Some Tips to the Student of Spanish

Who Has the Opportunity to Speak Spanish

by Bob Komives

---------------------------------------------------------------

The following tips do not substitute for serious study of the Spanish language. They are tips on how to take advantage of the Spanish you do know when you are not yet fluent but have a chance to be in a Spanish-speaking country or group. 

 

In Part One I will give these tips in their simplest and most rigid form. If you protest or are curious, go on to Part Two for the tips in their long-winded, less-rigid form.

…. …. …. ….

PART ONE, short form

Tip # 1

Please ignore and forget any tip from me and anybody else if that tip makes the speaking of Spanish more difficult rather than easier. There may be nothing here that you find helpful now. If you do find one or two that make your time in a Spanish speaking community more fun or productive, I am as pleased as you.

Tip # 2

Do not use the command form, the imperative (even though you studied it). Instead just say “Favor de no fumar,” “Favor de decirme,” “Favor de enseñarme,” “Favor de ir a mi casa,” “Favor de sentar en esta silla,” … … … …

Tip # 3

Study the preterite (the harder of the past tenses) until you master it,

BUT, in the meantime:

Use the Simpler Perfect Tense:

I have gone; He has eaten; We have done; They have lived.

Yo he ido; El ha comido; Nostros hemos hecho; Ellos han vivido.

Tip # 4

Use The Simplest of the Easy Futures: The Present Tense

If you are worried that simply saying, “Voy a la ciudad,” might not be understood as future, then say: “Voy a la ciudad mañana,” “.. el jueves,” or “en dos semanas,” etc. I know the future tense is easy, but native speakers seldom use it; why should you use it when the present tense is easier?

Tip # 5

I don't care if it is easy and you were taught it,

Never use the Present Progressive. Use the Present Tense.

Don't say, for example, “Estoy haciendo la cena.” OK, I admit that, if you are in that very moment making dinner, it's a perfectly fine sentence, but we more often use that form in English to answer a question like, “What are you doing later this afternoon?” We would likely answer, “I'm making dinner.” In Spanish, that answer makes no sense. Avoid having to think about it; Use the present tense: “Hago la cena.”

Tip # 6

Never say “Actualmente” nor the word 'Actual' in Spanish!

Say: “En realidad” and “verdadero” instead. Heed my command. Then, listen well to native speakers when they use these two wonderful words you want so much to say but that I forbid you to say. If you do this, there will come a time to lift my prohibition without guilt.

Tip # 7

For the “it pleases me” Tongue and Brain Teaser, Begin Your Statement with the Spanish Subject. To see in its entirety the crazy way I got my brain and tongue through this reversal of the English norm requires you go to PART TWO. But, this PART ONE simplification may be all you need. Even if the subject (the think liked) is obvious, do not leave it unstated. Rather, begin your statement with it. Do not begin with the pronoun (me, te, le, nos, etc.) Thus, for: I like the houses, you like the dog, she likes us; say: “Las casas me gustan”, “El perro te gusta”, “Nosotros le gustamos”. While this word order is not common among native Spanish speakers, it is grammatically correct and easier on the brain of the native English speaker.

Tip # 8

The Dreaded Subjunctive, Practice Avoidance. You may be paranoid about the past perfect subjunctive, but worry more that Spanish traps us by needing the present subjunctive in places and ways that are, well, 'foreign' to us English speakers. 

Tip # 8a: Good news. You do not need the subjunctive in “if” statements about a possible future.

Tip # 8b: Don't say “cuando”, use infinitives. “Al llegar el bus voy yó.” “When the bus comes I'm going.”

Tip # 8c: Don't say “es importante que”, drop the "que" and use an infinitive. “Es importante estudiar.” “Studyiing is important.”

Tip # 8c: Say it first--and only second hope for it.” “Puede (podria) llover, espero que sí.” “I hope it rains.”

Tip # 9

If you want to see a pretty picture of how to mix and match preterite and imperfect you have to go to PART TWO.

Tip # 10

Avoid all thoughts of English 'shoulds', 'coulds' and 'woulds'. --too-soft English, too-hard Spanish.

=========================









PART TWO, long-winded, less-rigid form

Tip # 1

Ignore and forget tips that seem to make the speaking of Spanish more difficult.  

It is only a “tip” if it somehow makes it easier for you to speak Spanish. If one or more of the following help you take better advantage of what you have studied, give it some time or attention before enjoying the opportunity of conversation in this other wonderful language. If none is helpful put them all aside.

Tip # 2

Getting Around The Imperative

(Ven aquí. or Venga aquí. Come here.)

The imperative (command form) is difficult. It can also offend when used with the wrong person at the wrong time. For some reason, it is also easy to switch accidentally back and forth between Usted and Tú when using the imperative. Here are some solutions:

2.a) Simply use the infinitive, as is done on public signs: “No fumar;” “Abrir la boca.” This form is not conversational, but it will be understood. If you have to prepare posters or graphics that need to say, “brush your teeth after ever meal.” Use the infinitive. It is definitely the correct form here.

2.b) Just add the words “Favor de ...” (please) in front of the infinitive. This is quite correct, conversational and pleasant.

“Favor de no fumar.” “Favor de abrir la boca.”

If you are giving a series of instructions and the “Favor de” begins to sound like a broken record, go back to the simple infinitive or add “ahora.”

“Favor de abrir la boca. ... Favor de sacar la lengua. ... Gracias. ... Ahora, cerrar la boca. ... Ponerse de pie. ... Ahora, favor de mostrar me las manos. .... ”

2.c) Let's do it, maybe. Skip this suggestion unless you know your present subjunctive and remember learning something about the “que-” form as a way to interject a let's-statement: “Let's work!” “Que trabajemos!” You may remember that this form is usable in the second and third persons as well, “Que trabajes!”, “Que trabaje!” “Que trabajen!” While the translation of these phrases into English (“That you would work!”) sounds terribly stilted, in Spanish it is just a soft command form―a useful midground between the dictatorial “Work!” and the wishywashy “Would you please work!” I find it extremely useful.

Tip # 3

If You Find It Difficult To Conjugate The Preterit

(Fuí a la playa. I went to the beach)

The preterit, one of the Spanish past tenses, is important. It is used frequently, and it sets the pattern for other verb forms. It is also difficult to master. You need to learn it. Imitate native speakers when they use it. However, if you are lucky enough to be somewhere where you need to speak Spanish before you have mastered the preterite, here are some tricks to get around it. DO NOT BE CONFUSED BY THE OPTIONS. After you have read them, CHOOSE ONE THAT SUITS YOU and forget the others. I repeat: DO NOT BE CONFUSED BY THE OPTIONS.

3.a) If you can conjugate the imperfect (which is much easier and more regular), you can sometimes use it instead of the preterite. CAUTION this trick can also cause a great deal of confusion because it can convey the sense of “used to.” If you want to say that you talked to the nurse, “Hablé con la enfermera,” and you say, “Yo hablaba con la enfermera,” you may be misunderstood as having talked to the nurse several times in the past, rather than once that very afternoon. Not to worry, there are simple ways around this problem.

3.a.i) If you set the time when the event occurred you avoid confusion. “Yo hablaba con la enfermera hoy por la tarde,” becomes, “I was speaking to the nurse this afternoon” That's a good substitute for “I spoke to the nurse this afternoon.” When you set the time, do your best to avoid specifying a length of time. Don't say, “I spoke with the nurse for two hours (this afternoon).” This is always an incorrect, odd-sounding use of the imperfect. Nevertheless, your listeners will figure out what you want to say.

3.a.ii) Use the imperfect to set up a past situation. Tell details in the present tense. Story tellers do it in English and Spanish. Instead of saying: “I spoke with the nurse this afternoon. She said that there is not much medicine. I saw only two packages of pills;” you say: “I was talking with the nurse this afternoon. She says there isn't much medicine. I see only two packages of pills.” “Yo hablaba con la enfermera por la tarde. Ella dice que no hay mucha medicina. Yo veo solamente dos paquetes de pastillas.”

3.a.iii) Even easier is the perfect tense (I have talked, you have talked, etc.). Now, this has the same meaning as in English, so it should be no better or worse a substitute for the true past tenses of Spanish than it is in English. In parts of South America, however, the perfect tense is often preferred by native speakers in the form I am about to suggest. This verb form conveys a definite past meaning and is often a legitimate substitute for the preterite or imperfect; Even when it is not, your meaning will usually be clear. Most important, by memorizing just five helping words and two endings you have a workable past tense for every verb you know. You will be understood and often correct.

hablar comer sentir

Yo he hablado, he comido, he sentido 

Tu has hablado, has comido, has sentido

El ha hablado, ha comido, ha sentido

Nosotros hemos hablado, hemos comido, hemos sentido

Ellas han hablado, han comido, han sentido

If this is all you know, you will make errors. Many of the participles (“...ido” and “...ado” words) are irregular, but you will hear little kids make some of the same mistakes. You will almost certainly be understood. Take the time to learn some of the irregular participles and you will be even more fluent in this pseudo past tense.

wrong correct

ver (to see) h... veido h... visto

decir (to say) h... decido h... dicho

poner (to put) h... ponido h... puesto

escribir h... escribido h... escrito

So, instead of saying: “I spoke with the nurse this afternoon. She said that there is not much medicine. I saw only two packages of pills”; You say in essence: “ I have talked with the nurse. She has said there isn't much medicine. I have seen only two packages of pills.” “Yo he hablado con la enfermera. Ella ha dicho que no hay mucha medicina. Yo he visto solamente dos paquetes de pastillas.”If you can't avoid errors with irregular verbs, this becomes: “Yo he hablado con la enfermera. Ella ha decido que no hay mucha medicina. Yo he veido solamente dos paquetes de pastillas.” One out of three correct is not terrible, since you will be understood.

Or you may prefer to get around the irregular verbs by finding synonyms that are “regular”:

notar (to notice, to see) h... notado

contar (to count, recount, to say) h... contado

colocar (to place, to put) h... colocado

So, if you are crafty enough to know the regular synonyms, you say: “Yo he hablado con la enfermera. Ella (me) ha contado que no hay mucha medicina. Yo he notado solamente dos paquetes de pastillas.”

Tip # 4

Have A More Simple Future

The true future tense is easy but less commonly used in Spanish than its even easier substitutes.

4.a) Simply use the “going to” form, which in Spanish is actually the “go to” form. You just need to know the present tense for the verb, to go. Add it to the infinitive, and you have a future tense for every verb you know. It is always correct.

I'm going to talk.

Yo voy a hablar

You're going to talk.

Tu vas a hablar

He, she, you are going to talk.

El, ella, Usted va a hablar

We are going to talk.

Nosotros vamos a hablar

They are going to talk.

Ellos, ellas, Uds van a hablar

4.b) Even Simpler: The present tense. When it is obvious that you speak of the future, present tense correctly conveys future meaning. If the future meaning is not obvious, make it so by adding a time reference.

I will talk (tomorrow) with her. Hablo (mañana) con ella.

You will go there (on Monday). Tu vas allí (el lunes).

She will eat (today at 3:00 pm). Ella come (hoy a las tres de la tarde).

We will work (later). Trabajamos (mas tarde).

Tip # 5

Avoid Our Favorite Future, the Present Progressive.

As a beginning speaker try as hard as you can to never translate the English present progressive form (“I am walking to school”) into the same Spanish form.

We use the present progressive far more in English than it gets used in Spanish. More important, when we use it in English we often use it with future meaning (“I am walking to school [tomorrow].”). That never makes sense when translated literally into Spanish. Avoid this form until you hear the narrow ways in which native speakers handle it.

The great reward in this avoidance is to find that better is simpler. Use the present tense. It covers all future meanings of the English present progressive and is usually the better translation as well. So say, “Voy a la escuela.”or “Voy a la escuela mañana.”

Tip # 6

Never say “Actualmente” nor the word 'Actual' in Spanish!
 
Say: “En realidad” and “verdadero” instead. Why? Because that is the correct translation of what you want to say. Then, listen well to native speakers when they use these two wonderful words. Understand that they mean 'currently' and 'current' or 'presently' and 'present'. At some point, it will become intuitive and, you can lift my prohibition.

Tip # 7

The “it pleases me” Tongue and Brain Teaser.

You will think me crazy with this one, but give me a fair hearing. Perhaps the most common-but-difficult form for a new speaker of Spanish to use correctly with consistency is the Spanish version of:
“I like it,” or “I like them,” or “They like me,” or “We like them.” Spanish speakers reverse the concept and say, “It pleases me,” “I please them,” “They please us.” We have great trouble getting the verb right. If we like some houses, we are likely to say “We like ourselves” (Nos gustamos), or “We please them” (Les gustamos) when we want to say, “We like them,” (Nos gustan).

Here is a crazy way to train your brain to do it right. The method may seem ridiculously more difficult, but it worked wonders for me. It slowed my mouth enough to let my slow brain sort the words out.

Say it the longest way possible.

(a) Put the thing liked first, the subject, so your brain can begin to work the way it normally does in English.

(b) Put the one who likes second and tell your brain that this person (or persons) is the recipient of the pleasure.

(c) Emphasize it. And finally,

(d) Let the correct verb form flow out.  

Examples follow. They first give the correct, fluent form that is short, but a real brain teaser. Then the say-example shows the longer form that is easier for a tired brain.

I like the corn.

Instead of: Me gusta el mais

Say: El mais .. a mi .. me .. gusta.  El mais a mi me gusta.

I like the volunteers.

Instead of: Me gustan los voluntarios.

Say: Los voluntarios .. a mi .. me .. gustan. Los voluntarios a mi me gustan.

They don't like the fruit.

Instead of: No les gusta la fruta.

Say: La fruta .. a ellos .. no les .. gusta. La fruta a ellos no les gusta.

They like us.

Instead of: Les gustamos.

Say: Nosotros .. a ellos .. les .. gustamos. Nosotros a ellos les gustamos.

After doing this for a while, the mind gets more agile; you can gradually cut down the phrases to their minimum, eliminating extra pieces one by one. Remember, however, the long form is always acceptable and correct.

Tip # 8

The Dreaded Subjunctive.

If you've gotten far enough to study the subjunctive but have not mastered it, it probably has you paranoid—especially the past perfect subjunctive. But it is the present subjunctive that trips us up most often. The subjunctive tenses are beautiful and powerful. You should not want to avoid them forever. But it is nice to have some control over when we practice them. To do so you must avoid some traps.

But first, a problem that is created only by our paranoia and over learning. Remember, you never need or want to use the subjunctive in “if” statements about a possible future. “If I arrive late ....” is simply: “Si yo llego (vengo) tarde ....” “If you build a latrine ...” is simply: “Si Usted construye una letrina ....” Remember that, and you will avoid needless anxiety.

Now the challenging part. The present subjunctive is hard to avoid. Verbs coming after “cuando” require it if they express anticipated future actions or situations. Some expressions, such as “I hope,” require it. Also, verbs that would otherwise be present tense but have emotion or importance or uncertainty attached to them require the subjunctive. It is common to want to say things like: “When the bus arrives I will go”; “I hope the bus comes,” or “It's important that the bus arrive before three p.m.,” Did you notice that the third of these three English examples is in the subjunctive? (“arrive” instead of “arrives”) We seldom use it, and seldom notice it when we do use it. In Spanish such phrases require the present subjunctive. They become: “Cuando llegue el bus, voy yo”; “Ojalá (or Espero) que llegue el bus,” and “Es importante que llegue el bus antes de las tres de la tarde,” Tough!

8.a.) We can just ignore the problem and use the present tense. That is better than nothing. Sometimes the difference in meaning is subtle. But avoidance can create confusion; most of these expressions without the subjunctive have a legitimate meaning of their own.

“ Cuando llega el bus, voy yo.” = (At the time) when the bus (normally) arrives, I (always) go.

“ Es importante que llega el bus antes de las tres de la tarde.” = “It is important that the bus (is scheduled to) come before three in the afternoon (and it usually does).”

“ Espero que llega.” Wrong, but no confusion. There is no alternate meaning.

8.b) Use the marvelous Spanish infinitive and you have perfectly good ways to say the same things clearly. The more you do it the more you will come to love infinitives.

“Al llegar el bus, voy yo.”

Adding “al” before an infinitive gives the sense of “At the moment of (arrival)” or “Upon the (arrival).” So this expression can be translated into the fancy English phrase: “Upon the arrival of the bus, I shall go.” Fancy-smancy, who cares? It says what we want to say, “When the bus arrives, I (will) go.” Note that both the subjunctive and the future tense are avoided here. To use them would neither improve communication nor correctness.

“Es importante llegar antes de las tres de la tarde.”

“ It's important that you (or we) arrive before three p.m.” Just remember to leave the “que” out after “Es importante” and you can follow with a simple infinitive. This works best with reference to “we” and “you.” For “they” and “it” (as well as “we” and “you”) try the following:

“Venir el bus antes de las tres de la tarde es importante.” “It is important for the bus to come before three p.m.” In this case, the whole phrase in bold is the subject of the sentence. This subject needs no subjunctive. Easy!

8.c) Hope for a bait-and -switch. It is hard to get around “I hope” expressions. If you can't avoid them, you can do a bait-and-switch. First, make a simple statement in the present tense that is open to some doubt, or make a conditional statement using “podria” (he/she/it could) and an infinitive. Then just say: “Ojalá que sí/no” or “Espero que sí/no.”

To say, “I hope the bus comes tomorrow at three.”

Instead say: “(They say) (It's possible that) (According to plan) (It appears that) (If I remember right) the bus arrives tomorrow at three. I hope so!”

“ (Dicen que) (Es posible que) (Según el plan) (Parece que) (Si recuerdo bien) el bus llega mañana a las tres. ¡Ojalá que sí!”

To say, “I hope it doesn't rain.”

Instead say: “It could rain. I hope not!”

“Podria llover. ¡Espero que no!

Tip # 9

A Graphic Recipe for Mixing and not Mixing Up the Preterite and Imperfect

So, you have the grammar down; you know how to form most preterite and imperfect verbs, but the rules for when to use them and how to mix them have you tongue tied. If (and only if) you are also someone who finds diagrams helpful, here’s one that helped me sort out the preterite and imperfect. My words below the diagram try to explain the columns, rows, and cells, but your goal should be to gain an intuitive feel--not to memorize the words.

If you remember only one image from the diagram, remember square (A1). It is the model for much that we wish to say: “It was raining when you came home;” “I was in college when the war started.” “Tu hablabas con Maria cuando yó vi a Miguel.” “Nadia sabia, pero el murió allí.”

Imperfect can elegantly form time umbrellas under which preterite events happen.

The preterite (columns in the diagram) conveys (1) a completed event in the past [I looked at the dog], (2) multiple events in the past [I looked at the dog each day], (3) something that occurred over a defined limited time in the past [I looked at the dog for three weeks].

The imperfect (rows in the diagram) conveys (A) something happening in the past over no defined time [I was speaking to the cat], or (B) something that used to happen [I used to speak to the cat].

While the examples given in (2) and (3) include words to convey their differences, if speaker and listener know the circumstance being described they too could be spoken the same as number (1), “I looked at the dog.” Similarly, while there are words that clarify differences between (A) and (B), if speaker and listener know the circumstance, both phrases could be, “I spoke to the cat.”

Now for the combinations, they read far worse than they are. Translate the Spanish Sentence,

“Yo hablaba con el gato y miré el perro”

Limiting ourselves to the diagram, the phrase could have at least six meanings. (A1) I was speaking to the cat as I looked at the dog. (B1) I used to speak to the cat and even once I looked at the dog. (A2) I was speaking to the cat each time I looked at the dog. (B2) I used to speak to the cat whenever I looked at the dog. (A3) I was speaking to the cat during the three hours I stared at the dog. (B3) I used to speak to the cat and for three years I also looked at the dog.

Forget these idiotic sentences. You will have no trouble understanding the combinations when listening because the meaning will be obvious to you. When speaking you only need to remember (A)[“was ---ing”] and (B) [“used to ---”] meanings that require the imperfect; you can then and let everything else come out as preterite.

Side note: Stop arguing with the fact that (B) “Yo vivia en Boston” and (3) “Yo vivi en Boston por tres meses” are different. As I had to tell myself: “They are different! Stop fighting it!”

Tip # 10

Avoid all thoughts of English 'shoulds', 'coulds' and 'woulds'. --too-soft English, too-hard Spanish. Obviously, you do not want to avoid the Spanish equivalents forever. My best advice is to avoid-but-listen. However, if you wish more explanation read on:

Beyond the classroom and textbook and until you are fluent, if you avoid thinking in our “shoulds” and “coulds” and “woulds” when you speak Spanish you will likely save yourself anxiety. The problem is that even though they appear in one form in English, they have in English multiple senses (tenses). These multiple senses take distinct forms in Spanish. Note and imitate how native speakers get these concepts across. Alas, I don´t have any ready tips on how to follow my suggestion. Relax, do the best you can. Below, I give only examples of the problems so that you can see why I urge caution. The more discomfort you feel with the examples the more seriously you should consider avoidance. Not forever, of course. This is a beautiful and fun part of Spanish, but it is beauty and fun that can confound. There is a hidden benefit to spending this time in avoidance. When we avoid thinking in coulds and woulds and shoulds our use of the English language improves; we become more straight-forward, more Anglo-Saxon.

This help word in English can mean these words in Spanish

should: debe, debiera, deberia
could: podria, pudiera (and in the past: podia)

This “would-phrase” can mean these words in Spanish

would eat: comeria, comiera (and in the past: comia)
would speak: hablaria, hablara (and in the past: hablaba)

a few examples:

If the boy can go to school, he should.
Si el niño puede ir a la escuela, (el) debe.

If the boy could go to school, he would speak better.
Si el niño pudiera ir a la escuela, (el) hablaria mejor.

If the boy could/would speak better, he could/would learn more.
Si el niño hablara mejor, (el) podria aprender mas. (or, “Si el pudiera hablar mejor...”)

If she would study more, she would speak better.
Si ella estudiara mas, (ella) hablaria mejor.

If the boy would speak less, he would learn more.
Si el niño hablara menos, (el) aprenderia mas.  El que habla menos aprende mas.

If he would eat less, he would eat better.
Si el comiera menos, (el) comeria mejor. Comer menos es comer mejor.

(In the past) I would speak fast, but I could not think fast.
Yò hablaba rapidamente, pero (yò) no podia pensar rapidamente.