While I drink my coffeeBefore you practise: rules and examples
These topics cover this set, including review questions. Open the guide and refer to it while answering.
An ordinary day: -ar verbs
Central Catalan regular -ar pattern: parlo, parles, parla, parlem, parleu, parlen. Remove -ar and add -o, -es, -a, -em, -eu, -en. One present can describe a habit or a current activity. First-person forms differ in other regions.
Estudio català. — I study Catalan.
Treballes avui? — Are you working today?
Where things are
Hi ha introduces existence: hi ha una farmàcia. Ser gives ordinary location: la farmàcia és aquí. Estar gives a state: estic cansada, la porta està oberta. These are beginner patterns; do not apply Spanish rules mechanically to every context. Estar: estic, estàs, està, estem, esteu, estan.
Hi ha una farmàcia. — There is a pharmacy.
La farmàcia és al carrer Nou. — The pharmacy is on Carrer Nou.
Where are we going: anar
Anar: vaig, vas, va, anem, aneu, van. A + el → al; a + els → als. But a l’estació keeps the preposition separate. Hi can replace a known place: vaig al mercat → hi vaig.
Vaig al mercat. — I am going to the market.
Anem a la biblioteca. — We are going to the library.
Mira and her find: ser
Ser: jo soc, tu ets, ell/ella és, nosaltres som, vosaltres sou, ells/elles són. Use it for identity, profession and origin. Subject pronouns are often omitted. Central Catalan often places an article before names: l’Aina, en Nil. This varies regionally.
Soc la Mira. — I am Mira.
L’Aina és de Mataró. — Aina is from Mataró.
Our home: articles
Articles: el/la/els/les; un/una/uns/unes. Before a vowel or silent h, usually l’: l’amic, l’habitació. But la stays before unstressed i/u: la universitat, la història. Learn new nouns with their article.
Hi ha una taula. — There is a table.
La taula és petita. — The table is small.
1. Complete: nosaltres ___ català.
2. Build the phrase
I study Catalan.
3. Build the phrase
Are you working today?
4. How do you say “there are two cafés”?
5. Build the phrase
There is a pharmacy.
6. Build the phrase
The pharmacy is on Carrer Nou.
7. Choose the correct form.
8. Build the phrase
I am going to the market.
9. Build the phrase
We are going to the library.
Review from Nº1These items appeared in the previous issue. See what has changed since then.
10. Complete: nosaltres ___ estudiants.
11. Choose the correct spelling.