Rule for Infinitives
Hi everyone, I'm Indonesian and I'm trying to learn Spanish for the past few days. I'm ugh in around 1.7 lesson currently (just to let you know my current level of Spanish).. I'm having trouble figuring out why in the infinitive rule of 2nd person and 3rd person, you have two ways of saying "you".. Let's say, "You eat fruits?", I reckon we can either use "Comes las fresas" or "Come las fresas", or is it not? Thing is, I don't understand why must you have two rules to descripe the invisible subject of "you"
Again, sorry if this question seems silly.. I'm a newbie after all
8 Answers
I don't speak Bahasa but I think I can explain expanding on what ian-hill has answered.
If you are speaking to one friend or a brother or sister or one of your parents, use the tú form of the verb. You do not however need to use the pronoun (tú) in Spanish usually. In this case you will use ¿Qué necesitas? for What do you need?
If you are speaking to a teacher, friend of your parents, or an older person, use the usted form of the verb. Again you do not need to use the pronoun (usted). In this case say ¿Cómo está? for How are you?
The vosotros form is not used in most of the Spanish speaking world, but is used in Spain. This is the form you would use when you are talking to 2 or more of you friends, to all your brothers and sisters, or to both your parents.
In most of the Spanish speaking world you use the ustedes form for anytime you are talking to more than one person. Again you do not need to use the pronoun (ustedes). In this case say ¿Qué quieren hacer? for What do you (all) want to do?
Selamat datang, Andreas!
If I am understanding your question, you are wondering why both the second (tu) and third person (usted) can both be used in essentially the same situation.
The third person (usted) is used in more formal situations or when a certain level of respect is given.
The second person (tu) is used in informal situations such as when talking to a friend.
I would say it compares similarly to Anda and Kamu in Bahasa.
Hope that helps.
You has 4 forms in Spanish
tú, usted, ustedes, vosotros or vosostras
So the verbs are conjugated differently - and much of the time the "you" is omitted.
Unlike English where we only have one form.
Different languages have different ways of saying things. Just accept that in Spanish, they prefer to use words for 'you' that can express closeness in relationships and respect in those that are considered strangers or those older or in a position over you, such as in a working relationship.
Actually, it was like this long ago in the English language too (thee, thou, thy, etc.). English speakers around the world make up for this (especially in the plural) by adding "you all, y'all, you guys, youse, you people, you folks, etc.".
Who knows what they speak in Liverpool. Fortunately one had a dragoman.
¿Como se llama "Rijsttafel" en español--mesa de arroz?
The original Fowler is a valuable resource, exactly because of his hard work, cunning analysis, and strongly expressed opinions. He was, however, wrong about what he called the false first person pronoun.
Sorrily he has now been replaced by a committee of pleasantly bland imbeciles.
Some Yorkies (is that a dog in EEUU?) still "tha" and odd Quakers thou and thee...
