‘Estudiar’ a poor choice for the example conjugation

Karen S.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

‘Estudiar’ a poor choice for the example conjugation

In the initial table of conjugation, I feel that ‘estudiar’ is a poor choice of example for the ‘ar’ verbs. Because this particular verb happens to have an ‘i’ before the infinitive ending, it blurs the differentiation between the conjugation of the ‘ar’ verbs and the ‘er’ and ‘ir’ verbs.  It would be instantly clearer if a verb such as ‘hablar’ were chosen as the example. 

Asked 5 years ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola Karen,

We chose "estudiar" as a basic and useful verb to use in a table showing three different verbs with different endings. We made sure that the infinitive endings were clearly highlighted and also the specific endings for each pronoun, so it shows clearly what happens when you conjugate them. Whichever verb you choose to conjugate in this tense, independently of the vowels that precede the infinitive -ar, -er, or -ir needs to follow the rule explained in the lesson (taking as a base the "ellos" form of their preterite, and add the Imperfecto de Subjuntivo endings). I can't see how using this verb would affect the learning of the content in this lesson. 

We appreciate you writing to us.

Un saludo cordial,

Inma

Stuart M.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Hola,

I agree with Karen for what it's worth - a big part of confusion in learning for me is when things are very similar in structure, in this case, you start blurring between the conjugations. Removal of the 'i' (in choosing something like hablar) is a bit of the removal of the similarity and the confusion.

Hope that my point makes sense - it's a small point Karen makes, but I don't think it's insignificant, and transfers to other lessons (lessons are superb, but it's worth bearing it in mind - I've thought the same as her with previous conjugation lesson examples). 

Warm regards,

R Z.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I agree. It took me a while to figure out what was part of the conjugation and what was part of the root. Hablar would be make it much clearer. 

Karen S. asked:

‘Estudiar’ a poor choice for the example conjugation

In the initial table of conjugation, I feel that ‘estudiar’ is a poor choice of example for the ‘ar’ verbs. Because this particular verb happens to have an ‘i’ before the infinitive ending, it blurs the differentiation between the conjugation of the ‘ar’ verbs and the ‘er’ and ‘ir’ verbs.  It would be instantly clearer if a verb such as ‘hablar’ were chosen as the example. 

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