Expanding your Mastery of Verbs: the next French and Spanish verbs to study
In our previous blog, we covered the top 10 essential verbs you need to learn first when tackling a new language. Once you’re comfortable with those, the next step is to expand your vocabulary with more versatile verbs. This will allow you to express yourself more clearly and describe a broader range of actions and emotions.
The Next 10 Verbs to Learn
Once you’ve mastered the initial 10 verbs, these additional verbs will help add nuance and variety to your conversations.
To come
French: venir
Spanish: venir
Useful for talking about movement and invitations. "I’m coming to the party" or "She’s coming home."
To want
French: vouloir
Spanish: querer
Expressing desires and needs is crucial in any conversation, and "to want" is essential for that.
To need
French: avoir besoin de
Spanish: necesitar
Another verb for expressing needs, this is particularly useful in practical, day-to-day conversations.
To ask
French: demander
Spanish: preguntar
"To ask" is key in navigating conversations, whether you need to ask for information, directions, or help.
To call
French: appeler
Spanish: llamar Both literal ("to call someone on the phone") and metaphorical uses ("to call someone a name") make this verb highly versatile.
To think
French: penser
Spanish: pensar Expressing thoughts and opinions becomes much easier once you’ve mastered this verb.
To take
French: prendre
Spanish: tomar
"To take" is useful for many actions, from taking a break to taking a bus. Also used in both French and Spanish to translate the phrase, "I have breakfast" and similar.
To like
French: aimer
Spanish: gustar Expressing likes and dislikes is a frequent part of conversation. While "aimer" means "to like" or "to love" in French, Spanish uses the verb "gustar" in a unique construction.
To love
French: adorer / aimer
Spanish: amar / querer "To love" is used to talk about both romantic and platonic feelings, but in Spanish, "querer" can also be used in a less intense way.
To understand
French: comprendre
Spanish: entender This verb is essential for confirming information or making sure you’re on the same page with someone in a conversation.
Don’t Forget Modal Verbs
Modal verbs like "can," "want," and "must" are equally important as they allow you to express ability, intention, and necessity. Think about the difference in meaning between: I want to do my homework; I can do my homework; I must do my homework. Here are three modal verbs you should learn:
To be able to / Can
French: pouvoir
Spanish: poder
Want
French: vouloir
Spanish: querer
To have to/ Must
French: devoir
Spanish: deber
Modal verbs allow for more flexible communication, helping you talk about what you can, must, or will do.
Learning Verbs in Context
Just as with the first set of verbs, it’s important to learn these new verbs in context. The more you see, hear, and use them in natural situations, the better your understanding will be. Listening to conversations, watching videos, and reading in the language will expose you to how these verbs are conjugated and used in everyday life.
In Conclusion:By mastering this second set of 10 verbs, along with the first, you’ll significantly expand your ability to hold conversations in French, Spanish, or any other language. These verbs will help you go beyond basic communication and begin to express more complex ideas, emotions, and actions. Keep practising and using them in real-life contexts to solidify your knowledge!
If you missed it, click here to read the first part of our recommendations on essential verbs: https://www.tutortaylor.com/post/the-essential-verbs-to-learn-first-in-any-language-part-one
Cate is a qualified teacher with more than 20 years of experience teaching in schools and she has most recently dedicated her time to tutoring both online and face to face. Current and past students come from the New Forest, across the UK, Spain, Switzerland, France, Spain and Hong Kong. Cate has a waiting list for all hours outside of the UK school day but can often find space for those in other time zones or adults who are able to have a lesson during the day.
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