Quick Guide: Spanish Verbs 53 for Intermediate Learners

Spanish Verbs 53 — Common Uses, Examples, and ExercisesSpanish Verbs 53 is a label that might refer to a specific verb list in a textbook, a lesson number in a course, or simply a curated set of verbs chosen for study. Whatever the origin, a focused lesson around “Spanish Verbs 53” can help intermediate learners deepen their grasp of common verbs, their conjugations across tenses, idiomatic uses, and practical exercises to build accuracy and fluency. This article covers key uses, example sentences, explanations of tricky points, and a variety of exercises (with answers) to practice.

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Why focus on a set like “Verbs 53”?

Focusing on a fixed set of verbs helps:

• Build predictable practice routines.
• Reinforce conjugation patterns across tenses.
• Practice verbs in realistic contexts (conversation, writing, listening).
• Identify and correct systematic errors.

A good set typically mixes regular and irregular verbs, useful modal verbs, and verbs that change meaning with reflexive use or different prepositions.

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Typical composition of “Verbs 53”

A balanced list usually includes:

• Regular -ar, -er, and -ir verbs (for pattern practice).
• High-frequency irregular verbs (ser, estar, ir, tener, hacer).
• Stem-changing verbs (e → ie, o → ue, e → i).
• Verbs with orthographic changes (g → j, c → qu in certain forms).
• Reflexive verbs and pronominal uses.
• Verbs commonly used with prepositions or in idioms.

Below is an illustrative set (you can adapt it to your specific curriculum):

• Ser, estar, tener, haber, ir, hacer, poder, querer, decir, venir, ver, dar, saber, conocer, llegar, poner, salir, traer, oír, volver, dormir, pedir, seguir, empezar, entender, encontrar, recordar, volver, jugar, empezar, comenzar, pensar, mostrar, volver, sentir, servir, elegir, preferir, jugar, tocar, trabajar, aprender, escribir, leer, abrir, cerrar, perder, ganar, mirar, usar, vivir, correr, estudiar, pagar, ayudar, esperar, llamar, entrar.

(If your “Verbs 53” list is specified elsewhere, replace these with your actual verbs.)

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Common uses and meanings (selected highlights)

Below are concise notes on frequent verbs and points students often confuse.

• Ser vs. Estar: Use ser for identity, origin, time, and inherent characteristics. Use estar for location, temporary states, and progressive tenses.

  • Example: Ella es médica. / Ella está cansada.

• Tener (to have): possession, age (tener + años), obligations with “que”.

  • Example: Tengo dos hermanos. / Tengo que estudiar.

• Haber: auxiliary for compound tenses (he dicho = I have said) and impersonal expressions (hay = there is/are).

  • Example: Hay muchas personas. / He comido.

• Ir: movement; often used with “a” + infinitive for future plans (ir a + infinitive = going to do).

  • Example: Vamos a leer mañana.

• Poder / Querer: modal verbs—poder expresses ability/permission; querer expresses desire/want.

  • Example: ¿Puedes hablar español? / Quiero un café.

• Decir / Hablar / Contar: all relate to speech—decir = to say/tell; hablar = to speak; contar = tell (a story) or count.

  • Example: Ella dijo la verdad. / ¿Puedes contar la historia otra vez?

• Reflexive verbs (levantarse, bañarse, sentirse): indicate actions done to oneself and often change nuance (e.g., ir vs. irse).

  • Example: Me levanto a las siete. / Me siento bien.

• Stem-changers: entender → entiendo; dormir → duermo; pedir → pido. Remember changes in stressed syllables in present tense and some subjunctive forms.

• Prepositional verbs: pensar en (think about), depender de (depend on), confiar en (trust).

  • Example: Pienso en ti. / Depende de la situación.

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Conjugation patterns — quick reference

• Regular -ar verbs (e.g., trabajar): trabajo, trabajas, trabaja, trabajamos, trabajáis, trabajan.
• Regular -er verbs (e.g., comer): como, comes, come, comemos, coméis, comen.
• Regular -ir verbs (e.g., vivir): vivo, vives, vive, vivimos, vivís, viven.
• Preterite vs. imperfect: use preterite for completed actions and imperfect for ongoing/habitual past.

Examples:

• Preterite (comer): comí, comiste, comió, comimos, comisteis, comieron.
• Imperfect (comer): comía, comías, comía, comíamos, comíais, comían.

Irregular important stems in preterite: tener → tuv-, hacer → hic-, venir → vin-, decir → dij- (note different endings for decir).

Subjunctive basics: For present subjunctive, start from the yo form of present indicative, drop -o, add opposite endings. Used for wishes, doubts, emotion, impersonal expressions.

• Example: Espero que tengas tiempo.

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Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Confusing ser/estar — ask whether it’s permanent/defining (ser) or temporary/location/condition (estar).
• Using preterite vs. imperfect — ask if the action had a clear endpoint (preterite) or was habitual/background (imperfect).
• Forgetting stem-changes in subjunctive — apply the same stem changes where stress pattern demands.
• Overusing infinitive structures — learners sometimes use infinitive when a conjugated verb or subjunctive is required (e.g., after “espero que” use subjunctive, not infinitive).

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Exercises

Section A: Conjugation drills Conjugate the verb in parentheses in the indicated tense.

1. (tener) — yo — present
2. (estar) — ella — preterite
3. (hacer) — nosotros — preterite
4. (dormir) — tú — present
5. (pedir) — ellos — present subjunctive

Section B: Choose ser or estar Fill in the blank with ser or estar (conjugate).

1. Madrid ___ la capital de España.
2. Ella ___ feliz hoy.
3. La ventana ___ abierta.

Section C: Translate into Spanish

1. I have to study tonight.
2. They told the story yesterday.
3. We are going to travel next week.

Section D: Short writing (2–3 sentences)

1. Describe your daily routine using three reflexive verbs.
2. Write two sentences: one using preterite and one using imperfect to show contrast (e.g., what you were doing when something happened).

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Answers

Section A

1. (tener) — yo tengo
2. (estar) — ella estuvo
3. (hacer) — nosotros hicimos
4. (dormir) — tú duermes
5. (pedir) — ellos pidan

Section B

1. Madrid es la capital de España.
2. Ella está feliz hoy.
3. La ventana está abierta.

Section C

1. Tengo que estudiar esta noche.
2. Ellos contaron la historia ayer. (or Ellos dijeron la historia ayer.)
3. Vamos a viajar la próxima semana.

Section D — sample answers

1. Me levanto a las siete, me ducho y me visto para el trabajo.
2. Imperfect: Yo leía cuando sonó el teléfono. / Preterite: Ayer llamaste y hablaste conmigo. (Shows background action vs. interrupting action.)

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Practice plan for “Verbs 53” (2-week example)

Week 1

• Day 1–3: Drill present tense conjugations and stem-change practice for 20 verbs.
• Day 4–5: Practice preterite vs. imperfect with short story exercises.
• Day 6–7: Write 3 short paragraphs using ser/estar, reflexives, and modal verbs.

Week 2

• Day 8–9: Focus on subjunctive triggers and practice present subjunctive for verbs in the set.
• Day 10–11: Listening practice — transcribe short dialogues containing target verbs.
• Day 12–14: Mixed review: timed conjugation quizzes, spontaneous speaking prompts, and a short writing assignment.

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Final tips

• Use verbs in meaningful contexts — sentences, mini-stories, dialogues.
• Record yourself and compare to native speech for pronunciation and rhythm.
• Mix written drills with speaking and listening to reinforce active recall.
• Revisit mistakes: make an error log specifically for verbs in this set.

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If you want, I can: provide a printable worksheet of 25 targeted exercises for Verbs 53, generate flashcards (front: infinitive, back: conjugations and an example), or convert this into a two-week lesson plan with daily activities. Which would you like?