WORD FAMILIES
See the connections.
See how one idea changes shape across nouns, verbs, adjectives and useful phrases.
One idea, several useful words
| Spanish form | Meaning | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| nación | nation | noun · feminineEspaña es una nación europea. |
| nacional | national | adjectiveEs un parque nacional. |
| nacionalidad | nationality | noun · feminine¿Cuál es tu nacionalidad? |
| en todo el país | nationwide | phraseLa noticia se conoce en todo el país. |
Word families are useful patterns, not automatic translations. “Nationwide” is often en todo el país or a escala nacional; it is not formed by adding an English-style suffix to nación.
Try the pattern
TRANSFORMATION
From adjective to noun
Use the noun meaning nationality: Mi ___ es polaca.
CLOZE
Choose by meaning
Complete: Es un parque ___. (It is a national park.)
Work, worker, workable
| Spanish form | Meaning | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| trabajo | work / job | noun · masculineTengo mucho trabajo hoy. |
| trabajar | to work | verbTrabajo desde casa. |
| trabajador | hard-working / worker | adjective / nounEs una persona trabajadora. |
Spanish changes the word ending and sometimes the gender marker; do not copy an English suffix mechanically.
Try the pattern
TRANSFORMATION
Choose the verb
Mañana voy a ___ desde casa.
CLOZE
Choose the noun
Tengo mucho ___ hoy.
Decide, decision, decisive
| Spanish form | Meaning | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| decidir | to decide | verbNecesito decidir hoy. |
| decisión | decision | noun · feminineFue una decisión difícil. |
| decisivo | decisive | adjectiveEs un momento decisivo. |
Related words share meaning, but their part of speech controls how they fit in a sentence.
Try the pattern
TRANSFORMATION
Name the idea
Fue una ___ difícil.
CLOZE
Use the infinitive
Necesito ___ hoy.
Learn, learning, educational
| Spanish form | Meaning | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| aprender | to learn | verbQuiero aprender español. |
| aprendizaje | learning | noun · masculineEl aprendizaje necesita tiempo. |
| educativo | educational | adjectiveEs un vídeo educativo. |
The noun aprendizaje is masculine and carries an accent; the adjective agrees with the noun it describes.
Try the pattern
TRANSFORMATION
Name the process
El ___ necesita tiempo.
CLOZE
Use the infinitive
Quiero ___ español.
Possible, possibility, impossible
| Spanish form | Meaning | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| posible | possible | adjectiveEs posible. |
| posibilidad | possibility | noun · feminineHay una posibilidad. |
| imposible | impossible | adjectiveNo es imposible. |
Imposible reverses the meaning; it is not a new part of speech. Possibilidad is the noun.
Try the pattern
TRANSFORMATION
Turn it into a noun
Hay una ___.
CLOZE
Reverse the meaning
No es ___. (It is not impossible.)
Organize, organization, organized
| Spanish form | Meaning | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| organizar | to organize | verbVamos a organizar el viaje. |
| organización | organization | noun · feminineLa organización fue buena. |
| organizado | organized | adjectiveEl plan está organizado. |
The noun ends in -ción and takes an accent; the participle agrees in gender and number.
Try the pattern
TRANSFORMATION
Name the concept
La ___ fue buena.
CLOZE
Use the action
Vamos a ___ el viaje.