Sentence structures

Question 1

negative statements

Answer 1

‘no’ before the verb (e.g. yo no comprendo)

Question 2

infinitive

Answer 2

to [verb]:

~ the basic form of a verb. End with “-er” (“comer”), “-ir” (“escribir”), or “-ar” (“hablar”).

Question 3

when and when not to use ‘de’ when describing a noun

Answer 3

✔ de before a noun (e.g. una ensalada de tomate)

✖ de if an adjective (e.g. una ensalada verde)

Question 4

adjective endings

Answer 4

genders of adjectives depend on the gender of what/who they are describing (some adjectives don’t have gender e.g. colour)

Question 5

when to use subject pronouns (e.g. yo, tú, él/ella)

Answer 5

✖ subject pronouns can be unnecessary if made clear in the verb forms (e.g. soy de Estados Unidos = I am from US)

✔ but are used when:

• verb forms are ambigious: verbs that do not change based on the subject pronoun (e.g. tenía could mean I had, you had, she had etc)
• for emphasis on the subject pronoun
• change of subject pronouns (e.g. yo etudio y él estudia)

Question 6

when to use muy vs mucho(s)/mucha(s)

Answer 6

✔ muy (very):

• muy + adjective (e.g. muy cómodo/cómoda)
• muy + adverb (e.g. muy fácilmente= very easily)

✔ mucho(s)/mucha(s) (many or a lot):
- muchos + noun (e.g. muchas camisas)
- verb + mucho(s)
~ e.g. yo escribo mucho = I write a lot
~ e.g. yo como muchos manazanas = I eat many apples (ends with s= many)

Question 7

when to use tú vs usted

Answer 7

✔ tú:
In friendly conversations, informal (e.g. ¿cómo estás* tú?)

✔ usted:
In formal conversations, for respect (e.g. señor, ¿cómo está* usted?)
_______________________
*important if está is with/without an s, this indicates the subject pronoun without saying it.
e.g. ¿cómo estás = how are you (informal)
~ to remember easier: s comes before the consonant

*usted have the same verb form as él/ella (e.g. usted necesita, él necesita)

Question 8

to be: ser vs estar

Answer 8

✔ estar:
temporarily true
- location of something/someone
- how someone is feeling (e.g. estás hambrienta = you are hungry)

✔ ser:
permenant descriptions
- [pronoun/noun] es [noun]
- where someone is from (eres *de* los Estados Unidos = you are form the US)
*always add 'de' to say from*

Question 9

addressing señor/señora/señorita from a 3 POV

Answer 9

el señor (e.g. el señor es americano)

la señora/señorita (e.g. la señorita está aqui)

Question 10

usted: saying a statement about them vs asking them a question

Answer 10

✔ statement:
usted (él/ella verb form) (noun/adjective)
e.g. usted bebe = you drink
usted es una maestra = you are a teacher (remember: es = to be permanently)

✔ question:
(él/ella verb form) usted…?
e.g. quiere usted beber? = do you want to drink?
está usted felix? = are you happy? (remember: está = to be temporariliy)
___________
*él/ella and usted have the same verb forms

Question 11

¿eres [a noun/adjective]?

Answer 11

are you _? (informal)
e.g. ¿eres ingles? or ¿eres profesora?
__________________
*tip: take off the question marks = statement)
- different from ‘estás’ because ‘eres’ is for permanent descriptions. (estás = temporary or feelings)

Question 12

pronouncing words with/without accent marks

Answer 12

✔ w/ accent marks:
- accented syllable should be stressed (e.g. bolígrafo [boh LEE grafo]

✖ w/out accent marks:
- usually, 2nd to last syllable gets stressed
e.g:
dinero [dee NEH roh]
maleta [mah LEH tah]

Question 13

you vs your

Answer 13

you = tú
e.g. tú eres muy bien

your = tu (without accent)
e.g. tu gato es muy bien