doubt on a rule of grammar

Question

I can't understand how it can be possible to use "yo" with "soy". "yo" is "I" and "soy" is "I am". But it can be " I I am //" if yo and soy are used together. I wonder why "yo soy //" can be right. please explain about it!!!

good question - Tasear, Dec 24, 2011

Answer 1

You're right that 'soy' by itself can mean 'I am' so nine times out of ten (more actually) you won't want to use the 'yo'.

But every now and then you may want to stress that it's you who you're talking about - then you can add the 'yo'. That's because with 'soy' it's not so much that it literally means 'I' am - it's just that the 'I' is understood. Adding the 'yo' just clarifies or emphasises that it's you being talked about.

just like my prof explained the concept. - Tasear, Dec 24, 2011

:) - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 24, 2011

Good explanation! - territurtle, Dec 24, 2011

Thanx Terri :) - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 24, 2011

Answer 2

One could also argue that the 'I' in "I am" is also unnecessary/redundant since the form 'am' is only used for the 1st person singular present tense of "to be".

Good point, samdie - cogumela, Dec 24, 2011

Except for the fact that subject pronouns are required and not optional in English. - fatchocobo, Dec 24, 2011

Answer 3

Yo means I.

Soy means am.

Yo soy means I am.

In spanish the subject is optional so if you say just "soy" it is understood that you mean "yo soy" or I am.

Soy means I am. Soy is conjugated into 1st person form this means that you wouldn't need yo with soy but only would use clarify on the matter - Tasear, Dec 24, 2011

Are you saying this for my benefit? I know when to use subject pronouns! - fatchocobo, Dec 24, 2011

Furthermore it is clear to me that the question was not asking when to use a subject pronoun. It was asking what the individual words mean. - fatchocobo, Dec 24, 2011

perfecto, this is a perfect answer for what is being asked, thanks tatch. - 00494d19, Dec 24, 2011

Answer 4

"Yo soy" means "I am (and someone else isn't)"

Answer 5

Except for the fact that subject pronouns are required and not optional in English.

Be careful here; the following sentence is valid:

See Spot.

In fact, it is one of the first sentences many Americans learn to read in school.

Or "See you later." (with an understood 1st person pronoun). - samdie, Dec 25, 2011