Abajo and debajo are adverbs with very close meaning, but not identical. 1 Abajo answers to the questions ¿adónde? and ¿dónde?, meaning lower place. Mi tía vive abajo, en el primer piso. Voy abajo, a casa de mi tía. 2 Debajo only answers to the question ¿dónde? and means lower contiguous place. La carta está… Continue reading Abajo and debajo
Spanish grammar
Adverbs: adverbial complements in accusative
The circumstantial complements in accusative are not preceded by preposition and indicate length, weigth,size, distance, quantity or price. They answer to the question ¿cuánto? and function as adverbs. Este paquete pesa una tonelada. Un kilo cuesta 4 euros. He pasado quince días en casa de unos amigos. In no case maybe considered as direct objects.
Adjectives in adverbial function
1 There are few adjectives used as adverbs: alto, bajo, barato, caro, claro, convencido, decidido, derecho, falso, fuerte, justo, lento, recto, regular, seguido, seguro, etc. No hables tan alto. Habla más bajo. Di más claro lo que tengas que decir. Pagué caro mi error. La abracé fuerte y le di un beso. 2 It is… Continue reading Adjectives in adverbial function
Adverbs: adverbial complements
Another way of forming adverbial complements is with prepositions followed by adjective or noun, usedor not with articles. These are some of the most common. 1 Con + noun is usually equivalent to adverbs of manner. Soporto esta situación con paciencia.(= Soporto esta situación pacientemente.) Le respondí con amabilidad.(= Le respondí amablemente.) 2 Sin +… Continue reading Adverbs: adverbial complements
Adverbs of manner
1 Most of Spanish adjectives turn into adverbs of manner by the ending -mente. If the adjective is variable -mente is added to the femenine form. If the adjective is invariable -mente is added to the singular form. Nueva Nuevamente Típica Típicamente Alegre Alegremente Fácil Fácilmente The determiners do not admit the formation of adverbs… Continue reading Adverbs of manner
Adverbs: position of the adverb
1 Most of the adverbs follow the verb they modify. Felipe canta bien. Me encuentro mal. Except in rhetorical or emphatic use of the language. Mucho ha llovido desde entonces. Antes tenías que haberlo dicho. 2 Between the auxiliary verb and the past participle there are not place for an adverb. The adverb follows or… Continue reading Adverbs: position of the adverb
Unipersonals
1 . The typical unipersonal verbs are: llover, nevar, tronar, helar, lloviznar, diluviar, granizar, relampaguear, amanecer, anochecer, and in general verbs referring to atmospheric fenomena. These verbs are used without subject, in third person of the singular or in infinitive. Hoy llueve. Mañana nevará. Ayer estuvo diluviando. These clauses have grammar impersonality, because it is… Continue reading Unipersonals
Ser and estar: action and result
1 Many verbs express action, for instance: levantarse, sentarse, estirarse, etc. To express the result of an action, the verb estar is usually followed by past participle. Notice that the verb ser is never used in this case; this verb followed by participle forms passive clauses. See Passive sentences Action Result Levantarse de algún sitio… Continue reading Ser and estar: action and result
Ser and estar: general
1 Uses of ser Identity. Yo soy Miguel. No sé quién eres, no te conozco. Origen. Mi amigo es de Portugal. Soy de Alicante, como el turrón. Profession. Quiero ser químico. Mi prima es comadrona. Possession. Esto es mío, dámelo. No toques lo que no es tuyo. Permanent qualities. Mi casa es grande. Tú eres… Continue reading Ser and estar: general
Ir a + infinitive
1 This periphrasis is mainly used in present indicative and shows that: Something is on the point of occurring. ¡Te vas a caer, cuidado! Deja ese martillo tranquilo que te vas a hacer daño. Something is someone’s intention. Voy a llamar al jefe. Vamos a solucionar el problema del paro. 2 In imperfect indicative, this… Continue reading Ir a + infinitive