Estephanie Bencomo.

Target Structure

My project will focus on the Spanish past tense ​ser ​and ​estar. Ser​ is presented as the verb used to
express the inherent and essential characteristics of a noun. Its functions are to describe, classify,
define, identify, generalize, locate an event in time or space, indicate the time, date, or a period
of time. It can precede a noun, a pronoun or a noun phrase, an adjective, a prepositional phrase,
or an infinitive. It is always used when there is a complement that is a noun or a pronoun and in
impersonal expressions. The verb​ estar ​is presented with three main functions: to locate an
object or indicate its position, to express a condition perceived as transitory, resulting from a
change, or susceptible to a change (with an adjective or past participle), and to indicate
progressive action. 'Estar' should be used with the modal adverbs good and bad, but not with
nouns.

Processing Problem

The nature of the problem is that ​ser​ and​ estar​ overlap in distribution when it comes to adjectives
and nouns, meaning that almost any adjective/noun can appear with either of the two verbs,
although there is a difference in the interpretation of the situation. Because English has a single
copulative and auxiliary verb ​to be​, the learning problem for English speakers acquiring Spanish
as a second language is the distribution of ​ser​ y ​estar​. The English-speaking student must
separate the different functions of ​to be​ and learn to create partitions between the two verbs in
Spanish, so the function of each verb will be different in Spanish and not equivalent to the form
to be​ in English.

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 Knowing the uses of ​ser​ y ​estar​.
Referential Activity.​ Listen carefully to the instructor and identify the use of the verb in each
statement with the following categories, placing the order number in the box.

Antman and the Wasp.

Ocupación/Profesión

Definicion

Descripción de emociones

Clima

Descripción física

Localización

Relación

Lugar de procedencia

[Instructor’s script]

1. El ​Hombre Hormiga​ y la ​Mujer Avispa ​son pareja.

2. San Francisco está soleado.
3. Cassie está feliz de ver a su papá.
4. Hank Pym está en su laboratorio.
5. Scott es el Hombre Hormiga.
6. Hope es cientifica.
7. La Mujer Avispa es pequeña.
8. Los papás de Luis son de México.

Follow up.
Listen carefully to the instructor’s answers and check the ones you got correct. How many
correct answers did you get? Are you now able to identify the uses of each verb?

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 Identifying the character.
Referential Activity. ​Listen carefully to the instructor and identify each description with any of
the two superheroes, checking in the box.

Capitan Pantera Negra

America

[Instructor Script]

1. Está en Wakanda.
2. Es T’Challa.
3. Es soldado.
4. Es rey.
5. Está en Nueva York.
6. Shuri es su hermana menor.
7. Es Steve Rogers.
8. El soldado del invierno es su mejor amigo.

Follow up.
Add up the correct answers and compare them with your other classmates. How many correct
answers did you get? Was it easy to identify the descriptions with their correct character?

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 The distinction of the uses of ​ser​ and ​estar​.

Referential Activity. ​Complete the following sentences with the verbs ​ser​ and ​estar​. Some
examples can accept both forms. Conjugate the verb if it’s necessary.

Spiderman: Homecoming.
1. Peter y Ned, ¿________ compañeros de escuela?
2. ¿Porque MJ y Flash ________ estudiando con Mr. Harrington?
3. Tony Stark ________ un mentor para Peter aunque no siempre ________ con él.
4. ¿_____ usted Spider-Man?
5. El departamento de Peter ________ en Queens.
6. El vestido que lleva MJ ________ muy bonito.
7. Los padres de Liz ________ casados.
8. Queens ________ soleado.

Follow up.
After finishing the activity, compare your results with another classmate. Were you able to place
the right verbs? Does your own knowledge of the movie help you in identifying the right verbs?
Answer the following questions.
1. ¿Para qué usamos el verbo ​ser​? ¿Podemos usarlo para describir el clima?
2. ¿Para qué usamos el verbo ​estar​? ¿Podemos usarlo para describir a alguien físicamente?
3. ¿En qué ocasiones podemos usar ambos verbos ​ser​ y ​estar​?

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 Forming sentences.
Referential Activity. ​Identify the correct verb for each pair of nouns/adjectives by checking the
box and write the complete sentences. Conjugate the verb if it’s necessary.

Avengers.

Es Estar
Steve Rogers - Capitán America.

Loki - encerrado.

Natasha y Maria - agentes.

Nick Fury - preocupado.

Hulk - verde.

S.H.I.E.L.D - Nueva York.

Hawkeye - arquero.

Thor - Asgard.

Follow up.
Listen carefully to the instructor’s right statements and check with a mark the ones you got right.
Compare your results with another classmate. How many sentences have a conjugated verb?

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 Who in the Marvel Universe?
Affective Activity. ​Listen to the instructor’s statements. Write the name of the Marvel character
who could be referred to.

Answer.
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

[Instructor’s script]

1. Es piloto.
2. Está en Nueva York.
3. Es de Asgard.
4. Es Científico.
5. Está en el espacio.
6. Es de otra época.
7. Está en San Francisco.
8. Es joven.

Follow up.
Compare your results with another classmate.

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 Avengers: Endgame Trivia.
Affective Activity. ​Answer the following questions based on the movie ​Avengers: Endgame i​ n
the box right below. Skip the question if you don’t know the answer.

Answer.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

[Instructor’s script]

1. ¿Dónde está la gema del alma?

2. ¿Quién es el papá adoptivo de Gamora?
3. ¿Quién está en el espacio junto a Tony Stark?
4. ¿Quién es el que toma el teseractor y escapa?
5. ¿Quién estuvo atrapado en el mundo cuántico?
6. ¿Quién es Cassie Lang?
7. ¿Quién es nombrada como la nueva reina de Asgard?
8. Al final de la película, ¿Quién es el que regresa al pasado para encontrarse con su viejo
amor?

Follow up.
Add up the correct answers and compare them with your other classmates. Who got the most
answers right?

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 Verdadero o Falso.
Affective Activity. ​With your own knowledge about the movie circle the right answer if the
statement is true or false.

Captain Marvel.

1. El verdadero nombre de la ​Capitana Marvel​ es Vers. (V/F)

2. Nick Fury está en Nueva York. (V/F)
3. Goose es gris. (V/F)
4. La ​Capitana Marvel​ era piloto. (V/F)
5. Maria Rambeau es la mejor amiga de la Capitana. (V/F)
6. Talos está soltero.
7. Carol está desaparecida desde 1994 (V/F)
8. Monica es adolescente. (V/F)
9. Talos estuvo disfrazado de humano. (V/F)

Follow up.
Correct the sentences with the right answers, with the help of another classmate. Is it possible to
write the sentences in the past tense?

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 How well do you know Peter Quill?
Affective Activity. ​Read the following statements and check the ones that apply ​Guardians of
the Galaxy​’s Peter Quill.

Statements.

Era hijo de Yondu.

Es de la tierra.

Es de estatura baja.

Estuvo en la cárcel.

Peter y Gamora son pareja.

Es fanatico de la música de los 80s.

Es del espacio.

Es soltero.

Follow up.
Listen as the instructor reveals the right statements and compares your results with other
classmates. Then, answer the following questions.

1. ¿Quién más está en The Guardians of the Galaxy?

2. ¿Es Gamora buena o mala?
3. Juzgando como vemos la película ¿Cómo es vivir en la galaxia?