Tu, tú and te...when do I use them??

Question

Ok so I'm headed into my 3rd year of spanish. I think I've done pretty decent so far but there is one thing that has me completely puzzeled. How do I know when to use te instead of tu or tú? Please someone explain to me these grammar rules!

Answer 1

Please do a forum search first; there are probably countless of threads that deal with each grammatical concept you are asking about.

Basically...

• "Te" is either a direct or indirect object pronoun.
• "Ti" is an object of a preposition.
• "Tú" is a subject pronoun.

Answer 2

Te is "te vas a la fiesta?" Tu is "tu china esta abajo" Tu te is more forceful (for lack of a better word) si tu te vas, me punga triste.

That is just giving examples, which can be helpful, but does not at all explain their grammatical roles and uses.

si tu te vas, me punga triste.

Should be: "Si tú te vas, me pongo triste" or "Si tú te fueras, me pondría triste".

i was saying if you yourself go it will put me sad - lkpuede, Aug 23, 2009

what you said would be if you (yourself) go, it made me sad...which is not possible, because that which will make me sad din't happen yet - lkpuede, Aug 23, 2009

Yes... Well, you spelled "pongo" as "punga". And then I was just offering a different way to say it, using the imperfect subjunctive. - Nick-Cortina, Aug 23, 2009

"Si tú te fueras, me pondría triste" = If you were to go, I would become sad. One of the (actually) common uses of the subjunctive in English. - Nick-Cortina, Aug 23, 2009

Answer 3

Te is "te vas a la fiesta?" Tu is "tu china esta abajo" Tu te is more forceful (for lack of a better word) si tu te vas, me punga triste.

This post has been flagged by me as unclear or inaccurate. - Eddy, Aug 23, 2009

Answer 4

Here are a few lessons:

Indirect Object Pronouns

Direct Object Pronouns

Subject Pronouns