1.1 Lesson Flashcards

Learn the basic functioning of nouns, adjectives, articles, pronouns, gender, and the verb SER ("to be").

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

Translate to Spanish.

a boy

A

un niño

boy - un niño (or muchacho, or chico). Note that masculine nouns usually end in -o, and use the indefinite article un.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Translate to Spanish.

a girl

A

una niña

girl - una niña (or muchacha, or chica). Note that feminine nouns usually end in -a, and use the indefinite article una. In this case, the change from -o to -a results in a completely different word in English (from “boy” to “girl”).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Translate to Spanish.

a man

A

un hombre

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Translate to Spanish.

a handsome man

A

un hombre guapo

handsome - guapo. Note that adjectives in Spanish usually come after the noun

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Translate to Spanish.

a good-looking girl

A

una niña guapa

good looking (female) - guapa. Note that the adjective’s gender is feminine (ending in -a) to match the gender of the noun

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Translate to Spanish.

a pretty girl

A

una niña bonita

cute/pretty - bonita

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Translate to Spanish.

the man

A

el hombre

the (masculine) - el. Note that the article must match the noun in gender. El is used for masculine nouns

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Translate to Spanish.

the girl

A

la niña

the (feminine) - la. Note that la is the article used for feminine nouns

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Translate to Spanish.

the woman

A

la mujer

woman- la mujer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Translate to Spanish.

the men

A

los hombres

the (plural, masculine) - los. Note that the article matches the noun in gender and number. Also note that los is the plural form of the article el. Masculine plural nouns usually end in -es and -os, while female plurals end in-as

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Translate to Spanish.

the pretty girls

A

las niñas bonitas

the (plural, feminine ) - las. Note that the adjective (bonitas) matches the noun (niñas) in both number and gender

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Translate to Spanish.

to be

A

ser

to be - ser. Note that ser is an irregular verb in Spanish, and is one of the most commonly used verbs. The other way of saying “to be” is the verb estar, which we will learn more about later

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Translate to Spanish.

The man is handsome

A

El hombre es guapo

he/she/it is - es. Es is the third-person singular in the present tense of the verb ser - “to be.”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Translate to Spanish.

She is an enthusiastic teacher

A

Ella es una maestra entusiasta

teacher - el maestro, la maestra

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the difference between the words el and él?

A
  • el is the definite masculine article “the”
  • él is the third person singular masculine pronoun “he”
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Translate to Spanish.

The boy is a student

A

El niño es un estudiante

student - el/la estudiante. Note that estudiante is a fixed noun whose ending does not vary according to gender.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Translate to Spanish.

I am a student

A

(Yo) soy una estudiante

I am - soy. Note that the subject pronoun yo (“I”) is optional in Spanish. It is usually preferable to say simply: “Soy una estudiante.” For masculine uses, say ‘un’ and for feminine uses, say ‘una’. But the more commonly used expression is ‘Soy estudiante’.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Translate to Spanish.

I am tall

A

Yo soy alto

tall - alto/a

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Translate to Spanish.

Is he tall?

A

¿Es alto (él)?

Note that the pronoun (él) often comes after the adjective (alto) in a question, and is usually optional anyway

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Translate to Spanish.

Who am I?

A

¿Quién soy (yo)?

Remember that in Spanish, the pronoun (yo) can be omitted

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Translate to Spanish.

you (informal and formal)

A

tú (informal), usted (formal)

The word tú is usually used with friends and children, while usted (abbreviated Ud.) is used for more formal relationships or to show seniority

22
Q

Translate to Spanish.

You are (tú) handsome (masculine)

A

Tú eres guapo

you are - eres. If this sentence had been for “You (formal)”, then the Spanish translation would have been Usted es guapo.

23
Q

Translate to Spanish.

Is she short?

A

¿Es baja (ella)?

short - bajo. Note that the pronoun (“ella”) is optional in a question, as long as it is clear who is being spoken about

24
Q

Translate to Spanish.

We are boys

A

Somos niños

we are - somos

25
Q

Translate to Spanish.

Is (it) a boy?

A

¿Es un niño?

In Spanish, the word “it” really doesn’t exist, because even common nouns are given a gender. The word “it” is usually omitted where it would otherwise be in English

26
Q

Translate to Spanish.

We are fun

A

(Nosotros) somos divertidos

fun - divertido. Remember that in Spanish, the adjective must agree with the noun in gender and quantity. Since the noun nosotros is masculine and plural, the adjective divertidos must be plural

27
Q

Translate to Spanish.

We are women

A

Nosotras somos mujeres

we - nosotros, nosotras. Note that the form of the word “we” varies depending on the genders of the group members. A mixed group of males & females would use the masculine nosotros

28
Q

Translate to Spanish.

They are men

A

(Ellos) son hombres

they are - son

29
Q

Translate to Spanish.

The children are tall

A

Los niños son altos

Note that in Spanish, a plural noun ending in -os can mean either all masculine nouns, or a mix of masculine and feminine nouns. When specifying a feminine only group, one must add -as, as in niñas

30
Q

Translate to Spanish.

a book

A

un libro

book - el libro

31
Q

Translate to Spanish.

some books

A

unos libros

In Spanish, the singular article un becomes plural unos when the noun itself becomes plural. Unos translates loosely as “some”

32
Q

Translate to Spanish.

a big book

A

un libro grande

big - grande

33
Q

Translate to Spanish.

the big houses

A

las casas grandes

house - la casa. Note that casa is a feminine noun and carries the article la. All nouns in Spanish are either masculine or feminine, which is usually distinguishable by whether they end in -o or -a.

34
Q

Translate to Spanish.

the letter (mail)

A

la carta

letter - la carta

35
Q

Translate to Spanish.

a good book

A

un buen libro / un libro bueno

good - bueno. Note that in Spanish you have option of placing buen before the noun or bueno after the noun. (The feminine form, buena, is the same before or after the noun)

36
Q

Translate to Spanish.

a good high school

A

una buena secundaria / una secundaria buena

high school - la (escuela) secundaria, el colegio. In some countries, colegio is used for all schools

37
Q

Translate to Spanish.

Is it a good (elementary) school?

A

¿Es una buena escuela?

elementary school - la escuela. Escuela is usually the generic word for “school” if the type of school is unknown

38
Q

Translate to Spanish.

You (ud) are a good teacher

A

Usted es un buen maestro

you are (formal) - es. Note that verbs used with usted are conjugated like those used with él and ella

39
Q

Translate to Spanish.

you (plural), you all

A

ustedes (uds)

You all - ustedes. Ustedes is often abbreviated as simply uds. To indicate a group of all boys, use ellos. To indicate a group of all girls, use ellas.

40
Q

Translate to Spanish.

I am American

A

Soy americano

American - americano. Note that nationalities are not capitalized in Spanish. Also remember that pronouns (e.g., yo) are optional in Spanish. Soy is the shorter way of saying Yo soy

41
Q

Translate to Spanish.

You and I are American

A

y yo somos americanos

Remember that in Spanish, the adjective and noun form of adjectives like americano must agree with the gender and number of the pronoun/subject

42
Q

Translate to Spanish.

You (uds) are girls

A

Ustedes son niñas

you (uds) are - son

43
Q

Translate to Spanish.

They (fem) are nice

A

Ellas son simpáticas

nice - simpático

44
Q

Translate to Spanish.

The tall boys are interesting

A

Los niños altos son interesantes

interesting - interesante. Note that interesante is invariable in gender, but must match nouns in number

45
Q

Translate to Spanish.

Are you (uds) classmates?

A

¿Son compañeros (ustedes)?

classmate - el compañero, la compañera. The word compañero is often used to just mean “buddy” or “companion” outside a school setting as well

46
Q

Translate to Spanish.

you (plural, Spain)

A

vosotros

you (plural, Spain) - vosotros. Note that vosotros is only used in informal contexts in Spain. In formal contexts in Spain, as well as in all circumstances in other countries, ustedes is used.

47
Q

Translate to Spanish.

You (vosotros) are teachers

A

Vosotros sois maestros

you are (vosotros) - sois**. Remember that vosotros verb forms are only used for informal situations in Spain. In any country, it is perfectly safe to use ustedes to mean “you all”

48
Q

Name the Personal Pronouns in Spanish

  • I
  • you
  • he/she
  • we
  • you all
  • they
A

PRONOMBRES PERSONALES

  • I - yo
  • you - tú / Ud. (formal)
  • he/she - él/ella
  • we - nosotros/nosotras
  • you all - vosotros/vosotras
  • they / you all - ellos/ellas/uds.
49
Q

Translate to Spanish.

TO BE (ser)

  • I am
  • you are
  • he/she is
  • we are
  • you all are
  • they are
A

SER

  • yo soy
  • eres
  • él/ella/ud es
  • nosotros somos
  • vosotros sois
  • ellos/ellas/uds son
50
Q

Translate to Spanish.

  • the (singular)
  • the (plural)
A
  • el/la
  • los/las
51
Q

Translate to Spanish.

  • a (singular)
  • some (plural)
A
  • un/una (singular)
  • unos/unas (plural)
52
Q

Pronounce the letters in the Spanish alphabet

A

a, b, c, ch, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, ll, m, n, ñ, o, p, q, r, rr, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z

Note that K and W are not really Spanish letters, but are in the alphabet to use in foreign words