Overview
Unit I of "Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish" presents essential Spanish vocabulary and grammar, focusing on cognates, family terms, articles, gender, the verb "ser," and possession.
Vocabulary: Cognates & Family Members
- Cognates are words similar in Spanish and English, such as "familia" (family) and "hotel."
- Common family members in Spanish: madre (mother), padre (father), hermano (brother), hermana (sister), hijo (son), hija (daughter).
Grammar: Ser, Articles, Gender, and Possession
- "Ser" is the verb used to express identity, origin, and characteristics (e.g., Yo soy estudiante).
- Articles in Spanish include "el" (the, masculine singular), "la" (the, feminine singular), "los" (the, masculine plural), "las" (the, feminine plural).
- Nouns have gender in Spanish; most ending in -o are masculine, and -a are feminine.
- Possession is shown using "de" (of), for example, "el libro de Juan" (Juan's book).
Key Terms & Definitions
- Cognate — a word that looks and means the same in two languages.
- Ser — a verb meaning "to be," used for permanent traits and identity.
- Article — a word before a noun defining it as specific or unspecific (e.g., "the" or "a").
- Gender (noun) — grammatical classification as masculine or feminine.
- Possession — showing ownership, often using "de" in Spanish.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and memorize family member vocabulary and common cognates.
- Practice using the verb "ser" in sentences about identity and origin.
- Study the use of definite and indefinite articles with attention to noun gender.
- Complete any assigned practice activities on these topics.