Derivatives

Spanish: Cambridge International GCSE, topic 11.10.1

Derivatives

Derivatives are verbs that can be made from other verbs.

They follow the same pattern

They follow the same pattern

In Spanish, verbs that contain other verbs follow their conjugation.
E.g. 'desconocer' (to not know) comes from 'conocer' (to know).
In this example 'conocer' has an irregular conjugation pattern.
This means that 'desconocer' would follow the same pattern.

Prefixes

Prefixes

In Spanish derivatives happen because of prefixes attached to verbs.
All Spanish prefixes are attached to the beginning of a verb.
These prefixes change the meaning but not how the verb is conjugated.
E.g. 'animar' means to encourage, ''desanimar' means to discourage.
E.g. I encourage would be 'animo' and I discourage would be 'desanimo'.

Common prefixes

Common prefixes

'Mal' means bad, it gives a verb a negative meaning.
E.g. 'Maldecir' (to speak badly of).
'Ben' means good, verbs have a positive meaning when used with 'ben'.
E.g. 'Bendecir' (to speak well of).

Common prefixes

Common prefixes

'Des' means 'un', a verb has a negative meaning when combined with 'des'.
E.g. 'Desanimar' (to discourage).
'Dis' means not, it helps to express opposites.
E.g. 'Disociar' (to dissociate).

Prefixes

Prefixes

'Pre' means before, if 'pre' is added with a verb, the verb gains the meaning of something done before.
E.g.'Preparar' (to prepare).
'Ex' means out of, the verb gains a sense of pulling out.
E.g. 'Extraer' (to extract).

Common prefixes

Common prefixes

'Con' by itself means with but with a verb means together.
E.g. 'Convivir' (to live together).
'Com' is also used to add the meaning together or with to a verb.
E.g. 'Compartir' (to share.
'Co' is the final prefix used with this meaning.
E.g. 'Coordinar' (to coordinate).

Common prefixes

Common prefixes

'Inter' means among/between, the verb has a sense of putting oneself between something when combined with 'inter.
E.g. 'Intervenir' (to intervene).
'Re' means again, the verb suggests that the action has been done before.
E.g. 'Rehacer' (to redo).

Common prefixes

Common prefixes

'Sobre' can mean different things, but when added to a verb it normally means over.
E.g. 'Sobrevivir' (to overcome).
'Sub' is the opposite to 'sobre', meaning under.
E.g. 'Subrayar' (to underline).

Common prefixes

Common prefixes

'Contra' means against, verbs have a sense of going against something when using 'contra'.
E.g. 'Contradecir' (to contradict).
'Uni' means one, it adds a uniting sense to verbs.
E.g. 'Unir' (to unite).

Common prefixes

Common prefixes

'Equi' means equal. Verbs that use 'equi' have a sense of making things equal.
E.g. 'Equilibrar' (to balance).

Test yourself on Derivatives

Which of these verbs follows the same conjugation as 'pensar' (to think)?
Which of these prefixes would you add to a verb to add the meaning of 'with'?

Practise this topic for free