11 "Ya"Explanation & Everyday Short Phrases 1 TM Flashcards
Ya, which is usually an adverb but sometimes a conjunction, is one of those words whose meaning depends almost entirely on the context. Sometimes it doesn’t have much of a translatable meaning, becoming a filler word -something like pues - adding a slight amount of emotional content to a sentence (although the exact nature of the emotional content may be difficult to determine out of the context).
The most common meanings of ya are “now” and “already,” although it can even mean “later.” Often, it signifies a slight amount of impatience, although it sometimes can indicate satisfaction or agreement with the person being spoken to. As you might have guessed, it’s a word you’ll come across more often in informal conversation than you will in formal writing.
Following are some examples of ya in use Note that many of the sentences given could be translated or understood differently, again depending on the context in which they’re spoken and sometimes the intonation.
ALREADY (the most common meaning when used with a verb in a past tense):
I’ve read it already.
I’ve already read it.
Lo he leído ya.
Ya, lo he leído! GT
**By Monday I will have already seen it
I will see it on Monday
.By Monday I will have already seen the results
Para el lunes ya lo habré visto (Future Perfect).
Lo veré el lunes SD
(El lunes ya lo veré)
. Para el lunes ya habré visto los resultados
NOW (especially when describing an anticipated action)
RIGHT NOW:
She’s here now.
They’re leaving now.
They’re leaving now.
Ya está aquí.
Ya salen.
Se están yendo ahora.
RIGHT NOW indicating urgency
RIGHT NOW indicating urgency
I want it right now.
You need to study right now.
Lo quiero ya.
Tienes que estudiar ya.
ANY MORE (especially when used in the negative):
He doesn’t work here any more.
It (he) doesn’t work here anymore
Ya no trabaja aquí.
No trabaja aquí ya
TO NOTE THAT A WISH HAS BEEN SATISFIED:
I got the job!
Now I understand.
TO NOTE THAT A WISH HAS BEEN SATISFIED:
¡Ya conseguí el trabajo!
Ya, entiendo
TO INDICATE FRUSTRATION:
Enough already!
¡That’s plenty!
It’s about time!
It was about time you showed up! We’ve been waiting for an hour.
TO INDICATE FRUSTRATION:
¡Basta ya!
Ya está bien!
¡Ya es hora!
¡Ya era hora! (Imperfect tense)
Ya era hora de que llegaras!
Hace una hora que estamos esperándote
TO INDICATE EMPHASIS:
I already know that!
¡Ya lo sé!
It’s difficult, you’ll see.
Es difícil, ya verás. (future tense)
.He didn’t eat,
which is saying something.
Él no comió,
que ya es decir.
I’d love to be intelligent.
Ya me gustaría ser inteligente.
Me encantaría ser inteligente. GT,SD
Later (to indicate something will happen in the indefinite future):
It’ll happen.
I will do it (I’ll get it done).
Ya ocurriré!
Ya lo haré! —- (Future of HACER)
TO EXPRESS AGREEMENT (or, with an ironic tone, to express incredulity):
Oh, sure! Yeah right!
Yes, but it’s difficult.
¡Ya, ya!
Ya, pero es difícil.
TO CALL ATTENTION TO SOMETHING:
(As/Since) - he’s not here, we can leave.
Ya que no está aquí, podemos salir.
TO OFFER REASSURANCE:
You’ll pass the test. (Future tense)
You’ll see. (Future tense)
Ya aprobarás el examen.
Ya verás.
I just want it.
Lo quiero ya.
Ya lo quiero.
I’m used to it by now.
I am already used to it.
Estoy acostumbrado a eso por ahora.GT
Ya estoy acostumbrado.SD
I’ve already tried it.
I have already tried it
Ya lo he probado.SD, GT
(Ya lo intenté).
Ya lo he intentado.
I need to know (it) now.
Necesito saberlo ya.
I know how it is.
Ya lo sé.
