My Personal World - Family, Friends and Ser/Estar

Mi familia y mis amigos

Talking about your family and friends is the heart of your first Spanish topic. You need the vocabulary and, above all, one famous piece of grammar: ser versus estar. Some key words: la familia (family), el amigo / la amiga (friend), solo (alone), diferente (different).

Match each Spanish word to its meaning

Ser versus estar

Spanish has two verbs for "to be", and choosing right matters. For this GCSE topic, use the function of the sentence, not just a one-word English translation.

A permanent fact

How do you say "He is my brother", a relationship/identity statement?

• Es mi hermano
• Está mi hermano
• Soy mi hermano
• Estoy mi hermano

A temporary state

How do you say "I am tired", a temporary state?

• Estoy cansado
• Soy cansado
• Es cansado
• Estás cansado

Choose the verb

Complete with the right form: Yo _____ alta (I am tall, permanent). Yo _____ en casa (I am at home, location). Ella _____ mi amiga (she is my friend, identity).

When to use ser

Select ALL THREE sentences that correctly use SER for identity, origin, description or relationship.

• Soy alto (I am tall)
• Es española (she is Spanish)
• Somos amigos (we are friends)
• Soy cansado (I am tired)
• Soy en Madrid (I am in Madrid)
• Soy contento (I am happy)

Saying "my": mi and mis

The Spanish for my changes only for number, not gender.

Singular or plural?

The noun "padres" (parents) is plural. Which word means "my" before it?

• mis
• mi
• mío
• el

My people

Complete: _____ hermano (my brother, singular), _____ padres (my parents, plural), and _____ amigos (your friends).

Gender agreement

Spanish nouns are masculine or feminine, and words around them agree: - Masculine often ends in -o (el hermano, el amigo); feminine often in -a (la hermana, la amiga). - The article changes: el (masculine) and la (feminine). Adjectives agree too: alto becomes alta for a female.

Match each male word to its female form

Find the two errors

A learner wrote these notes. Tap the TWO bits that need fixing.

• Ella es mi hermana.
• Soy cansado when I mean I am tired today.
• Mis padres is plural, so mis is right.
• El amiga is the right article for a female friend.
• Estoy en casa uses estar for location.

Build the sentence

Put these Spanish words in order to mean "She is my sister".

• Ella
• es
• mi
• hermana

Spot the correct Spanish

Select ALL THREE sentences that are CORRECT Spanish.

• mis padres (my parents)
• la amiga (the female friend)
• Estoy cansado (I am tired)
• mi padres (my parents)
• el amiga (the female friend)
• Soy cansado (I am tired)

Write about your personal world

Write three short Spanish sentences about your family or friends.

• Use one family or friend noun from the module
• Use mi or mis before a noun
• Use ser for a relationship, identity or description
• Use estar if you add a feeling, state or location