“Sometimes I like to eat ice cream”
“We should get together some time”
“It was in fashion some time ago”
It is a tendency to translate “sometimes” or “some time” in each of those examples as “algún tiempo” or “algunos tiempos”, which is incorrect. What should be used is “a veces”, “algún momento” and “algún tiempo” depending on the context. (more…)
Labels: Current Feature, Level: Intermediate, Spanish Grammar
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If you want to say: “I am satisfied with my pay” (as in salary) and “I am satisfied after a steak dinner” in Spanish you will use different words for ’satisfied’. Contento and satisfecho mean literally in English content and satisfied but carry with them additional connotations and have specific usage.
As you can see from our initial example, the two words are used in different situations where the English word satisfied is used. Here’s why: (more…)
Labels: Current Feature, Level: Intermediate, Spanish Vocabulary
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Pedir y Preguntar.
In English the verb to ask has a wider range of usage than the Spanish verb generally considered its equivalent, preguntar.
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Labels: Level: Beginner, Level: Intermediate, Spanish Grammar
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Another common mistake made by English speaking students of Spanish is that of adding “a” in front of infinite verbs when it doesn’t belong there. This is because that is what happens in English. For example, in English you say “I want to eat” or “she needs to sleep”. But in Spanish, saying “quiero a comer” or “necesita a dormir” is incorrect.
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Labels: Level: Intermediate, Spanish Grammar, Spanish Verbs
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Learning the difference in when to use POR and when to use PARA is tricky at first. Both mean “for” or “by” but have
distinct uses. The following outlines the most common uses for both words:
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Labels: Level: Beginner, Level: Intermediate, Spanish Grammar
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Intentar y Tratar.
Both of these verbs mean “to try”. However, when used in the past tense,
tratar is more often used with a negative connotation, while intentar
with a positive. For example, “Yo intent
Labels: Level: Intermediate, Spanish Grammar
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As mentioned last time, all parts of a sentence change in the plural form: the article, noun, and adjective. However, there are exceptions. When do you add an “s” or “es” to form a plural of a word?
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Labels: Level: Intermediate, Spanish Grammar
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The main difference between English and Spanish when speaking in the plural form is that in English only the noun changes (usually by adding an “s”).
In Spanish, however, all parts change in the plural form: the article, noun, and adjective.
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Labels: Level: Intermediate, Spanish Grammar
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Ciento is 100 in Spanish. However, in some contexts you use the form cien.
How do you know when to say ciento and when to say cien?
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Labels: Level: Beginner, Level: Intermediate, Spanish Grammar
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Practice Pronunciation
Try learning to read correctly, and as fast as you can, the following Spanish grade
school exercise.
First read it slow until you get the pronunciation right. Then, with practice, increase pace each time you read it. It’s meant to be a tongue twister. Here goes:
“Tres tristes tigres trastiando trigo en tres tristes trastos!”
(trehs trees-tehs tee-grehs trahs-tyahn-doh tree-goh en trehs trees-tehs trahs-tohs)
Translation:
“Three poor tigers moving around wheat in three measly pieces of junk!”
Labels: Level: Intermediate, Read in Spanish, Spanish Pronunciation
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