spanish grammar - gender of nouns

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Gender of Nouns: Part I Notes: 1. The written lesson is below. 2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left. A noun is a word used to denote a person, place, thing, or idea. Person: John, girl, dentist Place: garden, university, Venezuela Thing: book, car, tomato Idea: liberty, despair, intelligence In Spanish, all nouns are either masculine or feminine. Masculi ne Feminine el chico la chica boy girl el jardín la universida d garden university el libro la revista book magazine el miedo la libertad fear liberty The idea that nouns have gender seems perfectly natural when the noun stands for a living creature. This is because in English, living creatures often have different names, depending upon whether they are male or female.

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Spanish Grammar - Gender of Nouns

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Gender of Nouns: Part I

Gender of Nouns: Part I

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

A noun is a word used to denote a person, place, thing, or idea.

Person: John, girl, dentistPlace: garden, university, VenezuelaThing: book, car, tomatoIdea: liberty, despair, intelligence

In Spanish, all nouns are either masculine or feminine.

MasculineFeminine

el chicola chica

boygirl

el jardnla universidad

gardenuniversity

el librola revista

bookmagazine

el miedola libertad

fearliberty

The idea that nouns have gender seems perfectly natural when the noun stands for a living creature. This is because in English, living creatures often have different names, depending upon whether they are male or female.

MasculineFeminine

manwoman

tigertigress

aviatoraviatrix

The following Spanish nouns all denote living creatures.

el gato

male cat

la gata

female cat

el perro

male dog

la perra

female dog

el chico

boy

la chica

girl

el abuelo

grandfather

la abuela

grandmother

How are all of these masculine nouns alike?

el gatoel perroel chicoel abuelo

Hint: look at both the beginning and the ending of each line.

How are all of these feminine nouns alike?

la gatala perrala chicala abuela

Hint: look at both the beginning and the ending of each line.

"El" and "la" both mean "the."

el chico (the boy)la chica (the girl)

el perro (the male dog)la gata (the female cat)

Note: These two words (el, la) are called "definite articles." You will learn more about them in a later lesson.

What do you notice about the last letter of these nouns?

MasculineFeminine

gatogata

perroperra

chicochica

abueloabuela

Nouns that end in -o are usually masculine. Nouns that end in -a are usually feminine. Notice the word usually! There are exceptions to these two rules and you will soon be learning them.

One cannot predict the gender of a noun that stands for a non-living thing. Try to predict whether the Spanish words for the following things are masculine or feminine:

Masculine or feminine?bookhousemoneywindow

One cannot predict the gender of a noun, except in the case of living creatures. Do not try to analyze the nature of the object, looking for some inherent masculinity or femininity. It won't work!

Take a guess. Do you think the Spanish word for "dress" is masculine or feminine? You might expect it to be feminine, since a dress is an article of clothing worn by females.

Actually, the word for "dress" is a masculine word:

el vestido

Take another guess. Do you think the Spanish word for "necktie" is masculine or feminine? You might expect it to be masculine, since a necktie is an article of clothing worn by males.

Actually, the word for "necktie" is a feminine word:

la corbata

When you learn a new noun, you should also learn its definite article (el, la). There are several reasons for this:

Because you cannot predict the gender of most nouns.

Because not every noun that ends in -o is masculine, and not every noun that ends in -a is feminine.

Because many nouns end in letters other than o or a.

Because the definite article (el, la) is your clue as to whether a noun is masculine or feminine.

Why do you care whether a noun is masculine or feminine?

Good question! As you shall see in upcoming lessons, Spanish places a great deal more emphasis on gender than does English.

Gender of Nouns: Part II

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

Masculine nouns that end in a consonant often have a corresponding feminine form that ends in -a.

el profesorla profesora

el doctorla doctora

el seorla seora

Some nouns that refer to people use the same form for both masculine and feminine. These nouns indicate gender by the article (el or la).

el estudiantela estudiante

el pianistala pianista

el artistala artista

Nouns that end in -sin, -cin, -dad, -tad, -tud, -umbre are feminine.

la televisinla decisinla conversacinla habitacinla ciudadla universidadla dificultadla libertadla actitudla gratitudla certidumbre-/izvesnost,pouzdanost/la muchedumbre-/gomila,guzva,metez/Some nouns that end in -a are masculine.

el problemael telegramael programael mapael sistemael poemael dael temael climael idiomael sofel planeta

Many nouns that end in -ma are masculine. Notice that eight of the twelve nouns listed above end in -ma.

el telegramael programael problemael sistemael poemael idiomael climael tema

Note: A few nouns that end in -ma are feminine, such as la cama and la pluma.

Four of the nouns that end in -a are simply exceptions and must be memorized.

el dael mapael planetael sof

A few nouns that end in -o are feminine.

la manola radio

Review of the rules learned in lesson 1 and lesson 2.

Many nouns that denote living things have both a masculine and a feminine form.

Most nouns that end in -o are masculine.

Most nouns that end in -a are feminine.

Masculine nouns that end in a consonant often have a corresponding feminine form that ends in -a.

Some nouns that refer to people use the same form for both masculine and feminine. These nouns indicate gender by the article (el or la).

Nouns that end in -sin, -cin, -dad, -tad, -tud, -umbre are feminine.

Many nouns that end in -ma are masculine.

A few nouns that end in -o are feminine

You now know most of the rules for determining the gender of a noun. There are just a few more things to know, but they won't be covered until later. Remember, whenever you learn a new noun, learn it complete with its definite article (el, la). Definite articles are the subject of an upcoming lesson.

Plural Forms of Nouns

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

If a noun ends in a vowel, make it plural by adding -s.

libro: libros

(libro + s)

pluma: plumas

(pluma + s)

chico: chicos

(chico + s)

seora: seoras

(seora + s)

The definite articles (el, la) also change in the plural form. They become "los" and "las." The definite articles will be covered in depth in the next lesson.

el libro: los librosla pluma: las plumasel chico: los chicosla seora: las seorasIf a noun ends in a consonant, make it plural by adding -es.

el borrador: los borradores -/koncept,gumica za brisanje/(borrador + es)

la universidad: las universidades

(universidad + es)

el profesor: los profesores

(profesor + es)

la ciudad: las ciudades

(ciudad + es)

If a noun ends in -in, add -es and drop the written accent.

el avin: los avionesla conversacin: las conversacionesla seccin: las seccionesla televisin: las televisionesNote: You may wonder why "avin" isn't feminine. Notice that it doesn't qualify for our rule which says that all nouns ending in -cin and sin are feminine.

If a noun ends in -z, add -es and change the z to c.

el lpiz: los lpices-/olovka/la voz: las vocesel tapiz: los tapices-/tapete/la actriz: las actricesWhen the plural refers to two or more nouns of different genders, the masculine plural is used.

2 perros + 6 perras = 8 perros (not perras)1 gato + 8 gatas = 9 gatos (not gatas)

A few nouns are "compound nouns," that is, they are formed by combining two words into one.

(Example: abre + latas = abrelatas / open + cans = can opener)

These compound nouns are always masculine, and the plural is formed by changing the "el" to "los."

el abrelatas-/los abrelatasel paraguas-/kisobran/los paraguasLet's review the rules for making nouns plural.

If a noun ends in a vowel, simply add -s.

If a noun ends in a consonant, simply add -es.

If a noun ends in a -z, change the z to c before adding -es.

If a noun ends in in, drop the written accent before adding -es.

If the plural refers to a mixed group, use the masculine.

For compound nouns, change "el" to "los".

Definite and Indefinite Articles: Part I

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

The difference between definite articles and indefinite articles can be observed in the following two sentences:

Give me the chocolate chip cookie.Give me a cookie, please.

Imagine a plate full of cookies. There are peanut butter cookies, sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, and one chocolate chip cookie.

The first sentence speaks of a particular (or definite) cookie:

Give me the chocolate chip cookie.

The second sentence speaks of any of a number of cookies (or an indefinite cookie):

Give me a cookie, please.

The difference between the definite and indefinite articles is the difference between talking about a specific cookie, or any old cookie at all.

the cookiea cookie

In English, the definite article is the word "the" regardless of whether the noun it introduces is singular or plural.

the cookiethe cookies

In Spanish, the definite article has 4 forms, depending on whether the noun is masculine, feminine, singular or plural.

el gato

the male cat

los gatos

the male cats

la gata

the female cat

las gatas

the female cats

Note: The masculine plural definite and indefinite articles (los, unos) are also used to indicate a group of mixed sex. Thus, "los gatos" could refer to a group of 10 male cats, or it could refer to a group of 9 female cats and one male cat.

The 4 forms of the definite article are:

el

masculine singular

la

feminine singular

los

masculine plural

las

feminine plural

In English, the indefinite article is the word "a," "an," or "some."

a cookiean applesome books

In Spanish, the indefinite article has 4 forms, depending on whether the noun is masculine, feminine, singular or plural.

un gato

a male cat

unos gatos

some male cats

una gata

a female cat

unas gatas

some female cats

Note: Remember, as long as the group of creatures has at least one male member, the masculine plural article is used. Thus, "unos gatos" could refer to a group of 10 male cats, or it could refer to a group of 9 female cats and one male cat.

The 4 forms of the indefinite article are:

un

masculine singular

una

feminine singular

unos

masculine plural

unas

feminine plural

Here are the definite and indefinite articles together:

el, un

masculine singular

la, una

feminine singular

los, unos

masculine plural

las, unas

feminine plural

Each of the following has a different meaning:

el gato

the male cat

los gatos

the male cats (or a mixed group)

la gata

the female cat

las gatas

the female cats

un gato

a male cat

unos gatos

some male cats (or a mixed group)

una gata

a female cat

unas gatas

some female cats

"Un" and "una" can mean "one," "a," or "an."

un libro

one book, a book

una pluma

one pen, a pen

una manzana

one apple, an apple

The Verb Form "hay"

The verb form "hay" has two meanings:

there isthere are

Examples:

Hay muchos libros en la biblioteca.There are many books in the library.

Hay un libro encima de la mesa.There is a book on the table.

Ms ejemplos:

Hay dos baos en mi casa.There are two baths in my house.

Hay cuatro ocanos en el mundo.There are 4 oceans in the world.

Hay un libro y una pluma en la mesa.There is one book and one pen on the table.or:There is a book and a pen on the table.

When used in questions, "hay" has two different meanings:

Is there?Are there?

Ejemplos:

Hay un hotel en el centro?Is there a hotel downtown?

Hay algunos libros por aqu?Are there any books around here?

Ms ejemplos:

Hay muchos estudiantes en la clase?Are there lots of students in the class?

Hay cuatro sillas en el cuarto?Are there 4 chairs in the room?

Hay una chica o dos?Is there one girl or two?

The verb form "hay" can also be used to answer questions.

Hay un hotel en el centro?Is there a hotel downtown?

S. S hay.Yes. Yes there is.

Hay algunos libros por aqu?Are there any books around here?

No. No hay.No. No there aren't.

It is vital that you begin a collection of verb flashcards. This will be your key to success in mastering the Spanish verbs. We will tell you when you need to add a card to this collection. Begin by creating a card with the verb form "hay" on one side, and the English translations on the other side:

Verb FlashcardsComplete Listhaythere is, there are

Subject Pronouns

A verb is an action word.

runsiteatsinkswimstudy

The main form of a verb is called the infinitive. In English, infinitives include the word "to."

to runto sitto eatto sinkto swimto study

The infinitive is the pure form of a verb. The infinitive is like a lump of clay that can be molded to match the subject of the sentence it is used in:

I speakyou speakhe/she speaks

we speakyou-all* speak

they speak

Note: The above forms are called conjugations of the infinitive "to speak."

Regarding the form "you-all" -- this usage is not considered to be standard English. In standard English, the same word is used for both the singular you and the plural you. That is, each of the following is correct:

You have a tail light out, ma'am.You (kids) have soccer practice at four.

In the first sentence, "you" refers to the singular "ma'am." In the second sentence, "you" refers to the plural "kids." To avoid confusion between you (singular) and you (plural), we will employ the non-standard English usage "you-all" to indicate you (plural). This will be very beneficial to y'all, particularly at the beginning of your studies.

The words "I" "you" "he" "she" "we" "you-all" and "they" are called subject pronouns. Spanish has corresponding subject pronouns. Here's a list of the English subject pronouns and their Spanish equivalents:

yo

I

usted

you

l

he

ella

she

nosotros

we

ustedes

you-all

ellos

they

Spanish subject pronouns are both similar to and different from their English counterparts. Let's examine some of the differences. Look more closely at the English word "you."

You have just seen that this can be translated into Spanish as "usted." But there is also a second way it can be translated. There are two ways the English word "you" can be expressed in Spanish:

usted

you

t

you

Spanish has a formal and an informal form of the word "you." "Usted" is more formal and is generally used to express respect. "T" is more familiar and is used among friends, coworkers, relatives, or when addressing a child.

Speaking to your boss: ustedSpeaking to your daughter: tSpeaking to your teacher: ustedSpeaking to your friend: tusted = you formal

t = you informal (familiar)

This same distinction with regard to degree of formality occurs in the plural form as well. When referring to "you-all," there are two choices in Spanish:

ustedesyou-all formal

vosotrosyou-all familiar

Once again, the difference lies in the degree of formality conveyed by the speaker. However, the vosotros form is used primarily in Spain. Throughout Latin America, "ustedes" is generally used in both formal and informal situations to refer to "you-all."

Speaking to a group of children(in Spain): vosotrosSpeaking to a group of children(in Latin America): ustedesSpeaking to a group of strangers(in Spain): ustedesSpeaking to a group of strangers(in Latin America): ustedesNote: usted can be abbreviated Ud. or Vd. ; ustedes can be abbreviated Uds. or Vds.

In many ways, Spanish is more gender-specific than English. We find evidence of this in the subject pronouns. First, look at the word "nosotros." This means "we" in the sense of a group containing at least one male. If the group contains only females, the word "nosotras" is used. So, in Spanish, there are two ways to say "we":

nosotroswe (masculine or mixed group)

nosotraswe (feminine)

This same idea applies to the English word "they":

ellosthey (masculine or mixed group)

ellasthey (feminine)

This same idea also applies to the "vosotros" form:

vosotrosyou-all familiar (masculine or mixed group)

vosotrasyou-all familiar (feminine)

Note: These forms are used primarily in Spain, not Latin America.

Finally, don't get confused over the difference between talking to a group or talking about a group. Consider the following statement, which could have been made by your Spanish teacher, while standing before the class:

"You-all need to study your Spanish. Those students in the other class don't need to study Spanish. They are studying French. You-all can practice Spanish in Spain. They can practice French in France."

The teacher is talking to the Spanish students and about the French students.

Talking to a group, use "you-all":

ustedesvosotrosvosotrasTalking about a group, use "they":

ellosellasHere's the complete list of Spanish subject pronouns:

Singularyo - It - you (familiar)l - heella - sheusted - you (formal)

Pluralnosotros

we (masculine or mixed gender)

nosotras

we (feminine)

vosotros

you-all (familiar, Spain, masculine or mixed gender)

vosotras

you-all (familiar, Spain, feminine)

ellos

they (masculine or mixed gender)

ellas

they (feminine)

ustedes

you-all (formal in Spain, formal and familiar in Latin America)

Regular Verbs: Part I

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

All Spanish verbs are either "regular" or "irregular." In this lesson we will look at three completely regular verbs:

hablar (to speak)comer (to eat)vivir (to live)

Notice the last two letters of each verb.

hablar (to speak)comer (to eat)vivir (to live)

There are three categories of verbs:

-ar verbs (like hablar)-er verbs (like comer)-ir verbs (like vivir)

All three categories are infinitives. You will recall from a previous lesson that infinitives are the base form of the verb, equivalent in English to: to speak, to eat, to live, etc. In Spanish, all infinitives end in -ar, -er, or -ir.

-ar verbhablar (to speak)

-er verbcomer (to eat)

-ir verbvivir (to live)

Remember what it means to conjugate a verb:

to speakI speakyou speakhe speaksshe speakswe speakyou-all speakthey speak

In this lesson, you will learn to conjugate our model verbs for I, you (formal), we, and you-all (formal).

hablar - to speak

yo hablo

I speak

usted habla

you speak

nosotros/as hablamos

we speak

ustedes hablan

you-all speak

comer - to eat

yo como

I eat

usted come

you eat

nosotros/as comemos

we eat

ustedes comen

you-all eat

vivir - to live

yo vivo

I live

usted vive

you live

nosotros/as vivimos

we live

ustedes viven

you-all live

Look for a pattern in the yo form.

yo habloyo comoyo vivoIf the subject is I (yo), conjugate by dropping the ending and add -o.

yo hablo (hablar - ar + o = hablo)yo como (comer - er + o = como)yo vivo (vivir - ir + o = vivo)Look for a pattern in the usted form.

usted hablausted comeusted viveIf the subject is you formal (usted) drop the ending and add either -a or -e. If the verb is an -ar verb, add -a. If it is an -er or -ir verb, add -e.

usted habla (hablar - ar + a = habla)usted come (comer - er + e = come)usted vive (vivir - ir + e = vive)Look for a pattern in the nosotros/as form.

nosotros/as hablamosnosotros/as comemosnosotros/as vivimosIf the subject is we (nosotros/as), conjugate by dropping the ending and add -amos, -emos, or -imos.

Notice that the ending of the infinitive determines which is used: -ar verbs add -amos, -er verbs add -emos, -ir verbs add -imos.

nosotros/as hablamos(hablar - ar + amos = hablamos)nosotros/as comemos(comer - er + emos = comemos)nosotros/as vivimos(vivir - ir + imos = vivimos)Look for a pattern in the ustedes form.

ustedes hablanustedes comenustedes vivenIf the subject is you-all (ustedes), conjugate by dropping the ending and add -an or -en. If the verb is an -ar verb, add -an. If it is an -er or an -ir verb, add -en.

ustedes hablan(hablar - ar + an = hablan)ustedes comen(comer - er + en = comen)ustedes viven(vivir - ir + en = viven)Present tense (indicative) in Spanish means three things.

1. Yo hablo ingls:

I speak English.I do speak English.I am speaking English.

2. Yo como pan:

I eat bread.I do eat bread.I am eating bread.

3. Yo vivo en Buenos Aires:

I live in Buenos Aires.I do live in Buenos Aires.I am living in Buenos Aires.

It is vital that you continue with your collection of verb flashcards. This will be your key to success in mastering the Spanish verbs. Continue by creating 4 additional cards, writing the words in bold on one side and the conjugations on the other side:

Verb FlashcardsComplete ListPresent IndicativeI speakI do speakI am speaking

hablar (to speak)hablohablahablamoshablan

comer (to eat)comocomecomemoscomen

vivir (to live)vivovivevivimosviven

Regular Verbs: Part II

Remember, all Spanish verbs are either "regular" or "irregular." In this lesson we continue by looking at our three model verbs, which are completely regular:

hablar

to speak

comer

to eat

vivir

to live

Also remember, there are three categories of verbs:

-ar verbs (like hablar)-er verbs (like comer)-ir verbs (like vivir)

Remember that when you conjugate a verb, you mold the infinitive to match the subject of the sentence.

to speak

I speakyou speakhe speaksshe speakswe speakyou-all speakthey speak

In this lesson, you will learn to conjugate regular verbs for the following forms: you (familiar), he, she, you-all (familiar) and they.

hablart hablas

you (familiar) speak

l habla

he speaks

ella habla

she speaks

vosotros/as hablis

you-all (familiar) speak

ellos/ellas hablan

they speak

comert comes

you (familiar) eat

l come

he eats

ella come

she eats

vosotros/as comis

you-all (familiar) eat

ellos/ellas comen

they eat

vivirt vives

you (familiar) live

l vive

he lives

ella vive

she lives

vosotros/as vivs

you-all (familiar) live

ellos/ellas viven

they live

Look for a pattern in the t form.

t hablast comest vivesIf the subject is you (familiar), conjugate by dropping the ending and add -as or -es. If the verb is an -ar verb, add -as. If it is an -er or -ir verb, add es.

t hablas (hablar - ar + as = hablas)t comes (comer - er + es = comes)t vives (vivir - ir + es = vives)Look for a pattern in the l form.

l hablal comel viveIf the subject is he (l) drop the ending and add either -a or -e. If the verb is an -ar verb, add -a. If it is an -er or -ir verb, add -e.

l habla (hablar - ar + a = habla)l come (comer - er + e = come)l vive (vivir - ir + e = vive)Look for a pattern in the ella form.

ella hablaella comeella viveIf the subject is she (ella), conjugate in exactly the same manner as you did for he (l). That is, by dropping the ending and add -a or -e, depending on whether the verb is an -ar, -er or -ir verb.

ella habla (hablar - ar + a = habla)ella come (comer - er + e = come)ella vive (vivir - ir + e = vive)Note: at this point, you may notice that the conjugations for l/ella are the same as for usted (usted habla, usted come, usted vive).

Look for a pattern in the vosotros/as form.

vosotros/as hablisvosotros/as comisvosotros/as vivsIf the subject is you-all familiar (vosotros/as), conjugate by dropping the ending and adding -is, -is or -s. Again, decide which ending to use by the class of infinitive (-ar, -er, -ir).

vosotros/as hablis (hablar - ar + is = hablis)vosotros/as comis (comer - er + is = comis)vosotros/as vivs (vivir - ir + s = vivs)Note: Remember, vosotros and vosotras forms are primarily used in Spain. In Latin America, ustedes is generally used for both formal and informal situations.

Look for a pattern in the ellos form.

ellos hablanellos comenellos vivenIf the subject is they masculine (ellos) drop the ending and add either -an or -en. If the verb is an -ar verb, add -an. If it is an -er or -ir verb, add -en.

ellos hablan (hablar - ar + an = hablan)ellos comen (comer - er + en = comen)ellos viven (vivir - ir + en = viven)Look for a pattern in the ellas form.

ellas hablanellas comenellas vivenIf the subject is they feminine (ellas), conjugate in exactly the same manner as you did for they masculine (ellos). That is, by dropping the ending and add -an or -en, depending on whether the verb is an -ar, -er or -ir verb.

ellas hablan (hablar - ar + an = hablan)ellas comen (comer - er + en = comen)ellas viven (vivir - ir + en = viven)Note: At this point, you may notice that the conjugations for ellos/ellas are the same as for ustedes (ustedes hablan, ustedes comen, ustedes viven).

Remember that the present tense (indicative) in Spanish means three things.

T hablas ingls

You speak English.You do speak English.You are speaking English.

T comes pan

You eat bread.You do eat bread.You are eating bread.

T vives en Buenos Aires

You live in Buenos Aires.You do live in Buenos Aires.You are living in Buenos Aires.

If you are going to succeed in Spanish, you must learn the verbs. The best way to do that is by creating a special collection of flashcards.

Practicing with these flashcards is your key to success in mastering the Spanish verbs. Continue by replacing the three cards you created in the previous lesson with these updated versions.

Verb Flashcards

hablar (to speak)hablohablashabla

hablamoshablis

hablan

comer (to eat)comocomescome

comemoscomis

comen

vivir (to live)vivovivesvive

vivimosvivs

viven

Regular Verbs: Part III

Here's the complete list of Spanish subject pronouns.

Singular

yotustedlella

Plural

nosotros/asvosotros/asustedesellosellas

To conjugate -ar verbs, drop the ending and add:

-o-as-a-amos-is-an

To conjugate -er verbs, drop the ending and add:

-o-es-e-emos-is-en

To conjugate -ir verbs, drop the ending and add:

-o-es-e-imos-s-en

You will benefit greatly by quickly memorizing the three model verbs.

hablaryo hablot hablasl, ella, Ud. hablanosotros/as hablamosvosotros/as hablisellos, ellas, Uds. hablancomeryo comot comesl, ella, Ud. comenosotros/as comemosvosotros/as comisellos, ellas, Uds. comenviviryo vivot vivesl, ella, Ud. vivenosotros/as vivimosvosotros/as vivsellos, ellas, Uds. vivenNote: The verb forms are the same for l, ella and Ud. as are the verb forms for ellos, ellas and Uds.

In Spanish the subject pronouns are not always required. This is because the verb endings can indicate who is performing the action.

Hablo espaol. (Yo is not necessary.)I speak Spanish.

Comemos carne. (Nosotros is not necessary.)We eat meat.

Vives en Mxico. (T is not necessary.)You live in Mexico.

Subject pronouns are often used for clarification. For example, the verb form habla is ambiguous.

Ud. hablal hablaella habla

Therefore, to distinguish between "you speak," "he speaks," and "she speaks," it may be necessary to use the subject pronoun. Often, the conversation implies the subject of the verb. In such cases the subject pronoun may be omitted.

Subject pronouns are often used for emphasis.

Ella habla espaol y yo hablo ingls.

Here there is no ambiguity with respect to hablo. The subject pronoun is merely adding emphasis:

She speaks Spanish and I speak English.

Another example of using subject pronouns for emphasis.

Yo como pan y t comes arroz.

Once again there is no ambiguity. The pronouns emphasize the contrast.

I eat bread and you eat rice.

It is possible to use two verbs in a row. Just like in English, the first verb is conjugated, while the second verb remains in the infinitive form.

Necesito hablar con Alfredo.I need to speak with Alfredo.(necesitar, hablar)

Necesito + hablar + con Alfredo.I need + to speak + with Alfredo.

Another example of two verbs used together:

Deseas vivir en Espaa.You wish to live in Spain.(desear, vivir)

Deseas + vivir + en Espaa.You wish + to live + in Spain.

Hopefully, you have taken our advice and have been creating a special collection of verb flashcards. If not, it's not too late to start. Here is the entire list of cards to this point:

Verb Flashcards

haythere is, there are

Present IndicativeI speakI do speakI am speaking

hablar (to speak)hablohablashabla

hablamoshablis

hablan

comer (to eat)comocomescome

comemoscomis

comen

vivir (to live)vivovivesvive

vivimosvivs

viven

Common Regular -ar Verbs

alquilar to rententrar (en) to enter (into)necesitar to needamar to loveenviar to sendolvidar to forgetandar to walkescuchar to listen topagar to pay forayudar to helpesperar to hope, to wait forpracticar to practicebailar to danceestudiar to studypreguntar to askbuscar to look forfirmar to signpreparar to preparecaminar to walkganar to win, earnregresar to returncantar to singgastar to spend moneysaludar to greetcocinar to cookhablar to speak, to talktocar to touch, to play an instrumentcomprar to buylavar to washtomar to take, to drinkcontestar to answerllegar to arrivetrabajar to workdejar to allow, to leavellevar to wear, to carryviajar to traveldesear to desiremandar to ordervisitar to visitensear to teachmirar to watch, to look at

Common Regular -er Verbs

aprender to learncreer to believeposeer to possess, to ownbeber to drinkdeber to have to, to oweprometer to promisecomer to eatesconder to hideromper to breakcomprender to understandleer to readtemer to fearcorrer to runmeter en to put intovender to sell

Common Regular -ir Verbs

abrir to opendescubrir to discoverpermitir to permitadmitir to admitdiscutir to discussrecibir to receiveasistir a to attendescribir to writesubir to climb, to go upcubrir to coverexistir to existsufrir to sufferdecidir to decideomitir to omitunir to unitedescribir to describepartir to dividevivir to live

Regular Verbs: Part III

Here's the complete list of Spanish subject pronouns.

Singular

yotustedlella

Plural

nosotros/asvosotros/asustedesellosellas

To conjugate -ar verbs, drop the ending and add:

-o-as-a-amos-is-an

To conjugate -er verbs, drop the ending and add:

-o-es-e-emos-is-en

To conjugate -ir verbs, drop the ending and add:

-o-es-e-imos-s-en

You will benefit greatly by quickly memorizing the three model verbs.

hablaryo hablot hablasl, ella, Ud. hablanosotros/as hablamosvosotros/as hablisellos, ellas, Uds. hablancomeryo comot comesl, ella, Ud. comenosotros/as comemosvosotros/as comisellos, ellas, Uds. comenviviryo vivot vivesl, ella, Ud. vivenosotros/as vivimosvosotros/as vivsellos, ellas, Uds. vivenNote: The verb forms are the same for l, ella and Ud. as are the verb forms for ellos, ellas and Uds.

In Spanish the subject pronouns are not always required. This is because the verb endings can indicate who is performing the action.

Hablo espaol. (Yo is not necessary.)I speak Spanish.

Comemos carne. (Nosotros is not necessary.)We eat meat.

Vives en Mxico. (T is not necessary.)You live in Mexico.

Subject pronouns are often used for clarification. For example, the verb form habla is ambiguous.

Ud. hablal hablaella habla

Therefore, to distinguish between "you speak," "he speaks," and "she speaks," it may be necessary to use the subject pronoun. Often, the conversation implies the subject of the verb. In such cases the subject pronoun may be omitted.

Subject pronouns are often used for emphasis.

Ella habla espaol y yo hablo ingls.

Here there is no ambiguity with respect to hablo. The subject pronoun is merely adding emphasis:

She speaks Spanish and I speak English.

Another example of using subject pronouns for emphasis.

Yo como pan y t comes arroz.

Once again there is no ambiguity. The pronouns emphasize the contrast.

I eat bread and you eat rice.

It is possible to use two verbs in a row. Just like in English, the first verb is conjugated, while the second verb remains in the infinitive form.

Necesito hablar con Alfredo.I need to speak with Alfredo.(necesitar, hablar)

Necesito + hablar + con Alfredo.I need + to speak + with Alfredo.

Another example of two verbs used together:

Deseas vivir en Espaa.You wish to live in Spain.(desear, vivir)

Deseas + vivir + en Espaa.You wish + to live + in Spain.

Hopefully, you have taken our advice and have been creating a special collection of verb flashcards. If not, it's not too late to start. Here is the entire list of cards to this point:

Verb Flashcards

haythere is, there are

Present IndicativeI speakI do speakI am speaking

hablar (to speak)hablohablashabla

hablamoshablis

hablan

comer (to eat)comocomescome

comemoscomis

comen

vivir (to live)vivovivesvive

vivimosvivs

viven

Common Regular -ar Verbs

alquilar to rententrar (en) to enter (into)necesitar to needamar to loveenviar to sendolvidar to forgetandar to walkescuchar to listen topagar to pay forayudar to helpesperar to hope, to wait forpracticar to practicebailar to danceestudiar to studypreguntar to askbuscar to look forfirmar to signpreparar to preparecaminar to walkganar to win, earnregresar to returncantar to singgastar to spend moneysaludar to greetcocinar to cookhablar to speak, to talktocar to touch, to play an instrumentcomprar to buylavar to washtomar to take, to drinkcontestar to answerllegar to arrivetrabajar to workdejar to allow, to leavellevar to wear, to carryviajar to traveldesear to desiremandar to ordervisitar to visitensear to teachmirar to watch, to look at

Common Regular -er Verbs

aprender to learncreer to believeposeer to possess, to ownbeber to drinkdeber to have to, to oweprometer to promisecomer to eatesconder to hideromper to breakcomprender to understandleer to readtemer to fearcorrer to runmeter en to put intovender to sell

Common Regular -ir Verbs

abrir to opendescubrir to discoverpermitir to permitadmitir to admitdiscutir to discussrecibir to receiveasistir a to attendescribir to writesubir to climb, to go upcubrir to coverexistir to existsufrir to sufferdecidir to decideomitir to omitunir to unitedescribir to describepartir to dividevivir to live

Spanish Adjectives: Part I

Adjectives are frequently descriptive. That is, most often adjectives are used to describe a noun, or distinguish the noun from a group of similar objects. For example, an adjective might describe the color of an object.

the red penthe blue pen

In Spanish, most adjectives change form, depending upon whether the word they modify is masculine or feminine. Notice the difference between "the tall boy" and "the tall girl."

el chico altola chica altaAdjectives also change form depending upon whether the word they modify is singular or plural. Notice the difference between "the tall boy" and "the tall boys" ; "the tall girl" and "the tall girls."

el chico altolos chicos altosla chica altalas chicas altasMany common adjectives end in -o. These adjectives have four forms. The following words all mean "tall":

altoaltaaltosaltasThe correct form of the adjective depends upon the noun it modifies. Is the noun masculine or feminine? Singular or plural?

libro rojored book

pluma rojared pen

libros rojosred books

plumas rojasred pens

Notice how the endings of the nouns and these adjectives are similar.

libro rojopluma rojalibros rojosplumas rojasAdjectives that end in -e also change form for singular or plural. To form the plural, simply add -s.

la chica inteligentelas chicas inteligentesAdjectives that end in -e do not, however, change form for masculine or feminine.

la chica inteligenteel chico inteligentelas chicas inteligenteslos chicos inteligentesSimilarly, most adjectives that end in a consonant do change form for singular or plural, but do not change for masculine or feminine. To form the plural, add -es.

la chica popularel chico popularlas chicas populareslos chicos popularesLet's review.

Adjectives that end in -o have four forms: alto, alta, altos, altas

Adjectives that end in -e have two forms: inteligente, inteligentes

Most adjectives that end in a consonant have two forms: popular, populares (form plural by adding -es)

Adjectives: Part II

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

Many adjectives of nationality end in -o. These adjectives follow the same rules as other adjectives ending in -o. That is, they have four forms.

el muchacho mexicanola muchacha mexicanalos muchachos mexicanoslas muchachas mexicanasMany other adjectives of nationality end in a consonant. These adjectives do not follow the same rules as other adjectives ending in a consonant, rather, they have a distinct feminine form ending in -a.

el muchacho espaolla muchacha espaolalos muchachos espaoleslas muchachas espaolasThere is another group of adjectives that does not follow the normal rules. Adjectives ending in -or, -n, -n, or -n also have a feminine form.

el chico habladorla chica habladoralos chicos habladoreslas chicas habladorasel hombre trabajadorla mujer trabajadoralos hombres trabajadoreslas mujeres trabajadorasNote: Adjectives ending in "-erior" do not have a feminine form.

Adjectives that are descriptive usually follow the noun they describe.

el chico altola chica altalos libros pequeoslas plumas rojasAdjectives of quantity almost always come before the noun. Such adjectives tell how much or how many.

pocos librosmucha energamucho trabajopocas casas

Sometimes, a descriptive adjective can precede the noun. If the adjective is descriptive, but speaks of a quality that is inherent and usually taken for granted, the adjective comes first.

la blanca nievethe white snow (snow is inherently white)

los altos picosthe tall peaks (peaks are inherently tall)

Let's review the last two lessons.Adjectives that end in -o have four forms.

altoaltaaltosaltas

Adjectives of nationality ending in -o are no different from other such adjectives.

guatemaltecoguatemaltecaguatemaltecosguatemaltecas

Adjectives that end in -e have two forms.

inteligenteinteligentes

Most adjectives ending with a consonant have two forms.

popularpopulares

Adjectives of nationality ending in a consonant have four forms.

espaolespaolaespaolesespaolas

Adjectives ending in -or, -n, -n, or -n have four forms.

habladorhabladorahabladoreshabladoras

Adjectives that are descriptive usually follow the noun they describe.

casa blancachica alta

When an adjective speaks of a quality that is inherent and usually taken for granted, the adjective precedes the noun.

la blanca nievelos altos picos

Adjectives of quantity usually come before the noun.

pocos librosmuchos libros

Ser and Estar: Part I

Whole books have been written about the two important Spanish verbs: ser and estar. This will be the subject of our discussion for the next few lessons. Soon, you will have a very good understanding of how these two verbs are used.

Ser and estar can both be translated as "to be." Here is the English verb, fully conjugated:

to beI amyou arehe/she iswe areyou-all arethey are

Notice that these two sentences can have different meanings in English.

The apple is green.(Meaning the apple is not ripe.)

The apple is green.(Meaning the color of the apple is green.)

In the first case, our example speaks of the condition of the apple. The apple is green because it has not yet ripened. When the condition of the apple changes, that is, when it has ripened, it will no longer be green, it will be ripe.

In the second case, our example speaks of the essential characteristics of the apple. The apple is green in color. This particular apple remains green even after it has ripened.

In English, the verb "to be" can be used to tell how something is (the condition) and what something is (the essence).

How is the apple?It is unripe.

What color is the apple?It is green.

In Spanish, a different verb is used to express "to be" depending on whether the speaker intends to address a condition or an essential quality.

La manzana est verde.The apple is green. (condition)

La manzana es verde.The apple is green. (essence)

Note how the adjective "verde" actually changes meaning, depending upon whether it is used with ser or estar.

La manzana est verde.(condition: verde = unripe)

La manzana es verde.(essential characteristic: verde = color green)

To address condition, use estar. Estar is an irregular verb. It does not follow the standard rules of conjugation for regular -ar verbs. Therefore, you must memorize it.

estarestoyestsestestamosestisestn

To address an essential quality, use ser. Ser is also irregular and must be memorized.

sersoyeresessomossoisson

If you are talking about what something is, use ser; if you are talking about how something is, use estar.

What is she like?She is quiet.Use ser:Ella es callada.How is she acting?She is being quiet.Use estar:Ella est callada.Let's add the two important verbs ser and estar to our set of verb flashcards:

Verb FlashcardsComplete Listser (to be)soyeresessomossoisson

estar (to be)estoyestsestestamosestisestn

Ser and Estar: Part II

In the previous lesson you learned the fundamental difference between ser and estar - essence or condition. The examples used the verbs in conjunction with adjectives to clearly illustrate this point. In practice, ser and estar are not always used with adjectives, nor is it always easy for the non-native speaker to choose between the two verbs. Therefore, it is extremely useful to learn some concrete rules for deciding when to use ser or estar. This lesson examines some common uses for the verb ser.

Ser is used to express the hour, day, and date.

Qu hora es?What time is it?

Son las dos.It's two o'clock.

Qu da es hoy?What day is today?

Hoy es lunes.Today's Monday.

Qu fecha es hoy?What's the date today?

Es el cinco de mayo.It's May fifth.

Ser is used to express place of origin.

De dnde eres t?Where are you from?

Soy de Colombia.I'm from Colombia.

Ser is used to express occupation.

Cul es tu trabajo?What do you do?

Soy carpinteroI'm a carpenter.

Ser is used to express nationality.

Es ella puertorriquea?Is she Puerto Rican?

No, es guatemalteca.No, she's Guatemalan.

Ser is used to express religious or political affiliation.

Son los Garca bautistas?Are the Garcias Baptists?

No, son catlicos.No, they're Catholics.

Es el gobierno socialista?Is the government socialist?

No, es comunista.No, it's communist.

Ser is used to express the material something is made of.

De qu material es la mesa?What's the table made of?

Es de madera.It's made of wood.

Ser is used to express possession.

De quin es la pluma?Whose pen is it?

Es de Emilio.It's Emilio's.

Ser is used to express the relationship of one person to another.

Quin es Rogelio?Who is Roger?

Es el esposo de Marta.He's Martha's husband.

Ser is used with certain impersonal expressions.

Es importante practicar cada da.It's important to practice every day.

Es necesario hablar mucho.It's necessary to speak a lot.

Ser is used to tell where an event is taking place.

La pelcula es en el cine.The movie is at the theatre.

La fiesta es en el club Fantstico.The party is in the Fantastic Club.

Ser is used with adjectives to express inherent, or essential qualities.

Miguel es un hombre sincero.Mike is a sincere man.

Tambin es guapo.He's also handsome.

Let's review. Ser is used to express:

1. the hour, day, and date

2. place of origin

3. occupation

4. nationality

5. religious or political affiliation

6. the material something is made of

7. possession

8. relationship of one person to another

9. certain impersonal expressions

10. where an event is taking place

11. essential qualities

Let's add another flashcard:

Verb FlashcardsComplete ListUses of serthe hour, day, and dateplace of originoccupationnationalityreligious or political affiliationthe material something is made ofpossessionrelationship of one person to anothercertain impersonal expressionswhere an event is taking placeessential qualities

Ser and Estar: Part III

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

In the previous two lessons you learned the fundamental difference between ser and estar - essence or condition ("what" something is v. "how" something is), as well as some common uses for the verb ser. This lesson examines the other Spanish verb for "to be": estar.

Estar is used to express geographic or physical locations.

Dnde ests?Where are you?

Estoy en el laboratorio.I'm in the laboratory.

Dnde est Chile?Where's Chile?

Chile est en Amrica del Sur.Chile is in South America.

Note: The one exception to this rule is that ser is used to tell where an event is taking place. (La fiesta es en mi casa.)

Estar is used with adjectives to express a state or condition ("how" something is).

Cmo est la sopa?How's the soup?

La sopa est fra.The soup is cold.

Cmo ests t?How are you?

Estoy muy bien, gracias.I am very well, thanks.

Estar is used with many idiomatic expressions. These are just a few.

estar de acuerdo

to be in agreement

estar de pie

to be standing

estar en camino

to be on the way

estar en las nubes

to daydream

Estar is used with the progressive tenses. You will learn more about this usage later. We present it now simply because it is an important use of the verb estar.

Qu ests comiendo?What are you eating?

Estoy comiendo arroz y frijoles.I am eating rice and beans.

Let's review. Estar is used to express:

1. geographic or physical location

2. state or condition

3. many idiomatic expressions

4. progressive tenses

Let's add another flashcard:

Verb FlashcardsComplete ListUses of estargeographic or physical locationstate or conditionmany idiomatic expressionsprogressive tenses

Ser and Estar: Part IV

In the previous three lessons you learned the fundamental difference between ser and estar -- essence or condition, as well as some common uses for each verb. This lesson presents the two verbs side by side, with the emphasis on contrasting their uses. In the process, much -- but not all -- of the previous three lessons will be reviewed. The practice exercises and the test cover material from all four lessons (Ser and Estar Parts I-IV).

When the verb "to be" is followed by a noun, the verb ser is always used. In this instance, it might be helpful to think of the verb as equivalent to an "equal" sign, such as a = b. This type of sentence is always referring to essential characteristics, since the verb is "linking" what comes before the verb to what comes after the verb.

John is a doctor.John = doctor.

Juan es mdico.

When the verb "to be" is followed by an adjective, the verb used depends upon the meaning. When referring to an essential characteristic, use ser. When referring to a state or condition, use estar.

La sopa est fra.The soup is cold.

Los elefantes son grandes.The elephants are big.

When the verb "to be" is followed by an adjective, the verb can actually change the meaning of the adjective.

El profesor est aburrido.The professor is bored.

El profesor es aburrido.The professor is boring.

Let's distinguish between origin, location, and "to take place." To describe origin, or where something is from, use ser. To describe location, or where something is located right now, use estar. To tell where an event is taking place, use ser.

Mnica es de Espaa. (origin)Mnica est en Venezuela. (location)La fiesta es en la casa de Mnica. (taking place)

Let's review.

1. When a noun follows the verb, use ser

2. When an adjective follows the verb, decide between "essence" and "condition"

3. To tell where something is from, use ser

4. To tell where something is located right now, use estar

5. To tell where an event is taking place, use ser

Let's add another flashcard:

Verb FlashcardsComplete ListSer and estar (contrasting uses)When a noun follows the verb, use serWhen an adjective follows the verb, decide between "essence" and "condition"To tell where something is from, use serTo tell where something is located right now, use estarTo tell where an event is taking place, use ser

Negation

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

You have already learned how to make simple affirmative statements.

Ella habla ingls.She speaks English.

l es profesor.He is a professor.

To make a sentence negative, place the word "no" before the verb.

Ella no habla ingls.She doesn't speak English.

l no es profesor.He is not a professor.

When the answer to a question is negative, two negative words are required.

Habla Ud. espaol? (Do you speak Spanish?)No. No hablo espaol. (No. I don't speak Spanish.)

Est Gerardo en la clase? (Is Gerardo in the class?)No. Gerardo no est en la clase. (No. Gerardo is not in the class.)

Siempre estudias? (Do you always study?)No, nunca estudio. (No, I never study.)

Study the following list of affirmative words and their negative counterparts:

algo (something)nada (nothing)

alguien (somebody)nadie (nobody)

algn (-o, -a, -os, -as) (some, something)ningn (-o, -a, -os, -as) (no, none)

siempre (always)nunca (never) jams (never, ever)

tambin (also)tampoco (neither, not either)

o . . . o (either . . . or)ni . . . ni (neither . . . nor)

The negative words can be used alone, preceding the verb.

Nadie habla.Nobody speaks.

l nunca come.He never eats.

Alfredo tampoco baila.Alfredo doesn't dance either.

The negative words can also be used with the word "no," following the verb. Note that unlike English, double negatives are acceptable in Spanish.

No habla nadie.Nobody speaks.

l no come nunca.He never eats.

Alfredo no baila tampoco .Alfredo doesn't dance either.

Sometimes, three negative words occur in the same sentence.

No compro nada nunca.I never buy anything.

l no compra nada tampoco.He doesn't buy anything either.

You can even have four negative words in the same sentence.

Yo no veo nunca a nadie tampoco.I never see anybody either.

Unlike English, Spanish does not normally mix negative and affirmative words.

EnglishMaria doesn't need anything.NOT Maria doesn't need nothing.

SpanishMara no necesita nada.NOT Mara no necesita algo.

Alguno and ninguno drop the -o before a masculine singular noun.

Tienes algn libro?No, no tengo ningn libro.

Ninguno(-a) is generally used in the singular.

Tienes algunas revistas?No, no tengo ninguna.

Tienes algunos libros?No, no tengo ninguno.

The plural of ninguno(-a) is used only when the noun it modifies exists only in plural, or is normally used in plural.

Ningunas vacaciones a Alaska son completas sin una excursin a Mt. McKinley.No vacation to Alaska is complete without a trip to Mt. McKinley.

In this example "ningunas" is used because "vacaciones" is normally used in plural form.

Questions

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

In Spanish, there may be several ways to ask the same question. Note the inverted question mark that begins each question.

Mara habla espaol?Does Maria speak Spanish?

Habla Mara espaol?Does Maria speak Spanish?

Habla espaol Mara?Does Maria speak Spanish?

The following questions mean exactly the same thing:

Does Mara speak Spanish?

Mara habla espaol?Habla Mara espaol?Habla espaol Mara?

Possible answers would be:

S, Mara habla espaol.No, Mara no habla espaol.

Another method of forming questions is to add a tag question to the end of a statement.

Mara habla espaol, no?Maria speaks Spanish, doesn't she?

Mara habla espaol, verdad?Maria speaks Spanish, right?

Common words used to introduce other questions are:

Adnde?Dnde?De dnde?Cmo?Cul (-es)?Cundo?Cunto (-a)?Cuntos (-as)?Qu?De qu?Quin (-es)?A quin (-es)?Con quin (-es)?De quin (-es)?Por qu?Para qu?

Note: Each has a written accent mark.

Notice how the subject and verbs are inverted. That is, the subject comes after the verb.

Qu estudia Pilar?What does Pilar study?

Cundo comen ustedes?When do you-all eat?

Dnde est mi coche?Where is my car?

Cunto cuesta la corbata?How much does the tie cost?

Dnde? means "Where?" Adnde? means "To where?" Thus, dnde asks for a location, while adnde asks for a destination.

Dnde est la biblioteca?Where is the library?

Adnde va Ral?Where is Raul going?(Literally: To where goes Raul?)

De dnde? means "From where?"

De dnde es Gerardo?Where is Gerardo from?

Cmo? means "How?"

Cmo est usted?How are you?

Cul? and Cules? mean "What?" or "Which?"

Cul es tu nombre?What is your name?

Cules son tus libros favoritos?What (Which) are your favorite books?

Cundo? means "When?"

Cundo van a ir ustedes?When are you-all going to go?

Cunto(-a)? means "How much?"

Cunto dinero gana Eduardo?How much money does Eduardo earn?

Cuntos(-as)? means "How many?"

Cuntas chicas hay en la clase?How many girls are there in the class?

Qu? means "What?"

Qu es la libertad?What is liberty?

Qu estudias?What do you study?

De qu? means "About what?" or "Of what?"

De qu material es la pluma?What is the pen made of?Literally: Of what material is the pen?

De qu hablan ustedes?What are you-all talking about?Literally: Of what do you-all speak?

Quin(-es)? means "Who?"

Quin es Gregorio?Who is Gregorio?

Quines son esos chicos?Who are those boys?

A quin(-es)? means "Whom?"

A quin buscas?For whom are you looking?

A quines vas a dar tantos libros?To whom are you going to give so many books?

Con quin(-es)? means "With whom?"

Con quin hablo?With whom am I speaking?

Con quines estudia Mario?With whom does Mario study?

De quin(-es)? means "Whose?"

De quin es aquel sombrero?Whose hat is that?

De quines son estas monedas?Whose coins are these?

Por qu? means "Why? (for what reason)"

Por qu estudias espaol?For what reason do you study Spanish?

Possible answer:

Porque es un requisito.Because it's required.

Para qu? means "Why? (for what purpose)"

Para qu estudias espaol?For what purpose do you study Spanish?

Possible answer:

Para ser profesor de espaol.In order to become a Spanish teacher.

When used with the verb ser, cul and qu can both mean "what," but they are not interchangeable. Cul is more common, and is used to indicate a selection, or choice of possibilities. Qu is used to elicit a definition or an explanation.

Cul es la capital de Espaa?What is the capital of Spain?

Qu es la capital?What is the (definition of) capital?

Possessive Adjectives

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

Possessive adjectives are used to show ownership.

mi libromy book

tu plumayour pen

There are five possessive adjectives.

mitusu

nuestrovuestro

Three possessive adjectives (mi, tu, su) have only two forms, singular and plural.

mimis

tutus

susus

Possessive adjectives agree with the nouns they modify. That is, they agree with the thing possessed, not the possessor.

mi libro

my book

mis libros

my books

tu pluma

your pen

tus plumas

your pens

Mi, tu and su do not have masculine and feminine forms. They stay the same, regardless of the gender of the nouns they modify.

mi amigomi amiga

tus hermanostus hermanas

su librosus plumas

Mi means "my" ; tu means "your."

Mi casa es tu casa.My house is your house.

Su, like tu, can mean "your." The difference between your (tu) and your (su) lies in the degree of formality the speaker wishes to convey.

Mi casa es tu casa.(speaking to someone you would address as "t")

Mi casa es su casa.(speaking to someone you would address as "usted")

Note: The two words "tu" and "t" are pronounced the same. T (with the written accent) is the subject pronoun meaning "you" (informal). Tu (without the written accent) is the possessive adjective meaning "your" (informal).

Su has four meanings: his, her, their and your (formal).

Mara busca a su hermana.Mara is looking for her sister.

Juan busca a su hermana.Juan is looking for his sister.

Ellos buscan a su hermana.They are looking for their sister.

Su madre busca a su hermana.Your mother is looking for your sister.

If the meaning of su is not clear from the context of the sentence, a prepositional phrase is used in place of su.

Mara busca a la hermana de l.Mara looks for his sister.

El hombre busca las llaves de ella.The man looks for her keys.

Mara busca el cuaderno de Juan.Mara looks for Juan's notebook.

El hombre busca las llaves de Samanta.The man looks for Samanta's keys.

Two possessive adjectives (nuestro and vuestro) have four forms.

nuestronuestranuestrosnuestras

vuestrovuestravuestrosvuestras

Nuestro means "our."

nuestro hermano

our brother

nuestra hermana

our sister

nuestros hermanos

our brothers

nuestras hermanas

our sisters

Vuestro means "your" (familiar, plural). Like vosotros, vuestro is primarily used in Spain.

vuestro libro

your book

vuestra pluma

your pen

vuestros libros

your books

vuestras plumas

your pens

Here are all of the possessive adjectives:

mi(s)my

tu(s)your (fam. sing.)

su(s)his, her, your (formal), their

nuestro(-a, -os, -as)our

vuestro(-a, -os, -as)your (fam. pl.)

Note that these possessive adjectives are not used with articles of clothing or body parts. Rather, the definite article is used.

Me gusta el vestido nuevo.I like my new dress

Me duele el brazo.My arm hurts.

Irregular Verbs: Tener and Venir

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

"Tener" and "venir" are both irregular verbs. Because they are irregular, you must memorize their conjugations. We present these two verbs together because they are very similar in the way they are conjugated:

tenerto havevenirto come

tengo / vengotienes / vienestiene / vienetenemos / venimostenis / venstienen / vienen

Continuing with our verb flashcards, let's add a single card for the two verbs tener and venir:

Verb FlashcardsComplete Listtener (to have)venir (to come)tengo / vengotienes / vienestiene / vienetenemos / venimostenis / venstienen / vienen

Tener que, Hay que

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

Tener que + infinitive is one way to express obligation or necessity. This expression can be translated as "someone has to do something." Tener is conjugated according to the subject of the sentence.

Tengo que comer las verduras.I have to eat the vegetables.

ngel tiene que leer el peridico.ngel has to read the newspaper.

Ellos tienen que comprar una revista.They have to buy a magazine.

Hay que + infinitive is used to express the idea of "one must do something" or, "it is necessary to do something." It is a more general expression and since there is no subject, the verb form hay is always used.

Hay que tomar un taxi.It is necessary to take a taxi.

Hay que estudiar mucho.One must study a lot.

These examples illustrate the contrasting uses of these two expressions:

Mara tiene un examen el lunes. Ella tiene que estudiar.Mara has a test on Monday. She has to study.

No es fcil aprender el espaol. Hay que practicar mucho.It isn't easy to learn Spanish. It is necessary to practice a lot.

Idiomatic Expressions with "tener"

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

An idiom is an expression that cannot be immediately understood by analyzing its literal meaning. A few examples of idioms in English are:

to be "on the go"to "play the field"to "jump the gun"

Spanish also has many idiomatic expressions. Although their literal translations sound odd to English speakers, they sound perfectly natural to native speakers. Here is one example:

Idiom: Hace mucho fro

Literally: It makes much cold

True Meaning: It is very cold

There are many idiomatic expressions that use the verb tener. This one expresses age:

Idiom: tener _____ aos

Literally: to have _____ years

True Meaning: to be _____ years old

Many other expressions using tener express physical sensations:

tener fro

to be cold

tener calor

to be hot

tener hambre

to be hungry

tener sed

to be thirsty

tener sueo

to be sleepy

tener dolor de

to hurt or be sore, etc.

There are also many idiomatic expressions with tener that express sensations more psychological in nature:

tener prisa

to be in a hurry

tener miedo a/de + noun

to be afraid of something

tener miedo a/de + infinitive

to be afraid to do something

tener celos

to be jealous

tener confianza

to be confident

tener cuidado

to be careful

tener vergenza

to be ashamed

There are other idiomatic expressions with tener as well:

tener razn

to be right

tener xito

to be successful

tener la culpa

to be guilty

tener suerte

to be lucky

tener lugar

to take place

tener ganas de

to feel like

tener en cuenta

to take into account

When using these idiomatic expressions, conjugate the verb (tener) according to the subject of the sentence.

Yo tengo cinco aos.T tienes ocho aos.Pablo tiene dos aos.

Notice that the expressions combine the verb tener with a noun:

el ao

los celos

el fro

la confianza

el calor

el cuidado

el hambre

la vergenza

la sed

la razn

el sueo

el xito

el dolor

la culpa

la prisa

la suerte

el miedo

el lugar

Because the expressions with tener use nouns, they are modified with adjectives, not adverbs.

Tengo fro.Tengo mucho fro. (not muy)

The first practice exercise and test will cover ten of the most common and useful of these expressions:

tener _____ aos

tener calor

tener fro

tener hambre

tener sed

tener prisa

tener miedo a/de _____

tener razn

tener suerte

Practice exercises 2-4 and test 2 will cover all of the expressions in this lesson.

Weather Expressions

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

Remember, an idiom is an expression that cannot be immediately understood by analyzing its literal meaning. A few examples of idioms in English are:

to "drive someone crazy"to "lose it"to be "raining cats and dogs"

Spanish also has many idiomatic expressions. Although their literal translations sound odd to English speakers, they sound perfectly natural to native speakers. Here is one example:

Idiom: Hace mucho fro

Literally: It makes much cold

True Meaning: It is very cold

In Spanish, there are a number of idiomatic expressions that employ the verb hacer (literal meaning: to do or to make), and are used to describe the weather.

Qu tiempo hace?

What's the weather like?

Hace fro.

It's cold.

Hace calor.

It's hot.

Hace viento.

It's windy.

Hace sol.

It's sunny.

Hace buen tiempo.

The weather is good.

Hace mal tiempo.

The weather is bad.

Hace fresco.

It's brisk.

Like the idioms that use tener, these idioms also contain a noun.

el fro

el calor

el viento

el sol

el tiempo

Because the idioms use nouns, they are modified by adjectives, not adverbs.

Hace mucho fro.It's very cold.

There are also weather expressions that use the verb hay:

Hay niebla.

It's foggy.

Hay neblina.

It's misty.

Hay sol.

The sun is shining.

Hay luna.

The moon is out.

Hay relmpagos.

It's lightning.

Hay humedad.

It's humid.

Hay nubes.

It's cloudy.

Hay lluvias torrenciales.

It's pouring.

Hay un vendaval.

There's a windstorm.

Hay granizo.

It's hailing.

Hay lloviznas.

It's sprinkling.

Other weather expressions use the verb estar along with an adjective:

Est oscuro.

It's dark.

Est nublado.

It's cloudy.

Est lluvioso.

It's raining.

Other weather expressions simply use a single verb:

Llueve.It is raining. or It rains.From the verb llover (to rain)

Nieva.It is snowing. or It snows.From the verb nevar (to snow)

Truena.It is thundering. or It thunders.From the verb tronar (to thunder)

Llovizna.It is drizzling. or It drizzles.From the verb lloviznar (to drizzle)

Here are some common ways to ask about the weather:

Qu tiempo hace?

Qu clima hace?

Cmo est el clima en ...?

Cmo est el tiempo?

Cmo est el clima hoy?

The first practice exercise and test will cover ten of the most common and useful of these expressions:

Qu tiempo hace?

Hace fro.

Hace calor.

Hace viento.

Hay niebla.

Hay granizo.

Hay relmpagos.

Llovizna.

Nieva.

Llueve.

Practice exercises 2-4 and test 2 will cover all of the expressions in this lesson.

The Personal "a"

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

The direct object is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb. In the following sentences, the direct objects are underlined.

Mike hit the ball.George calls Mary.He calls her.

In Spanish, when the direct object is a person, it is preceded by the preposition "a." This word has no English translation.

Jorge llama a Mara.Jorge calls Mara.

From the perspective of the English speaker, the personal "a" appears to be an extra word. From the perspective of the Spanish speaker, the personal "a" is required, and to not use it is a serious error.

Jorge llama a Mara.The personal "a" may also be used if the direct object is a domesticated animal, especially a pet, provided that the speaker attaches some sort of personal feelings towards the animal.

La mujer acaricia a su perro. (acariciar)The woman pets her dog.

El perro persigue a la gata. (perseguir)The dog chases the cat.

The personal "a" is not used when the direct object is not a person or is an animal for which no personal feelings are felt.

Bebo la leche. (beber)I drink the milk. -- milk is neither a person nor an animal

Miro la jirafa. (mirar)I look at the giraffe. -- no personal feelings are felt towards the giraffe

The personal "a" is not used after the verb tener, or the verb form hay. This is true even if the direct object is a person.

Tengo dos hermanos. (tener)I have two brothers.

Hay cinco chicas.There are five girls.

If the direct object is an indefinite person, the personal "a" is not used. The result is that the person becomes "depersonalized."

Necesito mdico.I need (any) doctor. (or)I need medical assistance.

Necesito jardinero.I need (any) gardener. (or)I need someone to tend my garden.

Because this Spanish grammatical structure has no equivalent in English, it is normal to expect that the student will forget to use it until a pattern of use has been established. Remember, to not use the personal "a" is a serious error, and the student should try to remember to use it when appropriate.

Contractions

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

When a or de precedes the definite article el, the two words combine to form a contraction. That is, two words become one.

a + el = alde + el = del

A + el is always contracted.

Incorrect:Llevas a el hermano de Ral?

Correct:Llevas al hermano de Ral?

De + el is always contracted.

Incorrect:El libro es de el profesor?

Correct:El libro es del profesor?

De + la, de + las, de + los, a + la, a + las, and a + los are never contracted.

Llevas al hermano de Ral?Are you taking Raul's brother?

No, llevo a las hermanas de Pilar.No, I'm taking Pilar's sisters.

El libro es del profesor?Is the book the profesor's?

No, el libro es de la profesora.No, the book is the profesor's (fem).

Remember the difference between el and l. The pronoun (l) does have a written accent and means "he." The definite article (el) does not have a written accent and means "the."

el libro / the bookl come / he eats

Only the definite article (el) is contracted. The pronoun (l) is not.

La Casa Blanca es la casa del presidente.The White House is the president's house.

Es la casa de l.It's his house.

A l no le gusta fumar.He doesn't like to smoke.

Stem-Changing Verbs: o:ue

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

Remember, there are three types of infinitives: -ar, -er, -ir. Infinitives are made up of two parts: the ending and the stem. In the following examples, the stem is underlined and the ending is in bold.

hablarcomervivirWith regular verbs, the stem stays the same, and the ending changes as they are conjugated.

hablocomovivo

hablascomesvives

hablacomevive

hablamoscomemosvivimos

habliscomisvivs

hablancomenviven

With some verbs, the stem also changes when you conjugate them. In the present tense, there are three groups of stem-changing verbs:

o:uee:iee:i

With the first group of stem-changing verbs, the letter o in the stem changes to ue in all forms except the nosotros and vosotros.

contar

cuentocuentascuenta

contamoscontis

cuentan

Here's another o:ue stem changing verb. Compare it to the regular verb comer. Notice that the endings are the same for regular verbs and stem-changing verbs.

mover (o:ue)comer (regular -er verb)

muevocomomuevescomesmuevecomemovemoscomemosmoviscomismuevencomenHere's another o:ue stem-changing verb. Notice how the stem doesn't change in the nosotros and vosotros forms.

dormir (o:ue)

duermoduermesduerme

dormimosdorms

duermen

Here is a list of common o:ue stem-changing verbs.

almorzarto eat lunch

morirto die

aprobarto approve

mostrarto show

colgarto hang

moverto move (an object)

contarto count, to tell

probarto prove, test, sample, taste

costarto cost

recordarto remember

devolverto return (an object)

resolverto solve

volverto return (from someplace)

rogarto beg, pray

dormirto sleep

sonarto sound, ring

encontrarto find

soar (con)to dream (about)

envolverto wrap

tostarto toast

morderto bite

volarto fly

Let's add a flashcard for o:ue stem-changers:

Verb FlashcardsComplete Listo:ue stem-changers (dormir)duermoduermesduermedormimosdormsduermen

(almorzar, contar, costar, volver, recordar, volar)

Stem-Changing Verbs: e:ie

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

Remember, there are three types of infinitives: -ar, -er, -ir. Infinitives are made up of two parts: the ending and the stem. In the following examples, the stem is underlined and the ending is in bold.

hablarcomervivirWith regular verbs, the stem stays the same, and the ending changes as they are conjugated.

hablocomovivo

hablascomesvives

hablacomevive

hablamoscomemosvivimos

habliscomisvivs

hablancomenviven

With some verbs, the stem also changes when you conjugate them. In the present tense, there are three groups of stem-changing verbs:

o:uee:iee:i

With the second group of stem-changing verbs, the letter e in the stem changes to ie in all forms except the nosotros and vosotros.

cerrar

cierrocierrascierra

cerramoscerris

cierran

Here's another e:ie stem changing verb. Compare it to the regular verb comer. Notice that the endings are the same for regular verbs and stem-changing verbs.

entender (e:ie)comer (regular -er verb)

entiendocomoentiendescomesentiendecomeentendemoscomemosentendiscomisentiendencomenHere's another e:ie stem-changing verb. Notice how the stem doesn't change in the nosotros and vosotros forms.

mentir (e:ie)

mientomientesmiente

mentimosments

mienten

Here is a list of common e:ie stem-changing verbs.

acertarto guess, get right

encenderto light, kindle

advertirto advise, warn

entenderto understand

cerrarto close, shut

fregarto scrub, wash dishes

comenzarto begin

hervirto boil

confesarto confess

mentirto lie

consentirto consent

negarto deny

convertirto convert

pensar (en)to think about

defenderto defend

perderto lose

empezarto begin

preferirto prefer

Let's add a flashcard for e:ie stem-changers:

Verb FlashcardsComplete Liste:ie stem-changers (cerrar)cierrocierrascierracerramoscerriscierran

(comenzar, empezar, entender, pensar, perder, preferir)

Stem-Changing Verbs: e:i

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

Remember, there are three types of infinitives: -ar, -er, -ir. Infinitives are made up of two parts: the ending and the stem. In the following examples, the stem is underlined and the ending is in bold.

hablarcomervivirWith regular verbs, the stem stays the same, and the ending changes as they are conjugated.

hablocomovivo

hablascomesvives

hablacomevive

hablamoscomemosvivimos

habliscomisvivs

hablancomenviven

With some verbs, the stem also changes when you conjugate them. In the present tense, there are three groups of stem-changing verbs:

o:uee:iee:i

With the third group of stem-changing verbs, the letter e in the stem changes to i in all forms except the nosotros and vosotros.

repetir

repitorepitesrepite

repetimosrepets

repiten

Here's another e:i stem changing verb. Compare it to the regular verb vivir. Notice that the endings are the same for regular verbs and stem-changing verbs.

competir (e:i)vivir (regular -ir verb)

compitovivocompitesvivescompitevivecompetimosvivimoscompetsvivscompitenvivenHere's another e:i stem-changing verb. Notice how the stem doesn't change in the nosotros and vosotros forms.

pedir (e:i)

pidopidespide

pedimospeds

piden

Here is a list of common e:i stem-changing verbs.

bendecir (*)to bless

impedirto impede

colegirto deduce

maldecir (*)to curse

competirto compete

medirto measure

conseguirto get, obtain

pedirto ask for, to order

corregirto correct

perseguirto pursue, to persecute

decir (*)to say, tell

rerto laugh

despedirto dismiss, fire

repetirto repeat

elegirto elect

seguirto follow, continue

frerto fry

servirto serve

gemirto groan, moan

sonrerto smile

* Note: The verb "decir" and its derivitive forms are irregular in the first person: yo digo, etc.Let's add a flashcard for e:i stem-changers:

Verb FlashcardsComplete Liste:i stem-changers (repetir)repitorepitesrepiterepetimosrepetsrepiten

(decir (yo digo), despedir, medir, pedir, servir)

Irregular Verbs: Estar, Ir, Dar

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

You should already know how to conjugate the verb estar.

estoyestsestestamosestisestn

Notice that ir and dar follow the same pattern as estar; they are irregular in the first person singular (yo).

estar(to be)ir(to go)dar(to give)

estoyvoydoy

estsvasdas

estvada

estamosvamosdamos

estisvaisdais

estnvandan

Since these verbs are irregular, their conjugations must be memorized. Make a flashcard with these three verbs on one side, and their conjugations on the other side.

It seems that there are two options when it comes to learning the irregular verbs. The first is to view them as complex and difficult, in which case you will struggle, wring your hands in consternation, and never really learn them. We do not advocate this approach.

A more productive strategy is to build a library of flashcards and to study them regularly. It is not necessary to study them for long periods of time. It is, however, essential to study them frequently. Therefore, we recommend that you carry your little stack of verb cards with you, and pull them out several times a day. This will work, even if you only study them for 3-4 minutes per session.

Guaranteed!Let's add a flashcard for the irregular verbs estar, ir, and dar:

Verb FlashcardsComplete Listestar, ir, darestoy - voy - doyests - vas - dasest - va - daestamos - vamos - damosestis - vais - daisestn - van - dan

Ir a + infinitive

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

In Spanish, many useful expressions are formed by combining two verbs. When this occurs, the first verb is conjugated, while the second verb remains in the infinitive form.

ir, viajarYo voy a viajar a Espaa.I am going to travel to Spain.

acabar, comerT acabas de comer.You have just eaten.

saber, nadarJuan sabe nadar.Juan knows how to swim.

volver, leerMara vuelve a leer el libro.Mara reads the book again.

One such expression combines the verb ir (conjugated) with an infinitive. The preposition "a" is always used. The formula is:

ir a + infinitive = to be going to do something (in the near future)

Voy a llevar a mi hermana a su casa.I am going to take my sister to her house.

Vas a invitar a muchas muchachas.You are going to invite lots of girls.

Cristina va a conversar con mi mam.Christina is going to talk with my mom.

Eduardo va a leer el libro.Edward is going to read the book.

Remember from the previous lesson how to conjugate the verb ir:

voyvasva

vamosvais

van

Here are some useful words and expressions for pinpointing exactly when you are going to do something.

hoy

today

maana

tomorrow

ms tarde

later

esta tarde

this afternoon

la semana que viene

next week

el mes que viene

next month

el ao que viene

next year

esta noche

tonight

maana por la maana

tomorrow morning

maana por la tarde

tomorrow afternoon

maana por la noche

tomorrow night

Let's add a flashcard for the expression "ir a + infinitive":

Verb FlashcardsComplete ListIr a + infinitiveTo be going to do something(voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van)

Acabar de + Infinitive

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

In Spanish, many useful expressions are formed by combining two verbs. When this occurs, the first verb is conjugated, while the second verb remains in the infinitive form.

Yo voy a viajar a Espaa.I am going to travel to Spain.

T acabas de comer.You have just eaten.

Juan puede nadar cada da.Juan can swim every day.

Mara vuelve a leer el libro.Mara reads the book again.

One such expression combines the verb acabar (conjugated) with an infinitive. The preposition "de" is always used. The formula is:acabar de + infinitive = to have just done something (in the very recent past)

Acabo de llevar a mi hermana a su casa.I just took my sister to her house.

Acabas de invitar a muchas muchachas.You have just invited many girls.

Cristina acaba de conversar con mi mam.Christina has just spoken with my mom.

Nosotros acabamos de leer el libro.We just read the book.

Vosotros acabis de escribir unas cartas.You-all have just written some letters.

Ellos acaban de nadar en el mar.They have just swum in the ocean.

Let's add a flashcard for the expression "acabar de + infinitive":

Verb FlashcardsComplete ListAcabar de + infinitiveTo have just done something(acabo, acabas, acaba, acabamos, acabis, acaban)

Volver a + infinitive

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

In Spanish, many useful expressions are formed by combining two verbs. When this occurs, the first verb is conjugated, while the second verb remains in the infinitive form.

Yo voy a viajar a Espaa.I am going to travel to Spain.

T acabas de comer.You have just eaten.

Juan no puede comer.Juan can't eat.

Mara vuelve a leer el libro.Mara reads the book again.

One such expression combines the verb volver (conjugated) with an infinitive. The preposition "a" is always used. The formula is:

volver a + infinitive = to do something againVuelvo a leer el libro.I read the book again.Cristina vuelve a conversar con mi mam.Christina speaks with my mom again.Remember, volver is an o:ue stem-changing verb.

vuelvovuelvesvuelve

volvemosvolvis

vuelven

Let's add a flashcard for the expression "volver a + infinitive":

Verb FlashcardsComplete ListVolver a + infinitiveTo do something again(vuelvo, vuelves, vuelve, volvemos, volvis, vuelven)

Ordinal Numbers

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

Here are the ordinal numbers first - tenth:

primerofirst

segundosecond

tercerothird

cuartofourth

quintofifth

sextosixth

sptimoseventh

octavoeighth

novenoninth

dcimotenth

Like many other adjectives, the ordinal numbers have a masculine and a feminine form.

primeroprimera

segundosegunda

tercerotercera

cuartocuarta

quintoquinta

sextosexta

sptimosptima

octavooctava

novenonovena

dcimodcima

They also have a singular and plural form.

primeroprimeros

segundosegundos

terceroterceros

cuartocuartos

quintoquintos

sextosextos

sptimosptimos

octavooctavos

novenonovenos

dcimodcimos

So, the ordinal numbers have four forms, just like other adjectives that end in -o.

primeroprimerosprimeraprimeras

Primero and tercero drop the -o in the masculine singular adjective form.

el primer dael tercer ao

Ordinal numbers usually precede the noun. However, if the noun they refer to is royalty, a pope, or a street, they come after the noun.

Carlos Quinto("Quinto" comes after "Carlos" - royalty)

el quinto libro("quinto" comes before "libro")

la Calle Sexta("sexta" comes after "calle" - street)

la sexta pluma("sexta" comes before "pluma")

Ordinal numbers are not normally used after 10.

la Calle DiecisisSixteenth Street

el siglo diecinuevethe nineteenth century

Months, Seasons and Dates

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

Here are the months in Spanish. Note that, like the days of the week, they are not capitalized.

enero

January

febrero

February

marzo

March

abril

April

mayo

May

junio

June

julio

July

agosto

August

septiembre

September

octubre

October

noviembre

November

diciembre

December

To express "in a certain month," use the preposition "en."Vamos a Mxico en enero.We are going to Mexico in January.

Las clases empiezan en el mes de septiembre.Classes begin in September.

Here are the four seasons.

Las estaciones del ao.

la primavera

spring

el verano

summer

el otoo

autumn

el invierno

winter

Note that the articles are normally used with the seasons.

En Amrica del Norte, la primavera empieza en marzo.In North America, spring begins in March.

En Amrica del Sur, la primavera empieza en septiembre.In South America, spring begins in September.

Note: The seasons are reversed south of the equator. When it is winter in New York, NY, it is summer in Santiago, Chile.

Here are some ways to inquire as to the date.

Cul es la fecha de hoy?A cuntos estamos hoy?Qu da es hoy?A cuntos estamos?

If you are talking about the first day of the month, use the expression "el primer da" or simply "el primero."

Qu da es hoy?

Hoy es lunes, el primer da de mayo.Hoy es lunes, el primero de mayo.

Today is Monday, May 1.

For all other days of the month, use the cardinal numbers.

Cul es la fecha de hoy? (Tuesday, March 25)Hoy es martes, el veinticinco de marzo.

A cuntos estamos hoy? (Sunday, June 3)Estamos al domingo, el tres de junio.

The Spanish way is to write the day + month + year. This is different from the American way (month + day + year).

el 29 de febrero de 1996February 29, 1996

29.2.962/29/96

Comparisons of Inequality

Notes:1. The written lesson is below.

2. Links to quiz