Theme 1.1: Identity and relationships - Writing
Identity and relationships extends the basic family-and-friends topic into more abstract territory, describing personal nationality, personality and values, explaining how a relationship has changed over time, and giving a reasoned opinion on relationships in general.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Read the bullet points and separate description (who you are, what a friend or relative is like now) from comparison (how things were before) and opinion (what you think and why).
- Plan the comparison bullet first, since it is usually the hardest: note the imperfect verb you need for what things used to be like (jugábamos, éramos, íbamos) and the present or preterite verb for how things are now (nos llevamos, discutimos).
- Build the answer so it shows both a past-versus-present contrast (imperfect then present) and a justified opinion (creo que plus a statement plus porque plus a reason), linked by a connective such as sin embargo or mientras que.
- For the higher-mark task, add one impersonal or subjunctive structure when giving a general view on relationships, e.g. es importante que las parejas se respeten, or hay que confiar el uno en el otro.
- Check agreement on every adjective of personality and nationality (español, española; leal; generoso, generosa) and on possessives (mi mejor amigo, mis amigas).
- Check the imperfect endings that are easy to confuse with the preterite: -aba, -abas, -aba for -ar verbs (jugaba) versus -ía, -ías, -ía for -er and -ir verbs (era, vivía); mixing these up changes whether an action was ongoing or completed.
- Reread the finished answer, checking that pronouns (él, ella, ellos) and every accent on the imperfect and conditional endings are present.
Worked example
Write a short paragraph in Spanish for a school website about friendship. Mention: what makes a good friend, in your opinion; how your friendship with someone has changed since primary school; why relationships matter to you.
- PLAN - decide the opinion first: para mí, un buen amigo es alguien que has a quality such as leal, sincero, que me escucha.
- PLAN - choose the comparison structure: antes (imperfect) versus ahora (present), e.g. antes jugábamos todos los días, ahora nos vemos menos pero seguimos siendo amigos.
- BUILD the opinion sentence with a subordinate clause: Para mí, un buen amigo es alguien que te escucha y que nunca te juzga. The relative pronoun que introduces both qualities in one connected sentence.
- BUILD the comparison, switching tense deliberately: Antes, mi amiga Sara y yo jugábamos juntas todos los días; ahora, nos vemos menos porque vivimos en ciudades distintas. Jugábamos (imperfect) marks a repeated past habit, vivimos (present) marks the current fact.
- BUILD the closing justification with a connective and an impersonal structure for extra range: Sin embargo, creo que es importante mantener el contacto porque las amistades verdaderas duran toda la vida.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1Give the imperfect yo form of jugar and of ser.Show answer
Answer: jugaba (I used to play) and era (I was/used to be) - both mark repeated or ongoing past states, unlike the preterite jugué/fui.
Q2Correct the error: 'Mi amigo es muy leal y generosa.'Show answer
Answer: Mi amigo es muy leal y generoso - generosa must agree with the masculine noun amigo, so it becomes generoso; leal does not change for gender.
Q3Translate into Spanish: 'When I was younger, I used to play with my cousins every weekend.'Show answer
Answer: Cuando era más joven, jugaba con mis primos todos los fines de semana.
Q4Translate into English: 'Creo que la amistad es más importante que el dinero.'Show answer
Answer: I think that friendship is more important than money.
Q5Complete with the present subjunctive: Es importante que mis amigos me ___ (apoyar).Show answer
Answer: apoyen - present subjunctive of apoyar, third person plural, used after the impersonal expression es importante que.
Q6Which connective shows contrast: además or sin embargo?Show answer
Answer: sin embargo (however) shows contrast; además (moreover/also) adds a similar idea rather than contrasting it.
Q7Give the Spanish for 'to get on well with someone' and 'to argue', both in the nosotros present tense.Show answer
Answer: nos llevamos bien and discutimos.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE Spanish exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Write a short text in Spanish for a teen magazine about friendship. Answer all four bullet points in Spanish. Write approximately 40 words in Spanish. - one quality you look for in a good friend - how you met your best friend - an activity you do together - your opinion on whether friendship is more important than family, with a reason
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Your Spanish-speaking pen friend has asked about your identity and relationships. Write a reply in Spanish. You must mention: - your personality and where your family is originally from - how a friendship or family relationship has changed since you were younger - what you think makes a strong relationship - whether you think marriage or long-term partnership is important nowadays, and why
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See real GCSE Spanish past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
Free printable worksheet
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