Feeding people and animals in Spanish

The idea

Alimentar is a regular -ar verb: alimento, alimentamos. The stem does not change. Use a before a specific person or animal.

Examples

• Alimento al gato cada mañana.I feed the cat every morning.
• ¿Alimentas a los peces por la tarde?Do you feed the fish in the afternoon?
• Mi padre alimenta al bebé con una cuchara.My father feeds the baby with a spoon.
• Alimentamos a las gallinas en el jardín.We feed the hens in the garden.
• Vosotros alimentáis al caballo antes del paseo.You feed the horse before the ride.
• Las vecinas alimentan a los pájaros en invierno.The neighbours feed the birds in winter.

Watch out

Do not change the stem to alimentu-; the present is alimento.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct form: Yo ___ al perro. (alimento / alimentan)

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   alimento

   alimento agrees with the speaker.

2. Choose the correct form: Nosotros ___ al bebé. (alimentamos / alimenta)

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   alimentamos

   alimentamos includes the speaker and others.

3. Choose the correct form: Ellas ___ a los conejos. (alimentan / alimentas)

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   alimentan

   alimentan agrees with the plural subject.

Use it today

Describe who feeds an animal and when.