General Rules 1 Flashcards
going + to + infinitive/ir + a + infinitive
In order to form the immediate future, you must first conjugate ir according to the subject, add a, then add the future action in the infinitive. Ex: Voy + a + estudiar
the same + noun = el mismo + noun
the same book = el mismo libro
The rule of mismo
If used before the noun, it means ‘same’. If used after the noun, it means ‘himself, herself or itself’. Ex: the building itself = el edificio mismo
the same thing
the same/ditto
la misma cosa
lo mismo
to be
ser for permanent situations
estar for transitory situations
listo/lista
means ready when used with está
means clever when used with ser
seguro/segura
means sure when used with está
means safe when used with ser
when using ojala, quizas or lastima
use pueda instead of puede/puedo. this indicates a wish for an event to happen. however, use usted or yo before pueda for clarification
time of day
what time is it? son las tres/es la uno
What time do i need to be there? a las tres/a la uno
Spanish equivalent of -ing (present progressive)
is -ando or -iendo, depending on whether the infinitive ends in -ar-, -er or -ir. This present progressive tense is always used with estar, not with ser.
to where
a donde means to where and must be used whenever you pair donde with a direction or destination
I pay vs you paid
I pay - pago - emphasis is on 1st syllable
you paid - pagó - emphasis is on 2nd syllable
going
my son is going to school with your son.
me hijo esta yendo a la escuela con su hijo
yendo must be used with esta, and are used in this situation instead of va because it is transitory
viejo
if viejo is used before a noun, it means ‘long-time’. if used after the noun it means elderly.
Ex: El es mi viejo amigo
single - soltero/a
In Spanish you must use ser + soltero, rather than estar
Ex: Mi tia es soltera
Si used to emphasize a statement
My uncle Rafa is not single, but his sister is single.
Mi tio Rafa no es soltero, pero su hermana si es soltera.
vas a ver a tus amigos?
When the direct object of a verb is a person you must use the “personal a”
the only - el unico
If unico is used before the noun, it means ‘the only’. If used after the noun it means ‘unique’.
certain - cierto
If cierto is used before a noun, it means ‘certain’. If used after a noun it means “sure or definite’.
theirs - suyo
‘theirs’, ‘his’, ‘hers’, ‘your’, and ‘yours’ all take the same possessive pronoun suyo/suya
eso/esto
gender neutral - used for unidentified objects or absract concepts
ese/esa
That
gender specific -
esa - feminine
ese - masculine
tiene instead of estar
thirsty (Sed) - hungry ( hambre) - sleepy ( sueno) - right (razon) - cold (fria/frio) - fear or scared ( miedo) - hurry (prisa) - hot (calor) - tiene cuidado
what are you saying
que dices - the present progressive form of decir is not required for this - (diciendo)
