Spanish Language Game: Poder - Present Tense

Quick Spanish Language Game: poder (can, to be able) - present tense
Level: Beginner (A1)
Playing Time: 4 minutes
Learn and practice the present tense of the Spanish verb for "can, to be able" with a quick and fun interactive game.
Note that in the present tense, the verb "poder" is irregular: Its stem changes from o --> ue in all forms except nosotros/nosotras, and vosotros [used in Spain].

(Image credit: Kamila Maciejewska on Unsplash)
With Shootout, you'll practice the personal verb forms.  With Word Invader, you'll make easy sentences with each of the forms.
Note: Pronouns (yo, tú, él, etc.) are often dropped in Spanish, unless you need them for clarity or emphasis.
We'll first include the pronouns for practice. In the sentences you'll notice that some of them are naturally dropped.

Present Tense of the Irregular Verb "poder"

• yo puedo - I can
• tú puedes - you can (familiar)
• él, ella puede - he, she can
• Usted puede - you can (formal)
• nosotros/as podemos - we can (m/f)
• vosotros/as podéis - you can (m/f) [Spain]
• Ustedes pueden - you can (pl) [Latin America]
• ellos/as pueden - they can (m/f)

Spanish Language Story Game: 5

Spanish Language Story: Part 5 of David's trip to Spain (El viaje de David 5 - En Sevilla).
Level: Low Intermediate (B1).
Playing Time: 6 1/2 minutes (The Story and Word Shoot Game)

David arrives by train in Seville. He takes a bus to Louis Morales Street and checks into the Hotel Meliá Lebreros, where he had made a reservation. In the few days that he's there, David visits the Giralda (the exquisite Bell Tower of the Cathedral of Seville), and the Torre del Oro (a watchtower on the left bank of the Guadalquivir river). With his new friends, he also spends an evening in the Barrio de Triana, a lively neighborhood with small streets and a history of attracting artisans and flamenco.

Hear and read Part 5 of David's trip in Spanish. It contains 140 basic words and phrases.
Try to listen without translating the words, as you play through the story.
To hear a sentence again, click on it (before continuing to the next screen).
 "Shadow" each sentence by saying it along with (or just after) the native speaker.
That's an effective way to practice the sounds and rhythm of conversational Spanish.
Note: in context, words for "he, she, we" etc are often omitted in Spanish unless they are needed for clarity.

Shootout Game: 10 Key Verbs

• tomar - to take
• ayudar - to help
• costar - to cost
• tener - to have
• necesitar - to need
• conectar - to connect
• subir - to go up
• intentar - to try, attempt
• cenar - to have dinner
• ver - to see

You can roll over the translation on a desk- or laptop, but not on a phone or tablet.
Register or log in and go to Spanish 1, David en España, if you want to play the full 6-part story for free. You'll learn and practice 750 basic words and phases in the context of the story.

Spanish Language Story Game: 4

Spanish Language Story: Part 4 of David's trip to Spain (El viaje de David 4 - En Granada).
Level: Low Intermediate (B1).
Playing Time: 6 minutes (The Story and Word Shoot Game)

David has arrived in Granada. He finds the street where Daniel and his girlfriend Rosa live, and she opens the door. Rosa's sister Ana is also visiting and introductions follow. When Daniel comes home, they order pizza. During the next days, his friends join David for a visit to the Alhambra. (And David finds out that the American author Washington Irving spent three months there in 1829, to write "Tales of the Alhambra"). They also walk around the university (founded in 1531 and one of the oldest in Europe). Finally, they go up to el Mirador de San Cristóbal, a spectacular viewpoint that overlooks the city.

Hear and read Part 4 of David's trip in Spanish. It contains 130 basic words and phrases.
As you play the story, listen to the speaker without translating the words.
To hear a sentence again, click on it (before continuing to the next screen).
 "Shadow" each sentence by saying it along with (or just after) the native speaker.
That's an effective way to practice the sounds and rhythm of conversational Spanish.
Note: in context, words for "he, she, we" etc are often omitted in Spanish unless they are needed for clarity.

Shootout Game: 10 Key Verbs

• encontrar - to find
• abrir - to open
• entrar - to enter, go in
• ver - to see
• tutear - to say "tú" to someone
• estudiar - to study
• llegar - to arrive
• pensar - to think
• pedir - to order
• vivir - to live

On a desk- or laptop you can roll over the translation (but not on a phone or tablet).
To practice the words and phrases of the whole story for free, register or log in and go to Spanish 1, David en España.

Spanish Language Story Game: 3

Spanish Language Story: Part 3 of David's trip to Spain (El viaje de David 3 - En el tren).
Level: Low Intermediate (B1).
Playing Time: 6 minutes (The Story and Word Shoot Game)
Image of Barcelona-Sants Train Station by Michael Descharles on unsplash.com

David's aunt takes him to Barcelona's train station. He buys a one-way ticket to Granada and goes to the platform to wait for the train. With the Arco train, it's a long trip. In Granada he calls Daniel's landline. He's a friend David had met as a student in Boston. Daniel's girlfriend Rosa answers and gives him directions to their place.

Hear and read Part 3 of David's trip in Spanish. It contains 120 basic words and phrases.
As you play the story, try to listen without translating the words.
To hear a sentence again, click on it (before continuing to the next screen).
Say each sentence after (or along with) the native speaker to practice its music and rhythm.
Note: in context, words for "he, she, we" etc are often omitted in Spanish unless they are needed for clarity.

Shootout Game: 10 Key Verbs

• llevar - to take, bring
• tomar - to take, grab
• salir - to leave
• saber - to know
• esperar - to wait
• llegar - to arrive
• comenzar - to begin
• contestar - to answer
• llamar - to call
• encontrar - to find

On a desk- or laptop you can roll over the translation (but not on a phone or tablet).
To practice all of the words and phrases of the story for free, register or log in and go to Spanish 1, David en España.

Spanish Language Game: Claro que no

Spanish Language Game: Claro que no (Of course not ) 
In this quick online game, learn and practice 10 Spanish phrases with a 34-word mini-story.
1. Identify key phrases.
2. Hear the mini-story.
3. Build the sentences with Word Invaders.
4. Test yourself with Flashcards.
5. Listen to the story again without translating.

Always say the Spanish OUT LOUD. Click on the sentences to hear them again.

The context: David is at his friend Daniel's apartment in Granada.
He meets Daniel's girlfriend Rosa and introduces himself to her sister Ana.
Will he use the formal form of address, or say "tú" to her?

Words in Spanish Mini-Story Language Game

• ¡Hola! - Hello! 
• Encantado de conocerle. - Pleased to meet you. (formal)
• David, no seas tan formal. - David, don't be so formal. [ser]
• tutear - to say "tú", use the informal form of address
• ¡Que os podéis tutear! - You can say "tú" to each other.
• ¿No te importa Ana? - You don't mind, Ana?
• Todos los estudiantes - all the students
• nos tuteamos - we say "tú" to each other
• ¿Estudias aquí? - Do you go to university here?
• en Granada - in Granada
• No, estudio en Sevilla. - No, I go to university in Seville.
  
  

This short episode is also part of our Spanish 1 course, which is a series of brief stories (that we call scenes).
In the 36 scenes of the course you learn and practice 750 useful words.
(The full Spanish 1 course is available for FREE by registering HERE.)

Practicing with mini-stories is a great way to get more familiar with natural-speed Spanish pronunciation and idiomatic expressions.
Note that in Spanish, personal pronouns (I, he, she, we, etc.) are often dropped unless they are needed for clarity or emphasis.

Please share us with your friends who also want to learn Spanish, or Italian, German, or French.

More than a Spanish Language Game

If you like our Spanish games, you can practice Spanish - online and completely for Free - with our 36-Scene story "David en España" by just logging in, or registering HERE. 
You can find more resources for learning and practicing Spanish on FREELANGUAGE.ORG.
Our FREE Spanish 1 course will let you learn and practice Spanish playfully - with a travel-story of a young man in Spain and easy games.