Passive sentences

1 When the main interest of the speaker is focused in the complement, and not in the subject of the action, the clause is built with the verb in passive voice. The subject of the passive clause is the patient subject that undergoes the action of the verb; the agent is preceded by the preposition… Continue reading Passive sentences

Impersonal

1 The impersonal clauses fulfil three conditions: Absent subject, because it is understood, unknown or intentionally omited. To be formed with with verbs (transitive or intransitive) in active voice. To be formed always with the third person of the plural, although the action is performed by a single person. Aquí venden pan. Llaman (a la… Continue reading Impersonal

Justaposition

There are many links to introduce cause, consequence, distribution, etc.; but these ideas may also be expressed by justaposition, i.e. without more link than a comma. 1 Copulative coordination La vida es corta, el sufrimiento infinito. (= La vida es corta y el sufrimiento infinito.) See Coordination: links 2 Disjunctive coordination Quiera, no quiera, hará… Continue reading Justaposition

Opposition

In Spanish, the opposition is indicated by these links: 1 Conjunctions Pero is the conjunction more used. Los bombones están muy buenos, pero engordan. Me invitó a la fiesta, pero no fui. The conjunction aunque also indicates concession; when aunque indicates opposition is usually used with indicative verbs. Es gordo aunque muy ágil. Me invitó… Continue reading Opposition

Purpose

These are the most common links to express purpose. 1 Infinitive These are the links (simple and compound prepositions) that use infinitive: Para and por popular. Se portó así para llamar la atención. Se portó así por llamar la atención. Haré todo lo posible por ayudarte. Haré todo lo posible para ayudarte. A is used… Continue reading Purpose

Explanation

The expressions es decir, esto es formal are used to give explanations or extra data. Estas rocas son impermeables, es decir, repelen el agua. El primer clasificado de la liga, esto es el Fútbol Club Barcelona, no puede perder hoy su partido ante el Compostela. Also with the conjunction o. Mozart acabó la Sinfonía número… Continue reading Explanation

O and u

Before word beginning with o or ho is used u instead of o. Mujer u hombre Plata u oro The conjunctions o and u have several values. 1 Excluding conjunction O and u may indicate that is only possible one of two parts. They also may introduce one of several possibilities. Ven el lunes o… Continue reading O and u

Disjunction

The disjunction is built by conjunctions: o is the most used. Iré el viernes o el sábado. ¿Cuál prefieres el blanco o el azul? If the word following the conjunction o also begins by o or ho the conjunction u is used. Plata u oro Mujer u hombre O bien… o is more emphatic and… Continue reading Disjunction

Distribution

The distribution is built by the justaposition of two elements: uno… el otro or este… aquel. Una limpia la casa, la otra prepara la cena. Este lee, aquel escucha música. In more formal contexts with the justaposition of conjunctions: ya… ya or bien… bien. Estos días ya llueve ya hace sol. Estos días bien llueve… Continue reading Distribution

Y and e

1 The conjunction y is used to link several elements of the clause. Y is placed before the last element of a series. El perro es grande, peludo y perezoso. (Y coordinates adjectives.) Ha vivido en París, Londres y Nueva York. (Y coordinates circumstantial complements.) Entró, comió un bocadillo de queso y salió. (Y coordinates… Continue reading Y and e