Ch 22: Spanish Fables
About This Chapter
Spanish Fables - Chapter Summary and Learning Objectives
Fables are stories that are often passed down from generation to generation. What distinguishes a fable from other stories is that it usually features animals as the characters, and these animals are personified, meaning that they act as if they were really human. Fables also usually focus on conveying a moral lesson. You have probably heard a fable before, such as the story about the tortoise and the hare. In this chapter, the focus will be on learning vocabulary that will allow you to talk about and tell fables in Spanish. In addition to the new vocabulary, you will have a Spanish grammar lesson, teaching you how to properly use the preterite and imperfect tenses. Some of the things that you will learn about include:
- When to use the imperfect or preterite tenses
- What cabra, cocodrilo, buho and gallo mean
- What a tortuga is
- How to use the vocabulary word 'pollo' in a fable
Video | Objective |
---|---|
Spanish Vocabulary for Learning About Animals | Learn vocabulary for animals that are commonly found in fables, such as pajaro, zorro, grillo, hormiga, saltamontes, elefante, leon, serpiente and mono. |
Spanish Grammar: Imperfect vs. Preterite | Take a look at the imperfect and the preterite tenses to see how to properly use them and when to choose one over the other. |
Spanish Practice Activities: Fables | Get some practice listening to and reading fables in Spanish, which include the new vocabulary words and the imperfect and the preterite tenses. |

1. Spanish Vocabulary for Learning About Animals
What's your favorite animal? Do you keep any animals as pets? Maybe you remember reading stories where foxes, rabbits, and mice were the main characters. In this lesson, you will be learning the names of some different animals in Spanish.

2. Spanish Grammar: Imperfect vs. Preterite for Events and Actions
In Spanish, the preterite and the imperfect are both used to talk about the past, but they cannot be used interchangeably. In this lesson, you will learn when to use the preterite and when to use the imperfect when talking about actions and events.

3. Spanish Grammar: Describing People and Things Using the Imperfect and Preterite
Like in English, preterite and imperfect tenses in Spanish are not interchangeable. In this lesson, you will be learning how to correctly use the preterite and imperfect to describe things and people.

4. Practice Preterite and Imperfect in Context
In this lesson, you will see how preterite and imperfect work together to tell a story: imperfect provides background information and descriptions, while preterite tells what happened. You'll also be using these tenses yourself to help tell a story.

5. Spanish Practice Activities: Fables
In this lesson, you will be reading two short fables in Spanish. Your knowledge of the preterite and imperfect tenses, your familiarity with the names of different animals, and the fact that you are probably familiar with the stories will all aid comprehension.
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Other Chapters
Other chapters within the Spanish 101: Beginning Spanish course
- Greetings & Introductions in Spanish
- Describing People in Spanish
- Locations in Spanish: Vocabulary & Grammar
- Household Terms in Spanish
- Weather and Seasons in Spanish
- Spanish Numbers
- Days & Dates in Spanish
- Telling Time in Spanish
- Likes and Dislikes in Spanish
- AR Verbs in Spanish: Present Tense Conjugation and Vocabulary List
- ER and IR Verbs in Spanish: Present Tense
- Pastimes in Spanish
- Technology in Spanish
- Talking About Family Members in Spanish
- Shopping in Spanish
- Discussing the Past in Spanish
- Talking About Vacations in Spanish
- TV, Movies & Media in Spanish
- Discussing Community in Spanish
- Discussing Natural Disasters/Emergencies in Spanish
- As a Child in Spanish
- Required Assignments for Spanish 101
- Studying for Spanish 101