When we are going thru the process of learning, at times we feel desperate when trying to fit all our ideas into the few or little words and phrases we already know. It can get frustrating, you bet.
However, it´s a good idea to never lose your calm and focus on using shortcuts instead, that will help you get your point across more effectively at an unexpected situation.
In the Spanish language, we can surely get a hold of some of them - mostly at the basic levels.
Today´s shortcut will be useful to let people know that what you are saying refers to events in the past without using the preterite tense (if you haven´t gotten that far in your course).
* Notice that this shortcut IS NOT correct Spanish structure at all, although it will get us across a sticky situation if we are Beginner Learners.
In order to pull this trick, we are going to use time expressions from the preterite, placing them in use with verbs in the present - of which you probably know at least a few! -
Here are time expressions of the preterite:
Ayer...
Yesterday
Antier...
The day before yesterday
Hace una semana...
Hace dos meses...
Hace unos años...
A week ago, Two months ago, Some years ago
La semana pasada...
El año pasado...
El mes pasado...
Last week, Last year, Last month
Now let´s do it!
I will present the actual Spanish way of saying it and then the version You Can Say
¿Listos?
Actual Spanish: Ayer fuimos a la playa con unos amigos.
We went to the beach with some friends yesterday.
You Can Say: Ayer vamos a la playa con unos amigos. We go to the beach with some friends yesterday.
Actual Spanish: La semana pasada llegaron el gerente y su esposa.
The manager and his wife arrived last week.
You Can Say: La semana pasada llegan el gerente y su esposa.
Actual Spanish: El barco salió hace tres horas.
The ship left three hours ago.
You Can Say: El barco sale hace tres horas.
Well, there you go!
Just remember, this is just a trick for beginners!
Showing posts with label quickies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quickies. Show all posts
Don´t Fear the Past
Me too!
¡Yo también! is the way Spanish speakers express agreement, along with its negative twin tampoco.
Chances are you have heard them both more than quite a few times. But allow me to show you how they work.
También is a positive adverb which basically means Too or Also and is perfect to express agreement with affirmative comments and statements.
A: "Me gusta el Español" - I like Spanish.
B: "A mi también" - Me too.
A: "Te ves bien." - You look good.
B: "Tu también." - So do you or You too.
A: "Mi familia vive en Canadá." - My family lives in Canada.
B: "La mía también ." - So does mine.
A: "La casa de los Tyler está en Phoenix." - The Tyler´s home is in Phoenix.
B: "Nuestra casa también." - Our house is there too.
A: "Fuimos a Mexico el año pasado." - We went to Mexico last year.
B: "La señora Gaby también." - Mrs. Gaby did too.
"El también quiere comprar un coche nuevo." - He also wants to buy a new car.
Tampoco is a negative adverb best used to agree to a negative comment or statement meaning in English neither or either.
A: "No he hecho mi tarea." - I haven´t done my homework.
B: "Yo tampoco." - Neither did I.
A: "No se." - I don´t know.
B: "Yo tampoco." - Me neither.
A: "No me gustó la comida." - I didn´t like the food.
B: "A mi tampoco." - Neither did I.
A: "No puedo hablar español muy bien." - I can´t speak Spanish very well.
B: "Yo tampoco." - Me neither.
A: "La Paz no está muy lejos." - La Paz is not too far.
B: "Tampoco Todos Santos." - Neither is Todos Santos.
A: "No tengo cambio." - I don´t have change.
B: "Yo tampoco." - Neither do I.
More...
También is a positive adverb which basically means Too or Also and is perfect to express agreement with affirmative comments and statements.
A: "Me gusta el Español" - I like Spanish.
B: "A mi también" - Me too.
A: "Te ves bien." - You look good.
B: "Tu también." - So do you or You too.
A: "Mi familia vive en Canadá." - My family lives in Canada.
B: "La mía también ." - So does mine.
A: "La casa de los Tyler está en Phoenix." - The Tyler´s home is in Phoenix.
B: "Nuestra casa también." - Our house is there too.
A: "Fuimos a Mexico el año pasado." - We went to Mexico last year.
B: "La señora Gaby también." - Mrs. Gaby did too.
"El también quiere comprar un coche nuevo." - He also wants to buy a new car.
Tampoco is a negative adverb best used to agree to a negative comment or statement meaning in English neither or either.
A: "No he hecho mi tarea." - I haven´t done my homework.
B: "Yo tampoco." - Neither did I.
A: "No se." - I don´t know.
B: "Yo tampoco." - Me neither.
A: "No me gustó la comida." - I didn´t like the food.
B: "A mi tampoco." - Neither did I.
A: "No puedo hablar español muy bien." - I can´t speak Spanish very well.
B: "Yo tampoco." - Me neither.
A: "La Paz no está muy lejos." - La Paz is not too far.
B: "Tampoco Todos Santos." - Neither is Todos Santos.
A: "No tengo cambio." - I don´t have change.
B: "Yo tampoco." - Neither do I.
Eating Out
Try this!
You are at a Mexican restaurant. There is a lot of delicious food you´ve never tried but would like to, looks so good! You definitely have to taste it.
What to say ...
¿Puedo probar esto?
(Can I try this?)
(Can I try this?)
¿Esta picoso?
(Is it spicy hot?)
¿Me da (un sope*) por favor?
(Can I have a sope, please?)
¿De que son los tamales?
(What kind of tamales do you have?)
Una cerveza bien fría por favor.
(A cold beer please.)
Quiero (una coca) con hielo.
(I would like a coke and some ice.)
*A Sope is a fried round corn-based dish (similar to a tortilla although smaller and much thicker) served with a spread of frijoles and on top -queso, crema, lechuga, chorizo or carne and salsa.
More...
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