Types of sentences

In the direct speech, the speaker verbatim reports a message. In the indirect speech the speaker reports the message with some changes. The changes from the direct speech to the indirect are in the link, the tense, the referred time by the adverbs and the space and temporary references. Manuel ha dicho: “tengo un problema”.… Continue reading Direct and indirect speech

In the compound clause, the subordinate substantive clauses perform the same functions than the noun in the simple clause. Es necesaria la opinión de todos. (Simple clause) Es necesario que todos opinen. (Compound clause) Veo una cosa. (Simple clause) Veo que tienes prisa. (Compound clause) 1 The subordinate substantive clause functions as subject with these… Continue reading Subordinate substantive clauses

Cuanto, cuanta, cuantos and cuantas formal may be relatives: some times pronouns and others determiners. Always introduce formal clauses and have an equivalent in popular Spanish. 1 Tanto / tanta / tantos / tantas + noun+ cuanto / cuanta / cuantos / cuantas formal. Here cuanto is a relative adjective and agrees in gender and… Continue reading Cuanto and tanto: relatives

The adjectival clauses modify nouns or pronouns of the main clauseas an adjective would do it. These clauses are introduced by relative pronoun, adjectives or adverbs. La música que escucha mi hijo no me gusta. (Pronoun) Las montañas donde viven los gorilas están muy lejos. (Adverb) 1 Antecedent The antecedent is the noun to which… Continue reading Adjectival or relative subordinate clauses

1 Cuánto and cuán are adverbs, they mean en alto grado, mucho and they are used in exclamations and interrogations. ¡Cuánto come este niño! (= This child eats a lot) ¿Cuánto te debo? The adverb cuánto is shortened cuán before adjectives, adverbs, past participles or adverbial phrases; except before the adverb más and before the… Continue reading Cuánto, cuán: exclamation and interrogation

1 The exclamation is between marks ¡! and expresses surprise, admiration or anger. ¡Bien! ¡Bravo! ¡Olé! Sometimes the exclamatory clauses appear between question marks. ¿No es fantástico? And some others, the exclamation indicates the refusal of an idea; in this case, the intonation and the context are important. ¡Para chistes estoy yo! (= I do… Continue reading Exclamation

1 The subject is usually behind the verb. ¿Qué he hecho yo para merecer esto? ¿Todavía no ha llegado el tren? ¿Es que no ha llegado todavía el tren? ¿Ha venido tu prima? ¿Quién es ese chico? 2 In popular Spanish the subject may precede the verb. ¿Tu prima ha venido? ¿Es que el tren… Continue reading Interrogation: subject position

In Spanish interrogative pronouns, adjectives and adverbs may be used to build a question, or without them, simply by a change in intonation. 1 The interrogation with ¿es que? is equivalent to the question made by the intonation. ¿Es que nadie me hace caso? ¿Nadie me hace caso? 2 Interrogative pronouns and adjectives Masculine Feminine… Continue reading Interrogation

1 Type 1 The conditional clauses of the type 1 follow this pattern and express a fulfilled condition. Si present (ind.) present (ind.) future (ind.) imperative Si yo canto llueve. Si estudias aprobarás. Si tienes frío abrígate. Si prometes no decírselo a nadie, te lo contaré. Si te pica te rascas. 2 Type 2 The… Continue reading Conditional: types of conditional clauses

1 The typical reflexive verbs are those which subject performs and undergoes the action of the verb. Yo me afeito Tú te lavas Él, ella, usted se peina Nosotros, nosotras nos afeitamos Vosotros, vosotras, vos os laváis Ellos, ellas, ustedes se peinan In the reflexive clauses, the reflexive pronoun may function as a direct or… Continue reading Reflexive and reciprocal verbs