step — one action in a list, like Primero, desayuno
Check yourself
1. Which order word should come last?
Why: Finalmente means finally, so it marks the last step.
2. Which list is in the usual order?
Why: The usual chain is first, then, after that, finally: primero, luego, después, finalmente.
3. Which two words can swap places in the middle?
Why: Luego and después both mean a later step, so either can come in the middle.
Section 2
Times of Day and Days of the Week
15.4
Morning, Afternoon and Night
Main ideaLa mañana is the morning, la tarde is the afternoon and la noche is the night.
Think of three parts of your day. You eat breakfast in (the morning). You finish school in (the afternoon, and early evening). You go to bed in (the night).
All three words are feminine, so they use la. To say "in the morning," Spanish says por la mañana. "Leo por la noche" means "I read at night." English says in or at, but Spanish uses por here.
Watch out: mañana without la means tomorrow. "La mañana" is the morning. "Mañana" alone is tomorrow. Also, la tarde can mean the afternoon and the early evening, until it gets dark.
Words to know
la mañana
the morning — Desayuno por la mañana (I eat breakfast in the morning)
la tarde
the afternoon and early evening — Voy a casa por la tarde
la noche
the night — Duermo por la noche (I sleep at night)
Check yourself
1. What does la noche mean?
Why: La noche is the night, when it is dark.
2. How do you say "I read in the afternoon"?
Why: Spanish uses por la tarde for in the afternoon, and tarde is feminine, so it takes la.
3. What does mañana mean when it has no la in front?
Why: Mañana alone means tomorrow. La mañana means the morning.
15.5
The Seven Days
Main ideaThe days are lunes, martes, miércoles, jueves, viernes, sábado and domingo, written with small letters.
Look at a Spanish calendar. The week usually starts on lunes (Monday), not Sunday. Then come martes (Tuesday), miércoles (Wednesday), jueves (Thursday) and viernes (Friday).
The weekend is (Saturday) and domingo (Sunday). Notice the accents: miércoles and sábado. In Spanish, the days are written with small letters. English uses capital letters, so English speakers often get this wrong.
To say "on Monday," Spanish uses el: "El lunes, voy a la escuela." Do not add en. Saying "en lunes" is a common mistake that comes from English "on." For every Monday, say los lunes.
Words to know
el lunes
Monday, or on Monday — the first day of the week on Spanish calendars
el sábado
Saturday, or on Saturday — written with an accent on the first a
la semana
the week — seven days, lunes to domingo
Check yourself
1. Which day comes right after miércoles?
Why: The order is lunes, martes, miércoles, jueves. Jueves (Thursday) comes after miércoles.
2. How do you say "On Friday, I play"?
Why: Spanish uses el for on with a day and writes the day with a small letter: El viernes.
3. Which day is spelled correctly?
Why: Sábado has an accent on the first a and, in a sentence, a small s.
15.6
My Week, Day by Day
Main ideaPut a day at the start of a sentence to tell what you do on that day.
Now join days and actions. Think of your own week. "El lunes, voy a la escuela." (On Monday, I go to school.) "El sábado, juego fútbol." (On Saturday, I play soccer.) The day tells when.
Add a part of the day to be even clearer. "El domingo por la mañana, como con mi abuela." means "On Sunday morning, I eat with my grandmother." The day comes first, then the part of the day.
Use los to show a habit. "Los martes, leo en la biblioteca" means "On Tuesdays, I read at the library." El martes is one Tuesday. Los martes is every Tuesday. The day word does not change.
Words to know
el domingo
Sunday, or on Sunday — the last day of the week on Spanish calendars
los martes
on Tuesdays, every Tuesday — los shows a habit; the word martes stays the same
Check yourself
1. What does "Los sábados, juego" mean?
Why: Los with a day shows a habit: on Saturdays, every Saturday.
2. Which sentence means "On Sunday morning, I eat"?
Why: Domingo is Sunday and por la mañana is in the morning.
3. Which word shows a habit, like every Monday?
Why: Los lunes means on Mondays, every Monday. El lunes is just one Monday.
Section 3
Routine Verbs and the Clock
15.7
Verbs for My Day
Main ideaComo, voy, juego and leo tell what I do; the -o ending means I.
Think of four things you do every day. You eat, you go places, you play and you read. In Spanish: (I eat), (I go), (I play) and (I read). Each one already means "I."
Look at the endings. Com-o, jueg-o, le-o. The -o at the end tells us the speaker is yo (I). That is why you do not need to say yo. "Como" alone is a full sentence: I eat. Voy is special, but it also means I.
A common mistake is to use the dictionary form. "Yo comer" is wrong. The right way is "Yo como" or just "Como." Another mistake: juego has a u inside it. The dictionary form is jugar, but I play is juego.
Words to know
como
I eat — from comer: Como arroz (I eat rice)
voy
I go — from ir: Voy a la escuela (I go to school)
juego
I play — from jugar: Juego con mis amigos
leo
I read — from leer: Leo un libro (I read a book)
Check yourself
1. How do you say "I read a book"?
Why: Leo means I read. Leer is the dictionary form and cannot stand for I.
2. What does "Voy a casa" mean?
Why: Voy means I go, and a casa means home.
3. Which is the right form for "I play"?
Why: Jugar changes u to ue, so I play is juego.
15.8
It Is One O'Clock
Main ideaAsk ¿Qué hora es? and answer Es la una for one o'clock.
Your friend asks, "" (What time is it?). Look at the clock. If the short hand is on 1, say "Es la una." (It is one o’clock.) Notice es, not son, because one is only one.
Why la? In Spanish, the word hora (hour) is feminine and hidden in the sentence. La una means la una hora, the first hour. So times always use la or las, never el.
A common mistake is "Son la una." One is singular, so use es. Another mistake is "Es uno." The number must be una, the feminine form, to match hora. Say it: ¿Qué hora es? Es la una.
Words to know
¿Qué hora es?
What time is it? — the question for telling time
la hora
the hour, the time — a feminine word, so times use la and las
Es la una.
It is one o'clock — uses es because one is singular
Check yourself
1. It is 1:00. What do you say?
Why: One is singular, so use es, and hora is feminine, so use la una.
2. What does ¿Qué hora es? mean?
Why: Hora means hour or time, so ¿Qué hora es? asks the time.
3. Why do Spanish times use la or las?
Why: Times stand for la hora or las horas, and hora is a feminine word.
15.9
Two, Three and More O'Clock
Main ideaFor two o'clock and later, say Son las and the number: Son las tres.
Now the clock says 3:00. More than one hour has passed, so Spanish uses the plural. "" means "It is three o’clock." Son is the plural form of es, and las is the plural of la.
The pattern works for every hour from two to twelve. Son las dos. Son las cinco. Son las doce. To say at a time, use a: "Voy a la escuela a las ocho." (I go to school at eight.)
Add the part of the day to be clear. "Son las tres de la tarde" means 3:00 in the afternoon. "Son las nueve de la noche" means 9:00 at night. Common mistake: "Es las tres." Use son with plural hours.
Words to know
Son las tres.
It is three o'clock — son and las because more than one hour
a las ocho
at eight o'clock — a means at when you tell when something happens
Check yourself
1. It is 3:00. What do you say?
Why: Three is plural, so use son las: Son las tres.
2. What does "Como a las doce" mean?
Why: Como means I eat, and a las doce means at twelve o'clock.
3. How do you say 9:00 at night?
Why: Nine is plural, so son las nueve; de la noche means at night.
Chapter review
My Day in Order
0 / 8
1. Which word starts the first step of a routine?
Why: Primero means first, so it starts the list.
2. What does "Después, voy a casa" mean?
Why: Después means after that, and voy a casa means I go home.
3. In the story, what is the coquí?
Why: The coquí is a tiny frog known for its song, co-quí, in Puerto Rico.
4. How do you say "on Wednesday"?
Why: Spanish uses el with a day, a small letter and an accent: el miércoles.
5. It is 1:00. What is correct?
Why: One is singular, so es la una.
6. What does "Leo por la noche" mean?
Why: Leo means I read, and por la noche means at night.
7. Which sentence is correct for "I eat rice"?
Why: Como already means I eat. The -o ending tells us the speaker is yo.
8. Sofía goes to school at 8:00. Which sentence says that?
Why: At eight o'clock is a las ocho, with the plural las.
Send it to your teacher
16
Chapter
Writing a Short Story
Writing
Big questionWhat makes a short story in Spanish easy for a reader to follow from beginning to end?
The story
The Red Backpack Comes Home
Marco loses his red backpack on the bus, and a kind stranger helps it find its way back.
Marco has a red backpack. In Spanish he calls it la mochila roja (the red backpack). It holds his books, his pencils and a photo of his dog. On Monday, Marco rides the bus to school with his sister, Elena.
Marco is sleepy. He puts the backpack on the seat. The bus stops at the school, and Marco jumps off fast. Then he stops. "¡Mi mochila!" (My backpack!) The backpack is still on the bus. The bus is already gone.
Marco feels sad. "Estoy triste," he says. (I am sad.) Elena says, "Vamos a la oficina." (Let's go to the office.) The secretary calls the bus company. "Una mochila roja, pero pequeña," Marco says. (A red backpack, but small.)
On the bus, a woman sees the backpack. She opens the front pocket. She finds a card with Marco's name and school. She gives the backpack to the driver. The driver brings it back to the school in the afternoon.
At three o'clock, the secretary calls Marco. There it is: la mochila roja. Everything is inside, and the photo of his dog too. Marco smiles. "¡Gracias!" Now he tells the story in order: a beginning, a middle and a happy end.
Talk about itWhat is the beginning, the middle and the end of Marco's story? Say each part in one short sentence.
Section 1
Words That Join Ideas
16.1
Joining with Y
Main ideaY means and; it joins two words or two short sentences into one.
Picture two short sentences: "Como arroz." "Como frijoles." They sound choppy. Join them with y (and): "Como arroz y frijoles." (I eat rice and beans.) Now it is one smooth sentence.
Y can join two actions too. "Leo un libro y juego con mi perro." (I read a book and I play with my dog.) Y is one letter, and it is said like the ee in see. It does not need a comma before it.
A common mistake is to repeat y too much: "Como y leo y juego y duermo." Use commas for a list: "Como, leo, juego y duermo." Put y only before the last item, the same way English uses and.
Words to know
y (and)
and — joins words or ideas: Como arroz y frijoles (I eat rice and beans)
la oración
the sentence — a whole thought with someone and an action
Check yourself
1. What does y mean?
Why: Y means and. It joins two words or ideas.
2. Which list is written correctly?
Why: Use commas in a list and put y only before the last item.
3. What does "Leo un libro y juego" mean?
Why: Leo means I read, y means and, and juego means I play.
16.2
Changing Direction with Pero
Main ideaPero means but; it joins two ideas that go in different directions.
Picture this: Marco loves the bus, but he is sleepy. The second idea surprises us. In Spanish, (but) joins ideas like that. "Me gusta el bus, pero estoy cansado." (I like the bus, but I am tired.)
Put a comma before pero, just like before but in English. "La mochila es roja, pero es pequeña." (The backpack is red, but it is small.) Pero tells the reader: get ready, something different is coming.
Do not mix up pero and perro. Pero with one r means but. Perro with rr means dog. Say them out loud. The rr in perro is rolled. A missing r changes the meaning of your whole sentence.
Words to know
pero
but — joins two ideas that differ: Me gusta leer, pero no me gusta correr
el perro
the dog — spelled with rr; do not mix it up with pero (but)
Check yourself
1. Which word means but?
Why: Pero with one r means but. Perro with rr means dog.
2. Which sentence uses pero correctly?
Why: Pero joins two ideas that differ: I like the sun, but it is hot.
3. What does "La mochila es roja, pero es pequeña" mean?
Why: Roja is red, pero is but, and pequeña is small.
16.3
Adding More with También
Main ideaTambién means also or too; it adds one more matching idea.
Picture Elena and Marco at lunch. Marco says, "Como arroz." Elena says, "Yo ." (Me too.) También means also or too. It adds something that matches what came before.
You can put también after the verb: "Leo un libro. Leo una revista también." Or before the verb: "También leo una revista." (I also read a magazine.) Both are correct. Notice the accent on the last syllable: tam-BIÉN.
A common mistake is using también to show a difference. That is the job of pero. También is for more of the same kind. "Juego fútbol. También juego béisbol." Both ideas are sports, so they match.
Words to know
también
also, too — adds a matching idea: Yo también (Me too)
Yo también.
Me too — a quick way to agree with someone
Check yourself
1. What does también mean?
Why: También means also or too and adds a matching idea.
2. Which word is spelled correctly?
Why: También has an m before the b and an accent on the last e.
3. Pick the best word: "Leo libros. ___ leo cómics."
Why: Reading comics matches reading books, so también (also) fits.
Section 2
Building a Story
16.4
Beginning, Middle and End
Main ideaA good short story has a beginning that sets the scene, a middle with a problem and an end.
Think of Marco’s story. At the beginning, we meet Marco and his red backpack. In the middle, there is a problem: the backpack stays on the bus. At the end, the problem is solved and he gets it back.
In Spanish, these parts are (the beginning), el medio (the middle) and (the end). The beginning tells who and where. The middle tells what goes wrong. The end tells how it turns out.
Order words help. Start the beginning with primero. Use luego or después in the middle. Start the end with finalmente. A reader who sees finalmente knows the story is closing.
Words to know
el principio
the beginning — tells who is in the story and where
el final
the end — tells how the problem turns out
el problema
the problem — what goes wrong in the middle; a masculine word even though it ends in -a
Check yourself
1. Which part of a story tells what goes wrong?
Why: The middle has the problem. The end tells how it turns out.
2. What does el final mean?
Why: El final is the end of the story.
3. Which sentence is best for the end of Marco's story?
Why: Finalmente signals the end, and the problem is solved.
16.5
Four to Six Sentences
Main ideaA short story in Spanish can be four to six sentences, each one a clear step.
Picture a story as a set of stairs. Each sentence is one step. Four to six steps are enough for a short story. Too few steps, and the reader misses something. Too many, and the reader gets lost.
Here is a six-sentence story. "Es sábado. Primero, voy al parque. Luego, juego con mi perro. Pero mi perro corre. Después, busco a mi perro. Finalmente, está en casa." Each sentence moves the story forward.
Keep each sentence short and complete. Each one needs someone and an action. "Mi perro corre" (My dog runs) is complete. "Mi perro grande" (My big dog) is not a sentence. It has no action.
Words to know
el cuento
the story, short tale — Escribo un cuento (I write a story)
escribir
to write — escribo means I write
Check yourself
1. How many sentences does a short story in this lesson need?
Why: Four to six clear sentences are enough for a short story.
2. Which one is a complete sentence?
Why: Mi perro corre has someone (my dog) and an action (runs).
3. What does "Escribo un cuento" mean?
Why: Escribo means I write, and un cuento is a story.
16.6
A Comic Strip in Spanish
Main ideaA comic strip tells a story in boxes; each box can hold one short Spanish sentence.
Picture a comic strip with four boxes. Each box is one step. In Spanish, a comic strip is often called . Each box is a panel, called la viñeta. The words people say go in a speech bubble.
Box 1: Marco on the bus. "Tengo sueño." (I am sleepy.) Box 2: the school. "¡Mi mochila!" Box 3: the office. "Estoy triste." Box 4: the backpack returns. "¡Gracias!" Four boxes tell a whole story.
Keep bubble words short. Use ¡ and ! for exclaiming, and ¿ and ? for asking. The upside-down mark goes at the start. A common mistake is to write only the end mark, like in English.
Words to know
la historieta
the comic strip — a story told in boxes with pictures
la viñeta
the panel — one box of a comic strip
Check yourself
1. What is la historieta?
Why: La historieta is a comic strip, a story told in boxes.
2. Which bubble is punctuated correctly?
Why: Spanish exclamations open with ¡ and close with !.
3. What is one box of a comic strip called?
Why: La viñeta is one panel, or box, of a comic strip.
Section 3
Checking Your Story
16.7
Check Every Verb Ending
Main ideaThe verb ending must match who does the action: -o for yo, -as or -es for tú, -a or -e for él and ella.
You finished your story. Now check it like a detective. Look at every verb. Ask: who does this? If it is you, the ending is usually -o: , como, escribo. If it is Marco, it is usually -a or -e: habla, come, escribe.
Here is a sentence with a mistake: "Marco como arroz." Who eats? Marco, not me. So the verb must be come: "Marco come arroz." (Marco eats rice.) The -o ending only works for yo.
English speakers make this mistake because English verbs barely change: I eat, he eats. In Spanish, the ending carries the meaning. Check each verb, one by one, before you share your story.
Words to know
hablo
I speak — from hablar; the -o ending means yo
habla
he or she speaks — from hablar; the -a ending means él or ella
Check yourself
1. Fix the verb: "Marco ___ arroz."
Why: Marco is él, so comer becomes come.
2. Which ending usually means yo (I)?
Why: In the present tense, most yo forms end in -o: hablo, como, escribo.
3. Which sentence is correct?
Why: Mi hermana is ella, so caminar becomes camina.
16.8
Check Nouns and Describing Words
Main ideaA describing word matches its noun: la mochila roja, el libro rojo, los libros rojos.
Look again at Marco’s backpack: la mochila roja. Mochila is feminine, so the describing word ends in -a: roja. A book is masculine: el libro rojo. The describing word changes to match the noun.
Plural nouns need plural describing words. "Los libros rojos" (the red books). "Las mochilas rojas" (the red backpacks). Add -s to both. In Spanish, the describing word usually comes after the noun, not before like in English.
Common mistakes: "la mochila rojo" (wrong ending) and "la roja mochila" (English order). Some describing words end in -e, like (big). They stay the same for both: el perro grande, la casa grande.
Words to know
rojo
red — rojo, roja, rojos, rojas to match the noun: la mochila roja
grande
big — the same for masculine and feminine: el perro grande, la casa grande
Check yourself
1. Which is correct for "the red backpack"?
Why: Mochila is feminine, so it takes la and roja, and the describing word goes after the noun.
2. Which is correct for "the big dogs"?
Why: Perros is plural, so grande becomes grandes, and los matches too.
3. Which describing word stays the same for el and la?
Why: Words ending in -e, like grande, are the same for masculine and feminine.
16.9
Read It Aloud
Main ideaReading your story aloud helps you hear missing words, wrong endings and choppy sentences.
Picture yourself reading your story to a friend. Your ears catch things your eyes miss. If a sentence sounds strange, stop and check it. Maybe a word is missing, or an ending is wrong.
Read slowly. Say every vowel clearly: a, e, i, o, u. Spanish vowels have one sound each. Stress the syllable with the accent mark: , también, miércoles. The accent tells your voice where to lean.
Listen for choppy parts. "Como. Leo. Juego." sounds like a robot. Join ideas with y, pero or también. Then ask a friend: "¿Te gusta mi cuento?" (Do you like my story?) Their answer helps you improve.
Words to know
leer en voz alta
to read aloud — Leo mi cuento en voz alta (I read my story aloud)
después
after that — say it with the stress on the last syllable, where the accent is
Check yourself
1. Why read your story aloud?
Why: Hearing the story helps you catch missing words and wrong endings.
2. In después, which syllable gets the stress?
Why: The accent mark on é shows the stress: des-PUÉS.
3. Which version flows best?
Why: Order words and y join the actions into smooth sentences.
Chapter review
Writing a Short Story
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1. Which word joins two ideas that differ?
Why: Pero means but and joins ideas that go in different directions.
2. Why did Marco lose his backpack in the story?
Why: Marco was sleepy, jumped off the bus fast and left the backpack on the seat.
3. Which is correct for "the small backpacks"?
Why: Mochilas is feminine plural, so las and pequeñas match it.
4. Fix the verb: "Elena ___ un cuento."
Why: Elena is ella, so escribir becomes escribe.
5. Which word means also or too?
Why: También adds a matching idea: also, too.
6. Which part of a story tells who and where?
Why: The beginning, el principio, sets the scene.
7. Which question is punctuated correctly?
Why: Spanish questions open with ¿ and close with ?.
8. What does "Como arroz, pero no como frijoles" mean?
Why: Pero means but, and no before como means I do not eat.
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Unit wrap-up
First, Then, Last: Telling a Day
Twelve words, twelve meanings
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Tap a word, then tap its meaning. A right pair locks in green.
Words
Meanings
Unit test
Fifteen questions across the unit
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1. Which order word starts the last step?
Why: Finalmente means finally, so it marks the last step.
2. What does "Primero, desayuno" mean?
Why: Primero means first, and desayuno means I eat breakfast.
3. How do you say "in the afternoon"?
Why: Spanish says por la tarde, and tarde is feminine, so it takes la.
4. Which day comes right after viernes?
Why: The order is jueves, viernes, sábado. Sábado (Saturday) follows viernes.
5. Which sentence is correct for "On Tuesday, I read"?
Why: Use el with the day, a small letter and leo for I read.
6. It is 1:00. What do you say?
Why: One is singular, so es la una.
7. It is 4:00. What do you say?
Why: Four is plural, so son las cuatro.
8. Which is the right form for "I play"?
Why: Jugar changes u to ue, so I play is juego.
9. What does "Voy a la escuela a las ocho" mean?
Why: Voy means I go, and a las ocho means at eight o'clock.
10. Pick the best joining word: "Me gusta el bus, ___ estoy cansado."
Why: The second idea goes a different way, so pero (but) fits.
11. Which word means dog, not but?
Why: Perro with rr means dog. Pero with one r means but.
12. Which is correct for "the red books"?
Why: Libros is masculine plural, so los and rojos match it, after the noun.
13. Fix the verb: "Mi hermano ___ un libro."
Why: Mi hermano is él, so leer becomes lee.
14. Which part of a story has the problem?
Why: The middle tells what goes wrong. The end tells how it turns out.
15. Which comic bubble is punctuated correctly?
Why: Spanish exclamations open with ¡ and close with !.
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Spiral review
Five questions from earlier units
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1. (Unit 7) In the empanada story, who ate the last empanada?
Why: Lupe followed the crumbs to the dog, Canela.
2. (Unit 6) What is the rule of thumb for estar?
Why: Estar is for how you feel and where you are right now.
3. (Unit 5) Which sentence is correct?
Why: Ella takes the -a ending: baila.
4. (Unit 7) Sentence: Diego lee en la biblioteca. Which question asks about the person?
Why: ¿Quién? asks who, so it replaces the person, Diego.
5. (Unit 6) Which question asks where someone is from?
Why: ¿De dónde eres? uses ser and de to ask where you are from.
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Write it
Escribe un cuento corto: Mi día. Write 4 to 6 Spanish sentences about one day. Tell what you do in order with primero, luego, después and finalmente. Include one time (Es la una or a las tres) and join two ideas with y, pero or también.
Use the order words from this unit: primero, luego, después, finalmente.
Check every verb ending: -o for yo (como, leo, juego).
Check el and la and make describing words match: la mochila roja.
Write days with small letters and put ¿ or ¡ at the start of questions and exclamations.
Read your story aloud and join choppy sentences with y, pero or también.
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.