Native Spanish speakers: Does using subject pronouns make one look dumb?

Question

Hola!

So I read something really weird on the internet today. After leaving a comment in Spanish under a YouTube video, someone replied to me "You're obviously not a native speaker."

I was confused because, though I'm not a native speaker, it felt sort of insulting to my Spanish that he would find it so novice. I checked my grammar, and everything checked out, so I simply typed "Excuse me? How would you know?".

He replied "because you use a subject pronoun in every sentence. No native speaker would do that; it makes you look "retarded"." Now I don't know if this guy was just having a bad day or something, but it kind of struck a nerve, so now I'm here looking for an alternative opinion on the matter.

My question is for native Spanish speakers: does using Subject pronouns like "yo" and "tú" before every conjugated verb, or even in moderation, make one look novice or stupid? Is there something wrong with this? I do this most of the time when speaking and writing, by the way.

Muchas gracias.

Answer 1

I am not a native speaker, but I think I have your answer. Things that I have been told by many native speakers indicate that your critic is absolutely right.

Mi hermano me visitó ayer. Él trajo un muy buen vino.

There is no reason for that Él.

See here:

Overuse of subject pronouns...is common among English speakers
learning Spanish. It's important to remember that in Spanish the verb
forms often make subject pronouns unnecessary, and when that's the
case the pronouns shouldn't be used unless there's a reason to.

Thanks for the input - cmusba, Jun 22, 2016

Answer 2

Hello Cmusba,

Welcome to the Spanish Dict forum

I am not a native speaker, either, just an experienced Spanish student and speaker.

While it is very obvious that the unneccesary use of subject pronouns in either the written or the spoken form would make a non-native speaker stand out because it is an obvious and basic error, it just makes the person look like a complete beginner, not an idiot!

The use of the word 'retarded' is insulting and unnecesary in my view, as we all will make mistakes when we are learning a new language including the person who replied to you and said that!

A lady with a user name called Heidita, who was fluent in Spanish, trained up many of us here not to use personal pronouns; All the mods will remember her! She used to send us to the 'Rincón de burros' ( 'Dunce' corner) every time we made a basic mistake that she thought we should not be making. She took into account our level (ability) from our level indicated in our profiles, and her experience of correcting our posts. It was all done lighheartedly with the aim of helping train us out of this habit! Most of us got the message after a few visits! lol

Anyway, I am sure that you can move on from this point and learn from your mistakes.

Most of the verb conjugations do not need personal pronouns as they can only refer to one subject! Spanish speaking natives rarely use personal pronouns when talking except for emphasis or clarification when the person to whom the action is referring is not clear from the context of the conversation!

Let's look at the verb hablar = to talk / to speak eg:

1.Hablo = I speak (Can only refer to first person singular: subject I so no subject pronoun needed! )

2.Hablas = You speak (familiar form used with family and close friends) Can only refer to 2nd person singular; subject tú, so no subject pronoun needed! )

3.Habla can refer to either: he /she / or you, singular and formal form using usted

eg he speaks, ' she speaks, you speak. Clarification may be needed so personal pronoun is sometimes used!

4.Hablamos= We speak (1st person plural) Can only refer to we so no personal pronoun needed!)

5.Hablaís = You speak ( 2nd person plural. This form is really only used in Spain!) No subject pronoun needed!

6.Hablan You / they speak Can refer to both you or they so sometimes a personal pronoun may be needed!

I hope this helps

I remember being in the dunce corner for using personal pronouns. jeje - rac1, Jun 22, 2016

Ah, thank you, Rac :) Yes, it was called the 'dunce corner' The drinks and company were usually good, but I was glad not to return there it reassured me that my Spanish was improving lol ;) - FELIZ77, Jun 22, 2016

There should be N O dunce corner! Everybody makes mistakes. The folks on this forum are the "pickiest" I have ever seen. But like they say "Steel sharpens steel." Although native fluency is desired, If you can communicate understandably that is G O O D! - Daniela2041, Jun 22, 2016

This is why I don't "correct" except for a mistake that makes a sentence difficult to understand. I will however offer alternatives to what someone has posted as in the "I will pay" post. - Daniela2041, Jun 22, 2016

Gracias a todos. I've never been taught through being reprimanded, but maybe it's a type discipline I need? Either way, this was very insightful, especially what Daniela said. - cmusba, Jun 23, 2016

Answer 3

If that (using the pronouns all the time) is your major fault in Spanish, that's not too bad, and very easy to correct. ¡Enhorabuena!

Not all hispanohablantes are that discourteous. They will usually compliment a non-native speaker's proficiency.

Besides that, Puerto Ricans quite frequently use subject pronouns where most Spanish speakers don't. - Daniela2041, Jun 22, 2016

This comment is interesting to me. My wife and her family are Puerto Rican, and I haven't really ever noticed use of subject pronouns like this. Do you have any specific examples? Thanks! - patt177, Jun 22, 2016

Only in my classes. My Puerto Rican students do this all the time. But they are also very smart and can adapt very quickly to not using them. I also dropped a lot of my Spanish regionalisms when I began to live among Mexicans and Mexican Americans. - Daniela2041, Jun 22, 2016

Whenever this subject comes up in class, if there is a Puerto Rican present he/she will back me up. - Daniela2041, Jun 22, 2016

Just to be clear, I wasn't saying I didn't believe it or anything. I just never noticed it I guess. Now that I think of it, though, I feel like they almost use a PP with querer. For instance, I hear "¿Qué tú quieres ...?" a lot instead of ¿Qué quieres...? - patt177, Jun 22, 2016

And there doesn't seem to be a discernible reason for using tú. Maybe that's not a great example, though. - patt177, Jun 22, 2016

I'll ask my friend, Salvador. I know I learned my lesson about using personal pronouns and spent time in the dunce corner for it. lol - rac1, Jun 22, 2016

There are some Spanish idioms that use the personal pronouns: yo eg Yo que tú = If I were you - FELIZ77, Jun 22, 2016

Thanks for all the responses! Abrazos fuertes!!! - cmusba, Jun 23, 2016