Spanish subject pronouns (Yo, tú,..): Optional or simply not necessary?

Question

This is a question which comes up almost every day and which is the most corrected mistake in proofreading. I would like you to read some comments by native speakers. I have taken the liberty to copy our friend's Lazarus comment on this matter.

Answer 1

patch said:

As Lazarus mentioned somewhere - Spanish pronouns are very complex. They are very confusing for native English speakers, just as phrasal-verbs are difficult for native Spanish speakers. I've been studying Spanish for 4 years (mainly on my own). I am a dilligent and keen student. I am reasonably intelligent but I still cannot penetrate this concept.

So...........what am I to do?

I have tried reading different grammar books (many of which seem contradictary), asking questions - but all to no avail.

Recently I have been trying a new method. I forget trying to understand the reason and instead I just accept that this is just the way that it is! Study the examples.Take it "on faith". Let my brain absorb the language. At least I get less headaches!

Does anyone have a plan or a method that works for them? Please share it.!

(Okay - that's enough rambling from me.)

!Hasta luego!

Cool to hear someone else has been studying about as long as me (on their own also) and don't have this down either! I mean, it's not cool that you don't have it yet, but cool that i'm not the only one who finds this part of spanish incredibly difficult! One day we'll get it. Until then, let's just absorb it and take it in...i like that

Answer 2

This is a very old thread, I am adding this new thread here and this thread to the new one, just in case it gets lost

new thread on omission of subject pronouns