Spanish Spanish Sentence Sentence StructureStructure

How can we make better How can we make better sentences?sentences?

Rules with verbsRules with verbs

You CAN NOT have two You CAN NOT have two verbs next to each verbs next to each other….other….

EX. Tengo es una casa EX. Tengo es una casa bonita.bonita.

You don’t need the “es”.You don’t need the “es”.

Ownership RulesOwnership Rules

En English we say:En English we say:- Pedro’s FamilyPedro’s Family- Maria’s houseMaria’s house- Etc.Etc. We can’t do this in We can’t do this in

Spanish!Spanish!

How can I use How can I use ‘s‘s??

Instead of using the apostrophe (‘) in Instead of using the apostrophe (‘) in Spanish, we have to do this:Spanish, we have to do this:

- TheThe (thing)(thing) ofof (owner)(owner) ..- El/la El/la (thing)(thing) dede (owner)(owner) .. So Maria’s book, turns into:So Maria’s book, turns into:- el libro de Mariael libro de Maria Pedro’s family, turns into:Pedro’s family, turns into:

-- la familia de Pedro la familia de Pedro

Agreement with Agreement with adjectivesadjectives

Remember that adjectives:Remember that adjectives:

- Go after the noun they describe- Go after the noun they describe

- Agree in number & gender with the - Agree in number & gender with the noun they modify.noun they modify.

*Just because a girl has something, *Just because a girl has something, doesn’t make it feminine. So if a girl doesn’t make it feminine. So if a girl is holding a book, “el libro” is still is holding a book, “el libro” is still masculine.masculine.

Words that don’t Words that don’t translate well to Spanishtranslate well to Spanish

Get… Try to use another word or work Get… Try to use another word or work around itaround it

Will… As in “I will go”. This DOES Will… As in “I will go”. This DOES NOT translate to Spanish.NOT translate to Spanish.

Remember to look up things like Remember to look up things like “have”, “eat”, etc. and then “have”, “eat”, etc. and then CONJUGATE them according to CONJUGATE them according to subject.subject.

SuggestionsSuggestions

The best advice I can give you is to The best advice I can give you is to ALWAYS translate what you just ALWAYS translate what you just wrote!wrote!

If the sentence makes no sense, then If the sentence makes no sense, then think of another way to say it.think of another way to say it.

If you don’t know how to say a certain If you don’t know how to say a certain word, avoid it and think of a word you word, avoid it and think of a word you do know.do know.

Don’t confuse yourself!Don’t confuse yourself!

Actual ExamplesActual Examples

““Ricardo case es pequeño.”Ricardo case es pequeño.”““Casa de Ricardo es Casa de Ricardo es pequeña una baño y dos pequeña una baño y dos dormitorios.”dormitorios.”

Dormitorio alfombra rojaDormitorio alfombra roja

MejorMejor ““Ricardo case es pequeño.” Becomes:Ricardo case es pequeño.” Becomes:

- La casa de Ricardo es pequeña.- La casa de Ricardo es pequeña. ““Casa de Ricardo es pequeña una baño Casa de Ricardo es pequeña una baño

dos dormitorios.” Becomes:dos dormitorios.” Becomes:- La casa de Ricardo es pequeña. La casa - La casa de Ricardo es pequeña. La casa tiene un baño y dos dormitorios.tiene un baño y dos dormitorios.

Dormitorio alfombra rojaDormitorio alfombra roja- Mi dormitorio tiene una alfombra roja.- Mi dormitorio tiene una alfombra roja.

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

We will work on We will work on these things today.these things today.

You do not have to You do not have to be perfect, but we be perfect, but we need to need to understand the understand the basics first!basics first!