Verbs in Spanish are words that represent actions. They are the heart and soul of sentences, and one of the most challenging concepts for students to learn in Spanish. Conjugating them requires a lot of practice in context, which means in a way that makes sense to the student, not just a memory practice or drill.  

How can you teach the verbs in Spanish in context?

Read

The best way to teach verb conjugation in Spanish is by seeing them in action. When children are exposed to multiple written stories, they have the opportunity to notice how verbs are used naturally, without the need of memorizing the conjugation forms. The more they read, the more they learn. Using TPR strategies is a great starting point, as well as some reading comprehension strategies. 

I use any story that is fun, engaging, and age appropriate for my students. You can click here to check some great Spanish books that can be included in your classroom.

Create stories using verbs in Spanish

Another great strategy is to have students write their own stories. Have a word wall available, writing prompts, and a list of words and pictures. This way, students can have a visual aid when writing. Choose a story that has specific verb conjugations, and ask children to use them when writing their stories. 

Incorporate Games

One more way to practice the verbs in Spanish is using games. Games give students the opportunity to practice in a fun, engaging way. Some games I like to use are:

Verbs in Spanish UNO Game

In this game, I have my students play just like the card game UNO. Instead of matching numbers, they match conjugations. As a challenge activity, I like to have students tell a story that goes along with the verb conjugation. 

Dice Game

In this game, students take turns to throw two dices and match the verbs with the correct conjugations. After that, they need to tell a sentence using the proper verb conjugation.  

Verbs in Spanish Puzzles

Students need to order the puzzle pieces with the past, present and future tense of each verb.

Verbs in Spanish Battleship

In this game, I ask students to play in groups of two students. It’s played like the traditional Battleship Game. Instead of using numbers and letters as coordinates, they use the verbs.

Verbs in Spanish Mats

In this is an independent activity, I ask students to sort the different verbs with the correct conjugation. 

Spin the Wheel

Students use the wheel to choose an appropriate verb in Spanish to complete each sentence.

 

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