''grave e importante''

Question

''e'' means ''and''.When do you use ''e'' and when''y''? Are there any rules?

Edit: Adjusted for IE compatibility - DJ_Huero, May 31, 2011

Answer 1

Yes: you use "e" when the next word begins with an /i/ sound, as in "importante" or "historia".

Notice that in words like "hielo" there is no such sound (the first sound is /'jelo/) in standard Spanish (even though some people actually say /i'elo/), so it must be "Agua y hielo" (never "e hielo"), since there theoretically there is no /i/ sound. The /j/ sound in the diphthong "ie" of "hielo" is standard Spanish, not a regional oddity.

Use e (meaning and) prior to a word that begins in either i or hi.

Not really. You can't say "e hierro" or "e hielo", since the ascending diphthong "ie" theoretically starts with a semi-consonant /j/. You use "y" in these cases.

Use e (meaning and) prior to a word that begins in either i or hi. Estudio algebra e historia. Estudio algebra e inglés. - margaretcorwin, May 31, 2011

Also with hielo pronounced ielo except in Chilean dialect which pronounces it /j/. - margaretcorwin, May 31, 2011

Very good .Thank you. - faliron, May 31, 2011

Answer 2

This rule and the one that directs you to change the o to a u, as in de una u otra manera,. have the effect of making the phrase easier to pronounce by sepertating the sounds. The rule is the same: use a u when the next word begins with an o sound. Likewise, use an e when the next word begins with a i or y sound, asi in Padre e hijo.

Answer 3

Oh yes there are, there are several posts on this subject, let me see if I can post a link to them.

This is a link to my own post ,there are others as well

link text

Answer 4

Yeah it's pretty simple. Switch "y" to "e" when it comes before another word that also has a "y" sound. This helps differentiate the two words.