Spanish sentence construction? Basics please.
I think this is a blank spot in my knowledge. The structure of a sentence, written or spoken, still is a mystery to me sometimes. In Spanish sentences can be constructed in different ways to mean the same thing. These same sentences in English are ordered entirely different than in Spanish. How can I say it? The same parts of the sentences in each of the different languages are placed into opposite positions in the sentence. As to position of verbs, nouns, etc. I found something about this in fluencia, but it was brief. Rules reference of some kind, possibly for Spanish? Sorry, I cannot come up with good examples at this time. Thankyou very much in advance for any bit of information to help me with this gap in knowledge.
4 Answers
In general there are expressions in Spanish used with the verbs gustar, encantar, allegrar and perhaps others I can't think of now, where in English we say the object for the subject and vice versa.
The subjunctive usages are an enormous area of expertise that are quite different in the two languages.
All I advise is to keep some kind of list - either mental or physical - to reference for being aware of the usages.
I hope this helps a little. I think by now you've realized that this is a difficult question to answer.
I am not sure if English is your native language but you indicate you are advanced in English so I will use it as a reference.
For many basic sentences, save that most Spanish adjectives follow the noun the order is the same as English. However, the Spanish can change the order to change the emphasis in a situation where mucking about with the English would seem odd and often an order different to the conventional English one just sounds better.
Listen to some native Spanish speakers who are beginners or lower intermediate. They will use a Spanish sentence structure to their English. I sometimes write something in Spanish and think that is so English! The addition of a 'ya' or 'basta' can help.
Make sure you know your verbs. The subjunctive is used a lot in written and spoken Spanish. The infinitive is used in places where we would conjugate and often where we use a gerund. Many sentences begin with Al + infinitive
Here is an interesting blog to help Spanish speakers learn English - it will remind you of the differences between the languages
You will find from a style point of view Spanish sentences are longer than English and with the reduced use of subject pronouns and the placement of direct and indirect objects it can be a nightmare.
I read a lot - articles, papers blogs and books. I listen to music - I can still sing in my head 'si yo fuera rico' and occasionally watch TV. You get used to the rhythm of the language.
So far as books are concerned most sites allow you to download a chapter or two for free. I have previously praised El País 35 años 35 historias - an article for each year which you can download for free on Amazon.
Here is a link to articles by Antonio Muñoz
and here the website of Arturo Perez Reverte = lots of articles under prensa
In English we often cut words out but Spanish use them eg the equivalent of that which - lo que/ el que
Much of what you can say in English, can be said in pretty much the same way in Spanish. The word order is a little more flexible. Subjects can follow nouns, but don't have to except in a question.
"¿Qué dice Pedro" What does Pedro say?
What will give the most problems are the direct, indirect, and reflexive pronouns, which come before a single verb sentence. "yo la veo.' I see her.
In a two verb sentence these pronouns can be located before the first verb or attached to the second verb which will always be an infinitive or a present participle ( "ing" in English)
Example: Quiero comer tacos. I want to eat tacos. Now let's change the "tacos" to a direct object pronoun. "los" (them in English)
Los quiero comer. Or, "quiero comerlos
Carla continues eating tacos. Then Carla continues eating them.
Carla sigue comiendo tacos. (1st possibility) Carla los sigue comiendo. (2nd possibility) Carla sigue comiéndolos.
The most difficult thing is when you have to use an idiom. One expression for to forget it "olvidarse de" EX. Siempre me olvido de votar por algunos en SD.
It gets even worse when you use the reflexive "to avoid blame" I wrote about this extensively before and I have to get back to class now, but you can use the same verb and say that it "slips you mind. " Here it is.
Siempre se me olvida votar por algunos en SD. "It always slips my mind to vote for some people on SD.
So the upshot of the whole matter is to not worry about it. It is very involved and you couldn't begin to stuff it into your head all at once. Just continue your lessons and you will get the whole enchilada.
Abrazos.
This is also worth another read through.
