Spanish 101 · Chapter 4

¿Cómo es tu familia?

Name relatives and relationships; use tener + noun idioms (tener hambre, tener razón); master present-tense stem changes (e→ie, e→i, o→ue); build reflexive routines (levantarse, acostarse).

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What you'll learn

  • Family members and relationships
  • Tener + noun idioms (hunger, sleep, fear, age, etc.)
  • Stem-changing verbs in the present (e→ie, o→ue, e→i)
  • Reflexive verbs and daily routines

Grammar spotlight

Tener + noun replaces many English “to be + adjective” patterns: Tengo hambre (I am hungry), Tiene frío (He/She is cold). Tener años expresses age: Tengo diecinueve años.

Stem-changing verbs keep the change in stressed syllables of “short” forms (singular and ellos/ellas/ustedes) but often restore the infinitive vowel in nosotros/nosotras: pierdo vs. perdemos.

Reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se) show the subject acts on itself: Me levanto temprano. Infinitives and commands can stack the pronoun: Voy a levantarme; ¡Levántate!

Mis hermanos se pelean mucho.
My siblings fight with each other a lot.
¿Tienes tiempo para llamar a tu madre?
Do you have time to call your mother?
Puedo ir, pero no quiero gastar mucho.
I can go, but I do not want to spend a lot.

Try a question

Sample question

Which form is correct for “we get up early”?

Related grammar topics

Drill these in Chapurra before your next quiz.

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Capítulo Preliminar is free — no account needed.