How do we know the difference between formal and informal without the tu and usted?

Question

How do we know the difference between formal and informal without the tu and usted?

usted :) - Kiwi-Girl, Oct 19, 2012

Hi, welcome to the forum! - rac1, Oct 19, 2012

Answer 1

The verbs are conjugated to match the person who is doing the action of the verb.

The letter 's' is a common ending for the tú conjugations and the letters 'a' or 'e' are common endings for usted.

Eg:

dices - you (informal) say

dice - you (formal) say

hablas - you (informal) speak

habla - you (formal) speak

escribes - you (informal) write

escribe - you (formal write

comes - you (informal) eat

come - you (formal) eat

Great answer! - francobollo, Oct 19, 2012

Thanks Franco :) - Kiwi-Girl, Oct 19, 2012

Answer 2

You can tell, if someone is being talked to directly, because the verb form matches the subject.

Tú forms, in the present tense, end in an -s, in the usted form that -s is dropped.

Good explanation! - francobollo, Oct 19, 2012

Answer 3

Think about who you're talking to:

If younger than you, and less important, use tu.

If older,or more important, or in case of uncertainty, always stick with 'usted' until asked to tutear.

good point to add annie :) - Kiwi-Girl, Oct 19, 2012

Answer 4

how do we know the different between formal and informal without the tu and ousted?

Again -- because of the conjugation... (tú) dices... (usted) dice... - francobollo, Oct 19, 2012