Category: Grammar 2

When to Use Reflexive Verbs in Spanish? Let's learn how and when to use reflexive verbs in the Spanish language. Using Me, Te, Se, Nos, Os in Spanish Note: A reflexive verb in Spanish is when the subject and the object are the same. I clean myself. subject: I verb: clean object: myself Since the subject and object are the same, the verb is reflexive. I clean the car. subject: I verb: clean object: car Since the subject and object are different, the verb is not reflexive. Note: When a verb is reflexive, the infinitive ends in “se” limpiar to clean (non-reflexive) limpiarse to clean oneself (reflexive) oler to smell (non-reflexive) olerse to smell oneself (reflexive) Note: When you learned to conjugate regular verbs, you needed to learn a set…

Possessive Pronouns in Spanish Translation Learn how to use possessive pronouns in Spanish. The possessive pronouns are similar to the possessive adjectives, but they are normally used with a definite article. -       Singular Feminine - Plural Feminine mine- la mía- las mías yours (informal)- la tuya- las tuyas his/hers- la suya- las suyas yours (formal)- la suya- las suyas ours- la nuestra- las nuestras yours (informal)- la vuestra- las vuestras yours (formal)- la suya- las suyas theirs- la suya- las suyas   Singular Masculine  - Plural Masculine mine- el mío- los míos yours (informal)- el tuyo- los tuyos his/hers- el suyo- los suyos yours (formal)- el suyo- los suyos ours- el nuestro- los nuestros yours (informal)- el vuestro- los vuestros yours (formal)- el suyo- los suyos theirs- el suyo- los suyos   e.g. Mi casa es grande. - My house is large. La  tuya es pequeña.(you informal) - Yours is small. Tu cuarto es de color azul.- Your bedroom’s color is…

What is a demonstrative adjective in Spanish? Learn how to use demonstrative adjectives in Spanish translation. In this lesson, we will discuss demonstratives of two types: demonstrative adjectives and demonstrative pronouns. Adjective: describes a noun Pronoun: takes the place of a noun   The same is true in Spanish. Ella escribe  este libro.- She writes this book. (adjective) Ella escribe este -  She writes this. (pronoun) Eso es mío -That is mine. Eso es mío.-That (one) is mine Note:  In Spanish, we also say “this” and “that”, but there is another, separate word used to mean “that one over there.” This form is used when the object is more than just a short distance away, for example, on the other side of the room. Here are the three forms for “this” “that” and “that one over there.” este…

How to use the irregular comparatives in Spanish? Learn how to use the irregular comparatives in Spanish. The following adjectives have irregular forms for the comparative and the superlative: Adjective: bueno (good) Comparative: mejor (better) Superlative: el/la mejor (the best) Adjective: malo (bad) Comparative: peor (worse) Superlative: el/la peor (the worst) Adjective: grande (big) Comparative: mayor (older; greater) Superlative: el/la mayor (the oldest; the greatest) Adjective: pequeño (small) Comparative: menor (younger; less) Superlative: el/la menor (the youngest; the least)   Note: The words "más" and "menos" are not used with the irregular comparatives. e.g. Correct: Este queso es bueno, pero ese queso  es mejor. – This cheese is good, but that cheese is better. Este arroz es malo, pero ese arroz está peor- This rice is bad, but that rice is worse Note: With the irregular superlatives, the demonstrative adjective is used. Este queso es bueno.- This…

How Do You Use Hacer Time Expressions in Spanish? Learn how to use hacer time expressions in Spanish.  Note: The verb “hacer” can be used in a number of ways to indicate the length of time an action has been taking place. The first way uses the formula: Hace + time + que + Present tense form of the verb e.g. Hace tiempo que no te veo - Long time no see you Hace cuatro años que visitamos a Marta - Four years ago we visited Marta Note: To make this type of expression negative, just add the word "no" before the verb, as in the following formula: Hace + time + que + no + Present tense form of the verb e.g. Hace cuatro años que no visitamos a Marta - Four years ago we did not…

Me Gusta in Spanish Translation Learn how to use me gusta in Spanish. The verb “gustar” requires use of the indirect object pronouns. Note: The only forms of "gustar" you will use are “gusta” and “gustan” e.g. Me gusta la fresa. I like the strawberry Te gusta el programa. You like the program. Nos gusta el color azul. We like the color blue. Me gustan las fresas. I like the strawberries Te gustan los programas. You like the programs. Nos gustan los colores. We like the colors. Note: Remember, "gustar" becomes either "gusta" or "gustan", depending upon whether the subject of the sentence is singular or plural. e.g. Subject /Singular Subject/Plural Subject Yo (I)/Me gusta la casa/Me gustan las casas Tú (You)(Informal)/Te gusta el libro/Te gustan los libros Él /Ella(He/She)/Le gusta la ropa/Le gustan las ropas Usted (You)(Formal)/Le gusta  la playa/Le gustan las playas Nosotros(as)(We)/Nos gusta  el refresco/Nos gustan los refrescos Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)/Os gusta  la competencia/Os gustan las competencias Ellos(as)(They)/Les gusta la canción/Les gustan las…

How to Use the Spanish Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns Together? Learn how to use direct and indirect object in Spanish. Here are the direct object pronouns and the indirect object pronouns  Direct Object Pronouns/ Indirect Object Pronouns/ English Equivalent me/ me/ me te/ te/ you (familiar) lo, la/ le/ him, her, it, you (formal) nos/ nos/ us os/ os/ you-all (informal) los, las/ les/ them, you-all (formal) Note: When you have both a direct object pronoun and an indirect object pronoun in the same sentence, the indirect object pronoun comes first. e.g. Ellas me los dan. - They give them to me. IO pronoun: me DO pronoun: los Yo te la vendo. - I sell it to you. IO pronoun: te DO pronoun: la Note: Whenever both pronouns begin with the letter “l” change the first pronoun to “se” le lo = se lo le la = se la…

What are the Spanish Indirect Object Pronouns? Learn how to use the Spanish indirect object pronouns. The indirect object tells us where the direct object is going. Indirect object pronouns 1 The indirect object answers the question “to whom?” or “for whom” the action of the verb is performed.  When a pronoun takes the place of the name of the indirect object, use the following pronouns: Subject - Obj. Prep. Pronouns Yo (I) - me Tú (You)(Informal) - te Él /Ella(He/She) - le                Usted (You)(Formal) - le Nosotros(as)(We) - nos Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal) - os Ustedes(You)(Formal) - les Ellos(as)(They) - les   Note: In an affirmative statement with one verb, the indirect object pronoun comes immediately before the conjugated verb. e.g. José me trajo una rosa Joseph brought me a rose. Joseph brought a rose for me. José te trajo una rosa. Joseph brought you…

What are the direct object pronouns in Spanish?  Learn how to use the direct object pronouns in Spanish. The object that directly receives the action of the verb is called the direct object. The direct object can also be a person. Direct object pronouns in Spanish 1 The direct object answers the question “what?” or “whom?” with regard to what the subject of the sentence is doing. Often, it is desirable to replace the name of the direct object with a pronoun. When the pronoun replaces the name of the direct object, use the following pronouns: Subject - Obj. Prep. Pronouns Yo (I) - me Tú (You)(Informal) - te Él /Ella(He/She) - lo, la Usted (You)(Formal)-lo, la Nosotros(as)(We) - nos Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal) - os Ustedes(You)(Formal) - los, las Ellos(as)(They) - los, las   Note: In an affirmative statement with one verb, the direct object…

What are Spanish prepositional pronouns? Learn how to use Spanish Prepositional Pronouns. A pronoun is a word that is used instead of the name of a person or thing. When the pronoun acts as the object of a preposition, a different set of pronouns is used. Subject - Obj. Prep. Pronouns Yo (I) - mí Tú (You)(Informal) - ti Él/Ella(He/She) - él ,ella Usted (You)(Formal) - usted Nosotros(as)(We) - nosotros/as Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal) - vosotros/as Ustedes(You)(Formal) - ustedes Ellos(as)(They) - ellos/as Note: Only "mí" and "ti" are different from the subject pronouns. Use this second set of pronouns to replace the noun that comes immediately after a preposition. e.g. La profesora habla de mí. - My teacher talks about me. Tú hablas con ellos. - You talk to them. Roberto trajo unas flores para ella. - Robert brought some flowers for her.     Note: Whenever "mí" follows the preposition "con", the two words…