[Spanish] General Discussion

[Pao-Pao]

Ok guys I started already the Spanish Thread and I really hope you can learn for me...at least one tiny lil bit :happy: We can talk about it in here...you guys can give me some ideas and ask questions if you want...about pronunciation and even culture....I'll give my best to answer your doubts.

In every lesson I'll explain something about Spanish Culture (and I'll be posting pics too) and then the lesson..it's going to be easy...the lessons are going to be about basic information you all need to know...if you guys have any questions feel free to ask me in here or just PM if you need privacy.

¡¡¡¡¡¡HABLEMOS ESPAÑOL!!!!!
LET'S TALK SPANISH!!!

[jayx8318x]

I have to say, I'm actually really interested in this. I've been wanting to take Spanish for a while but always enticed by other languages (French, Latin, Chinese, Japanese). Since Spanish is so popular, I always figured I can take it whenever. But I've missed the boat since I"m out of school already! I also live where there are lots of Hispanic people. It'd be nice to learn some common phrases so I know they're not talking smack about me.

[kwonsang26]

Hola( Hello) & Buenos días( Good morning) karen & paola,I know what you mean karen because I have some hispanics in my community too lol.

However,I'm impressed paola,I think you did a really great job setting up the Spanish thread because I'm learning already.But if you need a reference on the basic format of a lesson.

Then you can just refer to my mandarin lessons all the way at the bottom of the [mandarin lessons] thread alright!Let me know if I can help in anyway.Hasta la vista baby( See you later baby)^^
*Arnold Schwarcheneggar from Terminator remember lol*

[ftlouiea]

Pao, please remember to mention the festivals e.g. tomato throwing festival! :happy: Biased as I am, I personally think spanish is the easiest/ best language. You think of Spain, and you think of sun. :rolleyes:

[Pao-Pao]

Hi guys!!! O.o you make me so so happy!!! I'm glad you guys like the thread...I'll do my best, promise!! and you'll learn spanish very veyr fast cuz I'm an awsome teacher.

Spanish is really hard and I won't be able to teach the "spanish" as I know it but I can help you with some translations and basic info you know.

Ok ftlouiea I'll keep that in ming...Spain is a great country but there are a lot for countries who spoke spanish so I have to tell you about the general traditions too, not only Spain's.

Thanks kwonsang26!!! yup you can help me, the same way I can help you!! ok what do you think I should post and what things you think I shoudln't??.

I'm going to post the first lesson!!

[kwonsang26]

Like for example,in your first lesson,you can post instructions to translate the first 20 numbers & a few simple words or phrases.You can also refer to my lessons at the mandarin thread.

To make the pronunciation easier,you can also provide a link to that specific lesson that you're teaching.Like with me,I provided a number pronunciation link to mandarin students so they'll know how the tones for the numbers sound like.Let me know if you're still confused.^^:bleh:

[Pao-Pao]

kwonsang26 Ok ok I'm going to do that...yup I posted it a link for that post...and I'll try to find some links to the lessons as well...I'm doing the first lesson right now...let me do the numbers thing and a basic vocabulary and some phrases.

Tsukie dear here's the answer to your question!!

Ok...let see if I got it...you're asking about subjunctive tense or mood?? cuz they're two different things...Tense refers to the verbs...present, past and future...while mood try to show how the person is feeling in one particular situation/moment...I think you're asking about subjuntive mood, well it tries to express things such as emotions, wishes, possibilities, judgements, necessities and also situations when you aren't sure about something. For example:

If I were you: Si yo fuera tu (expresses a wish)

It's a shame that you're so poor= Es una lástima que seas tan pobre (expresses emotion)

I doubt that you are going to Peru in December: Yo no dudo que uste va a ir a Perú en diciembre. (espresses doubt)

I want John to go to the store ("I want" means that the speaker feels that there is uncertainty as to whether John goes to the store)

You can check put this link:
http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/subj1.htm

[Shu1Yah]

wait. so let me get this straight, isn't the subjunctive mood and tense are connected to each other?
since if you're 'feeling' something that deals with doubt/uncertainty/emotion, which is mood, when you are going to express that feeling, it is going to be in the subjunctive right?

thanks for the link~ :)

[Pao-Pao]

wait. so let me get this straight, isn't the subjunctive mood and tense are connected to each other?
since if you're 'feeling' something that deals with doubt/uncertainty/emotion, which is mood, when you are going to express that feeling, it is going to be in the subjunctive right?

thanks for the link~ :)

Thanks dear!! :cry: I'm an SA Allie!! yee!!

Tsukie, tense refers to when an action takes place (past, present, future), while mood merely reflects how the speaker feels about the action.

Ok...the S. Mood:

is used in dependent clauses introduced by que (which, that, who) when the main clause expresses a wish, a strong emotional attitude, or an uncertainty. Frequently, the sentences that contain a subjunctive verb are used to express doubt, uncertainty, denial, desire/wish, commands, reactions or a strong emotional attitude to the clause containing the subjunctive verb. Compare the following two sentences: Indicative: María duerme. (María is sleeping) Subjunctive: wish= Espero que María duerma. (I hope that María is sleeping), desire= Te ruego que duermas (I beg you to go to bed). Doubt= Dudo que duerma (I doubt that she is sleeping).

You use it to express emotions, wishes, hopes and that kinda stuff related to how you're feeling about something specific....that's the MOOD. In Spanish, the Subjunctive represents the things we recommend or wish that someone else would do but haven't actually done yet. It encompasses things that are rhetorical, doubtful, emotional reactions and things we deny.

The S. Tense:

The subjunctive has four tenses: present subjunctive, present perfect subjunctive, imperfect subjunctive, and past perfect (or pluperfect) subjunctive.

So, which form to use depends on two factors: the tense of the verb in the main clause & the time relationship between the verb in the dependent clause and the subjunctive verb.

I don't know if that helped you...I didn't know what it was until you mentioned but I read some articles right now about it...we use it a lot and I didn't even know the name hahaha but yup the subjunctive mood shows how the person feels and the subjunctive tense is refered to the verbs we use to express that idea.

btw dearie could you remove the messages you posted on the Lessons Thread please?? sorry about that...it's just that I want the thread just for the lessons...thanks!!!

[Shu1Yah]

yah. i learned about the present subjunctive, present perfect, imperfect and pluscomperfecto subjunctive.
it just sometimes i can't decipher when/where in the sentence that will trigger a subjunctive tense ><" sure can get tricky. but i get an idea now ^^
thanks, and it did help ne~ xD
oh, and something else. when you are commanding someone to do something, how do you form the verb? is there any specific norm endings for -Ar, -Er and -Ir ending verbs when used in commands ??

[Pao-Pao]

Thanks God those links and my explanation helped you cuz I was worry...I know S. Mood cuz I use it all the time but I didn't know that was the name hahahaha LOL...it can be really ticky, even for me dear.

You mean when I'm giving you an order for example??...well there are verbs with ar, er and ir ending you're right and it depends on the time you're using the verbs...for example: Present...with ar verbs you just have to remove the -o- form and add -e-ful- endings...verbs such as

Hablar= To speak...in present tense you have YO HABLO=I SPEAK and then you just have to change the O for -e-ful- endings: Hable/Hables/Hablemos/Hablen

er and ir verbs use -a-ful- endings like: TENER=TO HAVE...in present tense is YO TENGO=I HAVE so you have to change the O for: Tenga/Tengas/Tengamos/Tengan....CONDUCIR=TO DRIVE...in present tense is YO CONDUZCO=I DRIVE and you have to change the O for: Conduzca/Conduzcas/Conduzcamos/Conduzcan

You have to keep in mind that with vowels happen the same thing...vowels E changes to IE and O changes to UE but with the "nosotros" form you don't need to use that....you don't change anything ok?? for example:

PENSAR=TO THINK...in present tense is YO PIENSO=I THINK...you see that I chaged the E for IE...Piense/Pienses/Pensemos/Piensen

PODER=CAN...in present tense you write YO PUEDO=I CAN...so you change the O for UE...Puede/Puedes/Podamos/Pueden.

BUT ir verbs do change the E for I and O for U...you use that for the "nosotros" form too...DORMIR=TO SLEEP...in present tense is YO DUERMO=I SLEEP...Duerme/Duermes/Durmamos/Duermen.

Ok one more thing...when you're giving an order is like you're talking in third person...you're talking like with a lil bit of respect to the other person...that's why you don't say "Sientate" you say "Sientase".

You have other rules when it comes to past and future tense but I'll explain that later cuz you have to tell me first if you understand this or not.

[Shu1Yah]

haha. i understand it all perfectly now Paola~ thanks to you and my further determination by reading these thick spanish books ... i hope i can ace my AP Spanish test on tuesday ><"

anyways. i get it. no confusion left for me so far. xD

[Pao-Pao]

Oh you have a spanish exam coming up hahaha good luck then!!! if you have last min questions you can ask me!!! I'm glad you got it...you're such a smart girl Tsukie!!

[dianilla]

Hey guys! I wanna join this thread from time to time. I can give you a hand with Spanish if you want! Pao, felicitaciones! xD I think this is a good way not only to clarify some spanish grammar but to learn more of the culture :P

[Pao-Pao]

O.o yeah Diana please help!!! hahaha I need your help girl around this cuz I can't post everyday...we can be the hot teachers lol...thanks sweetie!! I'm doing my best...I wanna show all of you guys how wonderful spanish and latin culture is but it's hard cuz we have so many traditions, you know that, but I'm trying!.

[wackycashew]

Hola, Pao-Pao! Thanks for starting the Spanish thread. I only managed to do a couple of beginner courses while I was at university and have probably forgotten a lot by now. So, it'd be great to check out your lessons. :D

[ColaPoP]

lol, Paola... you're so sweet~ Your enthusiasm for Spanish bursts from every post, what a delight to read. I'd like to see the cultural aspects moved/contained within this thread, but I'm impressed with the content you have in your lesson thread. That 1st lesson is massive, you even have exercises for us to do!

O.o yeah Diana please help!!! hahaha I need your help girl around this cuz I can't post everyday...we can be the hot teachers lol...thanks sweetie!!
Thanks for offering your help dianilla...
I'm looking forward to lessons from out hot latino teachers :D

[Pao-Pao]

Thank you guys!! don't worry if you've forgotten some things about spanish...it's really hard but if you can practice at least once a week that's good...Please wackycashew check them out!! I posted lesson 1 already and it's a lil bit long cuz it has a lot of content but I'll post next lesson this weekend, I'm working on it.

ColaPoP hehehe I'm proud to be latina!!....I posted some tips about our culture already and as I was saying to Diana cuz she's latina too...spanish and latin culture have so many interesting aspects but I try to post the important ones...our culture is huge!!! it depends on every country...I'm so happy that you guys are supporting me in this thread, it means a lot to me...yup the first lesson was big that's why I haven't post the second one yet and cuz another issues we have in my country, I haven't being able to post again but I'll will next weekend...you can do the exercises and if you have any questions about other subjects you can ask me....feel free to ask!!

[bebyjaystaa]

I know this is a BIT off topic..but I just wanted to sayy..I HAVE A SPANISH FINAL TOMORROW!
:( Lol. I'm extremely bad at the different forms. Like subjunctives, preterito, imperfect....etc.

[Pao-Pao]

O.o you must be so nervous sweetie!!! ok but tell me what things you fon't get...it's a lil bit hard to explain verbs but I'll try if you need the help....but hey just take a deep breath...you'll be fine!!! good luck!!

[Shu1Yah]

OMYGOD babyjaystaa you have a Spanish final today? how did it went?

i have one tomorrow .. 2 hours of testing =\

good thing it just about subjunctives .. if it covers the whole entire year .. i would be screwed :oops:

[bebyjaystaa]

UUUUG. My final was cancelled. It's tomorrow. So tonight I'm cramming & staying up.

The things I most don't understand is the different forms of verbs. Like..when to use it.
SUBJUNCTIVES especially!
Ayudarme!

[judes]

i need to learn spanish! but i have no time and it is hard :(

want to say thanks to pao-pao though for the informative lesson. i'm already learning some of the common phrases that i will definitely need in the dominican.

i'm going to start looking up some common travel phrases so i can start learning more.

[Pao-Pao]

Well bebyjaystaa is really hard for me to explain the form of verbs here cuz there are too many you know and I need to talk to you in person so you can hear the pornounciation but if you have a specific question I'll be glad to asnwer you dear...if you need my help feel free to ask...I was explaining to Tsukie about Subjuctinves so you can check out the first posts if you want to...I posted some links too.

Thanks Judes...that means a lot coming from you dear...dominican?? are you going there?? so cool!!!...well I can help you with that if you like...I haven't post the next lesson cuz I've been pretty busy with school and work and some other issues but I know I need to post the next lesson, if you want I can include some common travel phrases for you and the right pronounciation...I'll post it this week tops...btw you can call me Paola or just Pao.

[ColaPoP]

Paola I've hooked up a Spanish lesson for monday!!! We met these fun Peruvian & Columbian guys last night & one of them has offered to teach me Spanish if I teach him English. Yay~ I'm looking forward to it cos' I always feel shy speaking the language without any feedback (if I'm pronouncing it correctly, or if I've formed a gramatically correct sentence).

Could you share your point of view on this: I find it refreshing that latinos (at least the ones I've met) have such an open and friendly attitude when it comes to meeting strangers... is this generally the case? Is there such a notion as "too many friends" for latinos? :D

[jbalibean]

I initially started looking at this thread because I thought everyone would be speaking in Spanish here :shy: I speak Spanish (not perfectly) as my second language and I think it's wonderful Paola (may I call you that?) what you are doing!

ColaPoP~ Although I am not hispanic myself, I have grown up surrounded by hispanic people. They are wonderful, kind people. I was in Costa Rica for a time. I loved being able to walk down my street and yell out "buenos tardes" (good afternoon) to all that I met. Do not be afraid to speak Spanish. From my experience, Latinos love it when you attempt to speak their language and most (if not all) will respond to you in Spanish.

Someone asked earlier about the subjunctive tense. I remember an acronym one of my Spanish teachers taught me and I would like to share it with you all:

WEIRDO

Use the subjunctive tense when:

W ish,will - desear,preferir,querer,necesitar,esperar
E motion - esperar,gustar,sentir,temer,tener miedo de,sentir
I mpersonal - es necesario,es terrible,es mejor,es peor,es bueno,es posible
R equest & Recommendation - pedir, recomendar, decir, mandar
D oubt - no creer, dudar, no estar seguro de, no pensar
O jalá

Using this acronym, there is a subjunctive formula:

WEIRDO + que + change of subject + subjunctive

Example:

Quiero que Magdalena venga a mi boda.

Translation: I want Magdalena to come to my wedding.

I hope this was helpful!:happy:

Note: *The verbs that I included above are not comprehensive, but the ones I have seen most frequently.

*For those of you just starting Spanish, don't freak out. This is an advanced concept that I didn't start learning until the start of my 3rd year:happy:

[Pao-Pao]

Peruvian and Colombian??? wow ColaPoP nice!!! latino guys are so hot!! hahaha so how did you meet them??...you should accept that guy's offer..it can be very helpful you know and it's going to be so much better if you're interesting of learning spanish. Spanish isn't that hard (I mean...to speak spanish), you just need to practice and don't be scare I'm sure those guys aren't going to laugh at you or anything like that....go for it!! I can help you with some nice phrases if you want.

jbalibean is right! Hispanic people are very very friendly...any latino is friendly...venezuelan (like me hihihi), mexican, colombian, etc....we're very outgoing and happy people...we love meeting new people...well you can see how I treat everybody in here hahaha I'm like a whore...throwing kisses to everybody hahaha LOL...Hispanic people are very humble and very attach to their roots...we're very social and we love to talk...we're very noisy hahaha and we go crazy with tourists...we help them when they come for vacations or work...we like to help people especially foreigners...so that's why latino guys (in your case your new friends) feel so comfortable talking and making friend....we don't care what people say about us...we want to party and just be happy.

BTW jbalibean thanks for your nice comment!!! and feel free to help sweetie...I didn't know about that acronym...it's an easy formula to learn...thank you very much for sharing this with us. Do you speak spanish? Que bueno!! (That's good)...did you learn spanish somewhere??...I'm venezuelan and I just wanted to start a thread cuz there wasn't a spanish one...I thought it would be a nice idea and it was...thanks God haha.

[jbalibean]

Paola ~ You can call me Jenna :) I learned spanish in high school. I grew up in Texas and there are A LOT of Mexicans there, so I heard it all the time. I had a spanish teacher for 2 years and it's because his class was so hard, that I learned spanish. I also worked at a hispanic restaurant for a time. Very few people that I worked with could speak English, so I was always translating and speaking spanish.

It's very difficult for me growing up in that enviroment to not kiss people when I meet them. Especially after I came back from Costa Rica. Usually, I have to keep some distance between myself and the other person, otherwise, chances are I will kiss them :D

[Pao-Pao]

O.o Jenna it's nice that you learned spanish that way...that's the best way to learn and now you speak spanish very well...although spanish is a lil bit hard cuz all the verbs you can get it right if you practice enough.

Well spanish people have that thing of kissing people on the cheeks when they meet but I guess it's normal...don't you guys do that in the states??

I'm so sorry my beloved students...I've been busy but I'll post the next lesson soon.

[sam_ho]

Oh hey guys! Just dropping buy to say that if any of you have problems (i doubt it since Paola is here :-)) I'll be willing to help!

[Pao-Pao]

Thanks Sam! I do need your help cuz I've been busy and I didn't have time to post anything in the past few weeks...ColaPoP helped out a lil bit and she posted a new lesson in the other thread so if you want to you can follow the rules (see the lessons I posted already) and you can post the new one...I'll be posting another lesson anytime this weekend.

[jbalibean]

Paola ~ In the U.S., people generally shake hands. If you know the person though, it is acceptable to hug them.

I am willing to help if anyone needs me to do anything. I'm not sure if Paola has some kind of lesson system she is working with. I will take another look at what has been posted and then see if I have anything useful to add.

[Cielfairy]

Well hello there! As you see I'm from Panama! So If you need any help with spanish I'll be gald to help also! Although don't ask me stuff like past present participle or stuff like that cause I don't remember.... LOL! And as Paola said, yes! Latinos are very happy people, very friendly and like to party a lot. And when we greet we kiss. Just one kiss (on the cheek of course). But we do this with people we know or with someone who is being introduced to us. So kissing is no taboo! That's why I hate it when I watch a drama and I have to wait like twenty something episodes for a lousy kiss. Really... When kissing is so romantic and fluffy and nice! So people... start kissing and hugging more! Lol!

[hobielover]

How can everybody talk about the subjunctive but not "si clauses"? I mean "si" without the accent, meaning "if." In some cases, "si clauses" uses the subjunctive, but in other cases it doesn't. In this case, there is no subjuctive:

If x happens (present tense), then y will happen (future tense).
Example: Si Señor Chou está enfermo, no cantará muy bien.
Translation: If Mr. Chou is sick, he won't sing very well.:depresse:

However, to describe a hypothetical situation, you use the conditional and the subjunctive.
If x were to happen (past subjunctive), then y would happen (conditional).
Example: Si yo fuera cantante, yo sería famosa.
Translation: If I were a singer, I would be famous.:-)