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Making Spanish Nouns Plural
In English, you use the articles the and a or an without caring whether a singular or plural noun comes after it. However, with Spanish articles, you point out whether you're referring to one or several [more…]
Asking Politely with the Spanish Imperfect Subjunctive
Proper manners are important wherever you go, whether the people there speak Spanish, English, or Swahili. In polite society, when you ask for something instead of giving a direct order. You don’t say, [more…]
Conjugating the Irregular Spanish Verb Probar (to Try)
Spanish verbs fall into different groups, and each group is conjugated a little differently. If you’re going to master Spanish verbs like probar, you need to be able to identify which group a verb belongs [more…]
Ad-dress-ing by the Jewish Calendar
Of course, when you buy clothes, you want to dress for the season. Whether you are wearing Begadim Yomiyim(beh-gah-deem yoh-mee-eem; casual clothes), Levush Chagigi [more…]
What to Expect at a Traditional Spanish Market
Shopping at a traditional Spanish market is a true cultural experience. Spanish markets offer some wonderful bargains (but be prepared to barter) and a unique shopping environment. So, [more…]
Presenting the Present Perfect in Spanish
You use the present perfect verb tense in Spanish to express or describe actions that have happened recently and/or actions that still hold true in the present. The present perfect tense is one of seven [more…]
Using Dónde and Estar to Ask for Directions in Spanish
The Spanish verb estar(ehs-tahr), which means to be (in a temporary state), has a special relationship with the question ¿dónde?(dohn-deh), which asks where. This relationship exists because looking for [more…]
Spanish Sports Terms
Fútbol (foot-bvohl), el béisbol (ehl bvehees-bvohl)(baseball), tennis, swimming, and cycling are all popular sports in Latin America. A little Spanish vocabulary can help you discuss these sports and games [more…]
Answering Spanish Questions in the Negative
Nunca, nadie, ninguno — the Spanish language contains lots of words to answer questions in the negative. These words (and some of their Spanish friends) can help you become a no-man [more…]
Cashing In on Spanish Money Terms
Although each Spanish-speaking country has its own form of currency, some words and phrases about money are the same, no matter where you travel. Here are a few Spanish words and phrases that you can take [more…]
Answering “Yes” and “No” in Spanish
Although answering “yes” in Spanish is pretty straightforward, answering “no” can be another story, complete with double negatives and a host of new negative words. The following sections break down the [more…]
The Big If: Spanish Conditional Tense
Maybe you would better understand Spanish verb tenses today if you had paid more attention in your high school Spanish classes. Would . . . that’s what the conditional tense is all about. If the conditions [more…]
Bargaining at a Traditional Spanish Market
Knowing how to bargain for goods when you’re shopping at a traditional Spanish market can help you get the best merchandise at the best price. Bargaining [more…]
Expressing Desire, Obligation, and Age with the Spanish Verb Tener
Tener is an extremely versatile Spanish verb. It works by itself the way other verbs do, but it also forms special verb structures to express age or a desire or obligation to take action. In short, you [more…]
Talking about a Specific Time in Spanish
In Spanish, when you want to discuss when a particular event will occur, you can use a common Spanish phrase — ¿A qué hora . . . ? (At what time . . .?) [more…]
Tricky Situations: Spanish Adjectives versus Spanish Adverbs
The question of when to use certain Spanish adjectives and Spanish adverbs can lead to some tricky situations. So just how can you know when to use an adverb versus an adjective? By knowing what to watch [more…]
Conjugating the Irregular Spanish Verb Ir (to Go)
Spanish verbs fall into different groups, and each group is conjugated a little differently. If you’re going to master Spanish verbs like ir, you need to be able to identify which group a verb belongs [more…]
Using Demonstrative Adjectives in Spanish Sentences
Dropping demonstrative adjectives into your Spanish vocabulary will help you express exactly what or whom you’re seeking. But first, you need to understand what demonstrative adjectives stand for and how [more…]
Sauces Used in Mexican Restaurants
Some people say that the sauces truly make Mexican dinners special. Choosing an entrŽe is much easier when you know what the Spanish names of the various sauces mean and how various sauces on a restaurant [more…]
Placing Telephone Calls in German
When German speakers pick up das Telefon (dâs tê-le-fohn) (phone), they usually answer the call by stating their last name — particularly when they are at their office. If you call somebody at home, you [more…]
Expressing Spatial Directions in Spanish
Certain Spanish words allow you to describe where people or things are in relation to other people and things. Expressing these spatial directions in Spanish — and thus creating more accurate and engaging [more…]
Defining Family Relationships in Spanish
In Latin America, the family is the basic unit of Spanish society. People work, live, and function in consonance with their families. When visiting your Spanish-speaking neighbors, you’ll be more comfortable [more…]
How to Use Spanish Interrogative Pronouns
The famous “five Ws” (who, what, when, where, why) are all considered interrogative pronouns because they’re pronouns used to ask a question. Their Spanish equivalents may not have a cute mnemonic device [more…]
Differentiating between Por and Para in Spanish
The prepositions por (pohr) and para (pah-rah) in Spanish cause a lot of problems when you’re trying to learn the language, because both words mean for [more…]
Asking How, When, Where, and Why Questions in Spanish
When you need to know how, when, where, or why, you turn to a special set of question words called interrogative adverbs. This is true both in Spanish and in English. Your interrogative adverb choices [more…]
