Higher vocabulary: verbs

Verbs that are common in Higher reading and listening texts and make your own writing more precise.

Practise this lesson free (7 questions)

Doing and making

Prestar = to lend. Pedir prestado = to borrow.
SpanishEnglish
evitarto avoid
prestarto lend
pedir prestadoto borrow
construirto build
crearto create
desarrollarto develop
desaparecerto disappear
animarto encourage
explicarto explain
expresarto express
conseguirto achieve, to get
probarto try, to taste
enseñarto teach, to show
gritarto shout
robarto steal

Deciding and affecting

Impedir (to prevent) is stem-changing like pedir: impido.
SpanishEnglish
permitirto allow
impedirto prevent
prometerto promise
proponerto suggest
rechazarto reject
sustituirto replace
resolverto solve
arriesgarto risk
sufrirto suffer
apoyarto support
aconsejarto advise
pertenecer ato belong to
quemarto burn
comprobarto check
esconderto hide

Reflexive verbs and feelings

Acordarse de = to remember: No me acuerdo de su nombre.
SpanishEnglish
quejarseto complain
disculparseto apologise
concentrarseto concentrate
aburrirseto get bored
ocuparse deto deal with, to look after
acordarse deto remember
sentarseto sit down
comportarseto behave
parecerse ato look like
aprovecharto make the most of
agradecerto thank, to be grateful for
desearto wish
decepcionarto disappoint
atreverse ato dare to
Worked example

Translate: My parents allow me to borrow the car, but I must avoid the motorway.

  1. allow me to = me permiten
  2. borrow = pedir prestado
  3. avoid = evitar; I must = tengo que / debo

Answer: Mis padres me permiten pedir prestado el coche, pero tengo que evitar la autopista.

Key idea

Evitar, prestar / pedir prestado, construir, crear, desarrollar, desaparecer, conseguir, probar, enseñar. Permitir, impedir, prometer, proponer, rechazar, resolver, apoyar, aconsejar, comprobar, esconder. Quejarse, disculparse, aburrirse, acordarse de, comportarse, parecerse a, aprovechar, agradecer, atreverse a.

Quick check

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Extra practice

2 more questions

Try each one, then tap to check.

  1. What does enseñar mean?

    1. to disappear
    2. to express
    3. to teach, to show
    4. to avoid
    Show the answer

    Answer: to teach, to show

    Enseñar = to teach, to show.

  2. Which is the Spanish for "to shout"?

    1. conseguir
    2. prestar
    3. crear
    4. gritar
    Show the answer

    Answer: gritar

    To shout = gritar.

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Practise this lesson free (7 questions)All GCSE and International GCSE Spanish lessons

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Sources and references

Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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