Ch 47 · Lesson 16Spanish · Chapter 47 · Lesson 16 · Grammar primer
Building verbs: -izar, -ificar, -ear
Make it that with -izar and -ificar (modernizar, simplificar), do the thing with -ear (), why is not realise, and the z-to-c spelling rule ().
The short version
Peel the ending off and find the base
, purificar
Why?Hide
Spanish manufactures verbs rather than memorising them, so strip the ending and hunt for the base word underneath: modernizar gives , purificar gives , enjaular gives . Four endings carry most of it, with -izar and -ificar for 'make it that', -ecer for 'come to be' and -ear for repeated or action.
.
Why?Hide
, built from real with -izar, means to carry out or to achieve: . To realise, in the sense of notice, is . And mind the spelling of every -izar verb: before an e, the z is written c, so and .
Spanish makes verbs out of nouns and adjectives with a few endings, and each ending says what kind of verb you get:
modernizar- to modernise (from, modern)envejecer- to grow old (from, old)
Spanish verb-building endings at a glance
The whole kit on one screen. Read the ending first, then find the base.
| Pattern | Means | Example | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| -izar | make it that | modernizar | |
| -ificar | make it that | simplificar | simple |
| -ear | do the thing | | , blow |
| -ecer | become that | oscurecer | , dark |
| a- + -ar | put into a state | acortar | , short |
| -, em- + -ar | put into a state | engordar | , fat |
| - + -ecer | become that | envejecer | , old |
-izar: make it that
-izar turns a noun or an adjective into a verb meaning make it that. It is the usual match for English -ise.
| Base | Verb | English |
|---|---|---|
| modernizar | to modernise |
| | to use |
| generalizar | to generalise |
| memorizar | to memorise |
| | to carry out |
is a false friend: it means to carry out, not to notice. To realise is :
.- They are going to carry out the project..- I realised it was late.
One spelling rule: before an e, the z is written c.
.- Yesterday I used the computer.
-ificar: make it that, the Latin twin
-ificar means the same as -izar, make it that. It comes from Latin facere, to make, and it takes its own set of bases.
| Base | Verb | English |
|---|---|---|
| simplificar | to simplify |
| clarificar | to clarify |
| purificar | to purify |
| | to justify |
| | to identify |
Which base takes -izar and which -ificar is fixed by usage, with no rule to predict it: simplificar, never "simplizar"; modernizar, never "modernificar". Learn the verb whole.
Its spelling rule: before an e, the c is written qu.
simplifiqué .- I simplified it a little.
-ear: do the thing
-ear turns a noun into a verb of doing: often something done again and again, or casually. It is also how Spanish takes in new verbs from English.
| Base | Verb | English |
|---|---|---|
| | to hit, to bang |
| hojear | to leaf through |
| gotear | to drip |
| telefonear | to phone |
| veranear | to spend the summer |
| chat (English) | chatear | to chat online |
.- Someone is banging on the door.gotea.- The tap is dripping.
already ends in e, so + -ar is . The base loses its written accent: , telefonear.
Going further: -ecer: become that and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
Practise this lesson
10-question session
One question at a time, mixed across the exercises in this lesson. Miss one and it comes back round before the end.
Spanish · Free printables
Worksheets for this lesson
Worksheets with answer keys built in. Open any one to view, print or save.
Free for members
The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.
Start your free weekLesson 16 of 27 in this chapter