Now you can name food items and ask about prices — but how do you express what you want? In this lesson, you'll master three crucial verbs: 'querer' (to want), 'necesitar' (to need), and 'preferir' (to prefer). You'll also learn demonstrative adjectives ('this' and 'that') so you can point to exactly what you want. Let's go shopping for a gift!
Learning tips
- 'Querer' and 'preferir' are stem-changing verbs (e→ie) — the 'e' changes to 'ie' when stressed. 'Necesitar' is regular, so it's easier!
- In Colombia, 'llevar' is commonly used when buying something — '¿Lo quieres llevar?' means 'Do you want to take it (buy it)?'
- Demonstratives are like pointing with words: 'este' (this one, near me), 'ese' (that one, near you), 'aquel' (that one, far away).
- Practice combining verbs: 'Quiero comprar este,' 'Necesito buscar ese,' 'Prefiero llevar aquel.'
Warm-up & Active Recall
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ¿cuánto cuesta? | how much does it cost? |
| el precio | the price |
| barato | cheap |
| caro | expensive |
| pagar | to pay |
| el efectivo | cash |
| la tarjeta | the card |
| el cambio | the change |
| la plata | the money |
| costar | to cost |
Dialog
Valentina is shopping for a birthday gift for her friend. Watch how she uses 'quiero' (I want), 'necesito' (I need), and 'prefiero' (I prefer) to express her wishes. She also uses 'este' (this) and 'ese' (that) to point to specific items. 'Llevar' means 'to take/carry' but in shopping contexts it means 'to buy and take with you.'
Vocabulary
Active words
| Word | IPA | Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| querer | /keˈɾeɾ/ | to want | Stem-changing verb e→ie: quiero, quieres, quiere, queremos, quieren |
| quiero | /ˈkje.ɾo/ | I want | First person of 'querer' — the stem 'e' changes to 'ie' |
| necesitar | /ne.se.siˈtaɾ/ | to need | Regular -ar verb — no stem change! necesito, necesitas, necesita... |
| necesito | /ne.seˈsi.to/ | I need | First person of 'necesitar' — regular conjugation |
| preferir | /pɾe.feˈɾiɾ/ | to prefer | Stem-changing verb e→ie: prefiero, prefieres, prefiere, preferimos, prefieren |
| prefiero | /pɾeˈfje.ɾo/ | I prefer | First person of 'preferir' — the second 'e' changes to 'ie' |
| buscar | /busˈkaɾ/ | to look for, to search | Regular -ar verb — busco, buscas, busca... |
| llevar | /ʝeˈβaɾ/ | to take, to carry, to wear | In shopping: 'to buy and take with you' |
| este | /ˈes.te/ | this (masculine) | Demonstrative — 'este libro' (this book), near the speaker |
| ese | /ˈe.se/ | that (masculine) | Demonstrative — 'ese libro' (that book), near the listener |
Passive words
| Word | IPA | Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| aquel | /aˈkel/ | that (over there, masculine) | Demonstrative — farther away from both speaker and listener |
| el regalo | /el reˈɣa.lo/ | the gift, present | |
| la bolsa | /la ˈbol.sa/ | the bag | |
| envolver | /em.bolˈβeɾ/ | to wrap | |
| elegir | /e.leˈxiɾ/ | to choose | |
| el color | /el koˈloɾ/ | the color |
Useful chunks
| Word | Translation |
|---|---|
| quiero comprar | I want to buy |
| necesito buscar | I need to look for |
Grammar: Stem-changing verbs: e→ie (querer, preferir) and demonstrative adjectives
| Pronoun | querer (to want) | preferir (to prefer) |
|---|---|---|
| yo | quiero | prefiero |
| tú | quieres | prefieres |
| él/ella/usted | quiere | prefiere |
| nosotros | queremos | preferimos |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | quieren | prefieren |
| Masculine | Feminine | |
|---|---|---|
| this (near) | este | esta |
| that (mid) | ese | esa |
| that (far) | aquel | aquella |
Stem-changing verbs: e→ie work just like the o→ue verbs you learned — the vowel changes when it's stressed.
Querer (to want): yo quiero, tú quieres, él/ella quiere, nosotros queremos (no change!), ellos quieren
Preferir (to prefer): yo prefiero, tú prefieres, él/ella prefiere, nosotros preferimos (no change!), ellos prefieren
Necesitar (to need) is regular — no stem change: yo necesito, tú necesitas, él/ella necesita, nosotros necesitamos, ellos necesitan
All three verbs can be followed by an infinitive:
- 'Quiero comprar frutas.' (I want to buy fruits.)
- 'Necesito buscar un regalo.' (I need to look for a gift.)
Demonstrative adjectives point to specific items:
- este/esta = this (near me)
- ese/esa = that (near you)
- aquel/aquella = that (far away)
They must match the noun's gender: 'esta camisa' (this shirt), 'ese libro' (that book).
Exercises
Fill in the Blanks
Complete each sentence with the correct verb form or demonstrative.
- comprar un regalo para mi amiga. (querer, yo)(first person of 'querer': e→ie)
- Ella el bolso rojo. (preferir)(third person of 'preferir': e→ie)
- buscar algo más barato. (necesitar, yo)(first person of 'necesitar': regular)
- ¿Quieres este libro? (to take)(infinitive: to take/carry)
- camisa es bonita, pero falda es más barata. (this / that)(this / that — feminine demonstratives)
Grammar Application
Conjugate the verb in parentheses for the given subject.
- Tú un café. (querer)(second person singular of 'querer': e→ie)
- Nosotros ir al mercado. (preferir)(first person plural of 'preferir': no stem change)
- Ellos comprar ropa. (querer)(third person plural of 'querer': e→ie)
- Usted el azul. (preferir)(formal 'you' of 'preferir': e→ie)
- Yo un regalo bonito. (buscar)(first person singular of 'buscar': regular)
Translation (English → Spanish)
Translate each sentence into Spanish.
- I want to buy this book.
- I need to look for a gift.
- Do you prefer this one or that one?
- She wants to take that bag.
- We need to look for something cheap.
Creative Construction
Write a short shopping scenario (2-3 sentences) using 'querer,' 'necesitar,' or 'preferir' and at least one demonstrative adjective.
Takeaway
Use 'quiero' (I want), 'necesito' (I need), and 'prefiero' (I prefer) + infinitive to express shopping desires. Point to items with 'este' (this) and 'ese' (that) — remember to match gender!