Pensar en español/Thinking Spanish

Question

Hola compañeros,

I have a hindrance in language learning. When I speak or write I form sentences as I would in English which is wrong. Is there any pattern that Spanish has, or do have any suggestions?

Best Regards krc

Answer 1

There are many grammatical rules. The basic one is Article+ name/person+ adjective+ verb + adverb ex: La casa blanca estaba cerca El hombre viejo caminaba despacio always name first and then adjective

manzana verde floor roja auto viejo hombre loco mujer embarazada

Thank you very much juluque - krc, Feb 2, 2010

Answer 2

• Unfortunately, it will probably be a little while longer until you can stop ‘translating word by word’ in your head, and instead have the most accurate translation naturally come out.

However, since you have mentioned you both try to write and speak in Spanish, this is a good indication you’re on your way (I had mostly only focused on writing/reading - it wasn’t until I started conversing with Spanish Speakers was I able to overcome this)

• The other thing that is an issue, is that a lot of English that is spoken is absolutely terrible if you are considering actual grammar rules.

The most common thing that speakers do wrong is to end a sentence with a preposition (this grammar rule happens to be the same in Spanish):

• Where you at?
• What car are you in?
• Who are you writing to?

This list can go on and on, but here is correct way to say:

• Where are you? = ¿Dónde estás?
• In which car are you? = ¿En cuál coche estás tú?

• To whom are you writing? = ¿A quién escribes tú? (this grammar rule happens to be the same in Spanish):

• The other thing to which native English speakers seem to be oblivious, is that verbs DO have conjugations, DO have different tenses, and DO, in fact, have different moods such as the subjunctive.

Examples would be something in Shakespeare or the Scriptures:

• If thou be Johan, I tell it thee
• Be Thou my vision, O Lord
• I do wish thou wert a dog, that I might love thee something
• O WERT thou in the cauld blast

Sample Conjugation

• I am
• Thou art
• He/she is
• We are
• Ye are
• They are

Just remember that it’s always better to keep your sentences simple, too simple in fact, because in either language, a complete phrase contains the Subject + Verb + Predicate.

• The subject is that which is doing the action
• The verb is that action
• The Predicate is what modifies (or describes) the Subject

One thing to keep in mind, is that while you are learning how to say things in Spanish, be aware of what the English grammar rules are.

• Just like I, you will discover how the true way to use grammar, because at the foundation, Spanish and English are actually very similar.

  The only things that can’t be explained so easily are idiomatic expressions, which are sayings unique to that given language:

• ex. Me gusta Spanishdict.com which doesn’t necessarily translate word for word into English.

O that we still had the thou / ye of old. How wonderful to have a difference in person and number obvious by the pronoun. - webdunce, Feb 2, 2010

Ye thinkest that thou art quite mad, dost thou thyself believest not? - bdclark0423, Feb 2, 2010

gracias bd clarke - krc, Feb 8, 2010