I'd really appreciate someone's expertise!

Question

hi, I have to write something quite simple in spanish and would just like someone to tell me if it makes any sense at all, also this is quite a stupid question but how do you put the accent on words using the keyboard'?

Hola, me llamo sarah. estoy estudiante de la Universidad y estudio turismo. Trabajo en el hotel, soy camerera. Tengo viente sies anos y estoy soletera . Vivo en London con me amiga. El ano pasado trabaje en espana y mexico.

Very grateful for anyones help with this. Thanks!!

Answer 1

James Santiago said:

My excellent teacher in Guadalajara (Mex.) told me to say "soy casado" if I plan to stay that way, and "estoy casado" if I am keeping an eye out for a replacement. I think she was only half joking.

However this is a very "mexican" or way of using this. We never say in Spain: soy casado. (ok, never say never...hardly ever!)

Answer 2

lazarus1907 said:

samdie said:

"Guys"; not "mates" or "blokes"?

Just trying to sound more "American" for you guys.

Next you'll be writing "y'all"'

Answer 3

samdie said:

"Guys"; not "mates" or "blokes"?

Just trying to sound more "American" for you guys.

Answer 4

lazarus1907 said:

Ok, guys: I made a mistake. I meant SER, not ESTAR.

"Guys"; not "mates" or "blokes"'

Answer 5

Ok, guys: I made a mistake. I meant SER, not ESTAR.

Answer 6

One other thing..."camerera" should be spelled "camarera."

Answer 7

Thanks very much everyone for all of your help!!!!

Answer 8

Natasha said:

lazarus1907 said:

Natasha said:

["soy" soltera might be right, but I think there was a thread where there was disagreement about this]

The words "soltero", "casado", "divorciado" and "viudo" can be used as classifications (and hence, with SER), or as space-time related states (described with ESTAR). Although there are preferences regarding one verb or the other, when filling out paperwork, ESTAR is the preferred verb (as you are classifying).

I thought you just said that SER was the verb for classifying. '''''?

That is what he said! (and what I hoped he would say) Perhaps, he's been taking typing lessons from Heidita. jeje

Answer 9

My excellent teacher in Guadalajara (Mex.) told me to say "soy casado" if I plan to stay that way, and "estoy casado" if I am keeping an eye out for a replacement. I think she was only half joking.

Answer 10

Natasha said:

I thought you just said that SER was the verb for classifying. '''''?

It is indeed, but this is a cultural issue, not a grammatical one. Modern world sees things like being married or a bachelor as purely circumstantial, but in Spain these words really used define what kind of person are you in the society: if you are not married and have a family, there must be a reason, and that reason cannot be a good one. A language cannot be learnt without understanding the culture, even though we don't agree with it (and I don't).

Answer 11

Natasha said:

["soy" soltera might be right, but I think there was a thread where there was disagreement about this]

The words "soltero", "casado", "divorciado" and "viudo" can be used as classifications (and hence, with SER), or as space-time related states (described with ESTAR). Although there are preferences regarding one verb or the other, when filling out paperwork, SER is the preferred verb (as you are classifying).

P. S. Sorry about the mistake.

Answer 12

It's not a stupid question; in fact it is one of our "Frequently Asked Questions" here. Click on "Rules / Resources" above and then follow the link to "Typing Spanish." You will see several options.

I will make a couple of suggestions, but I am not a native speaker, so expect some corrections to my corrections.

Hola: me llamo Sarah. Soy estudiante de la universidad y estudio turismo. Trabajo en el hotel, soy camerera. Tengo veintiseis años y estoy soletera ["soy" soltera might be right, but I think there was a thread where there was disagreement about this] . Vivo en London con mi amiga. El año pasado trabajé en España y México.

Finally, a better category for this would be the "Proofreading" one.

Answer 13

James Santiago said:

Tengo viente y seis años y soy soltera.

"Estoy soltera" is also correct (although it is not identical), and you cannot write "veinte y seis", but "veintiséis": this rule applies to numbers between 16 and 30.

Your correction about the "Hola:" is the ideal one.

Answer 14

Hola:
Me llamo Sarah. Soy estudiante de la universidad y estudio turismo. Trabajo en un hotel, donde soy camerera. Tengo viente y seis años y soy soltera . Vivo en Londres con mi amiga. El año pasado trabajé en España y México.

Answer 15

:

Hola, me llamo sarah. Soy estudiante de la Universidad y estudio Turismo. Trabajo en un hotel y soy camerera. Tengo vientiséis años y estoy soltera . Vivo en Londres con una amiga mía. El año pasado trabajé en España y México.

Let me give you a simple rule: ESTAR cannot be used with nouns or pronouns, like "estudiante", "Rachel", "yo",...

Also, "Tengo veintiséis anos" means "I have twenty six anuses", and "el ano pasado" means "the past anus". You really need the ÿ here.

"España" and "México" are written with capital letters.