Spanish GCSE Reading and Grammar-Constance e Imran Episode 18 (learn through a novel)

Spanish GCSE Reading and Grammar – Constance e Imran Episode 18 (learn through a novel)

TOPIC: Spanish Irregular Verbs in the Present Tense (Yo → -zco / -jo) Explained — Learn with Examples and Reading Practice

In every blog you will always find the same format:

  1. The story episode in Spanish.
  2. The translation into English.
  3. A grammar explanation with examples from the story.

This way you can practise reading, understanding and grammar, all at the same time.

Constance e Imran – episodio 18

Constance and Imran – Episode 18

Los alumnos entran y ven las paredes cubiertas de mapas, todos marcados con el color rojo del antiguo Imperio Británico. El profesor Collins los mira con orgullo.
The students walk in and see the walls covered with maps, all marked in red —the color of the former British Empire. Mr. Collins looks at them proudly.
—Aquellos —dice— eran tiempos gloriosos. Este color representa la expansión de la civilización.
—Those —he says— were glorious times. This color represents the expansion of civilization.
Constance frunce el ceño.
Constance frowns.
—Aunque, señor —dice con respeto—, algunos podrían decir que representa otra cosa: la sangre.
—Although, sir —she says respectfully—, some might say it represents something else: blood.
—Miss Green, ¿le parezco muy conservador por los libros que escojo?
—Miss Green, do I seem too conservative because of the books I choose?
—Tal vez no conservador —responde ella—, aunque en lugar de enfocarnos tanto en la grandeza del imperio, podríamos hablar del costo humano. ¿O usted no cree que la colonización también trajo sufrimiento y pérdida cultural? Podríamos leer algo sobre la historia de Irlanda, por ejemplo. Eso nos ayudaría a pensar.
—Maybe not conservative —she replies—, although instead of focusing so much on the greatness of the empire, we could talk about the human cost. Don’t you think colonization also brought suffering and cultural loss? We could read something about the history of Ireland, for example. That would help us think.
Ha comenzado una nueva batalla intelectual en Ravenswood High.
A new intellectual battle has begun at Ravenswood High.

📘 GRAMMAR:

In this episode, we will continue working with irregular verbs in the present tense, focusing on those that change only in the first person singular (yo). You will learn two new patterns:

  1. Verbs ending in -cer or -cir usually change c → zc in the ‘yo’ form. Examples:
    • conocer → conozco (I know)
    • parecer → parezco (I look like / I seem)
    • traducir → traduzco (I translate)
  2. Verbs ending in -ger or -gir usually change g → j in the ‘yo’ form. Examples:
    • escoger → escojo
    • dirigir → dirijo
    • proteger → protejo

In the episode, Mr. Collins asks Constance:

“Miss Green, ¿le parezco muy conservador por los libros que escojo?”
—Miss Green, do I seem too conservative because of the books I choose?

Here you have a video with all the verbs that we covered so far, which have a consonant change in the present tense:

💡 TIP:

Here you have more linking words to enhance your sentences:

  • 🔹 aunque: although
    Aunque está lloviendo, voy a caminar con el perro. — Although it is raining, I am going to walk with the dog.
  • 🔹 en vez de / en lugar de: instead of
    En vez de pescado, podríamos comer una pizza. — Instead of fish, we can eat a pizza.
    or
    En lugar de pescado, podríamos comer una pizza. — Instead of fish, we can eat a pizza.

These are the examples from the episode:

—Tal vez no conservador —responde ella—, aunque en lugar de enfocarnos tanto en la grandeza del imperio, podríamos hablar del costo humano.
—Maybe not conservative —she replies—, although instead of focusing so much on the greatness of the empire, we could talk about the human cost.

Find all the episodes here: Spanish for London — Contents GCSE Spanish

Highly qualified native teacher with 30 years of experience.
One-to-one lessons via Zoom.
Contact me at laura@spanishforlondon.com

We post two new episodes every week — keep up with Constance and Imran’s story!

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