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Let me take a look at that...
Questions answered by our learning community with help from expert Spanish teachers
6,119 questions • 10,022 answers • 1,054,906 learners
It seems I have considerable confusion over when to use a definite/indefinite article before a noun. I know it is needed when using gustar (e.g., me gusta el chocolate), but I have confusion in other contexts. For example, for the prompt "you need to have strong legs", I wrote necesitas tener las piernas fuertes, but the correct answer was "necesitas tener piernas fuertes" --- without the article. What's the rule on this?
My other confusion appears to be with the use of possessives. The prompt was "I'm going to exercise my muscles". I wrote voy a ejercitar los músculos but the correct answer was "voy a ejercitar mis músculos". It seems I'm confusing the rule of not using the possessive adjective as is required in such phrases as "My head is hurting" --- "Me duelo la cabeza" , or "I raise my hand" -- "Me levanto la mano". Please help me to know the difference for when I can (have) to use the possessive adjective versus when it is not used.
Thank you and I look forward to some clarity (finally) on these two issues.
Regards,
Pati Ecuamiga
Could I say un poema muy bonito de Neruda?
Hi there........so, am I getting this right: these two examples are in pret indefinido because they have an ASSUMED timeframe in the speakers' mind?Nosotros estuvimos hablando con los periodistas.Ellos estuvieron arreglando el grifo de la cocina.
Why is 'piscina grandísima' not a valid translation for 'very large pool'?
Why does árbol become arbolillo, but corazón becomes corazoncillo? They both end in consonants.
The explanation above says both that "If the original noun ends in a consonant, it usually keeps the last letter (árbol → arbol-illo)", but also that "when the noun ends in a consonant...we tend to keep the whole word and add -cillo, -cilla, -cillos, -cillas".
So why isn't it arbolcillo?
Thanks!
Las pronunciaciones de los ejemplos españoles con signos de interrogación no suenan correctos. Este ejemplo en la lección, "Conjugate regular -ar verbs in El Pretérito Indefinido", "¿Ayudaste a tu madre?", la pronunciación no tiene la inflexión apropiado por una pregunta.
¿Tengo razón?
En este ejemplo la pronunciación no quiere apropiado inflexión por una interrogación pregunta
How do I say I like someone, rather than I fancy someone? Or indeed that I don't like someone! For example, I like him but I don't fancy him.
I'm confused by the English translation: (I didn't have any chewing gum in my pocket.) for No llevaba ningún chicle en el bosillo.
Question: Why is this not "No tenía ningún ...?
The translation I remember of llevar from an earlier lesson is to take.
Am I wrong here? Please clarify.
Pati E.
Hola Inma,
Cociné esta comida la semana pasada y es aún mejor que se puede imaginar. La combinación de las verduras [pimientos rojas y verdes y tomates] en un caldo de pescado es perfecto para un día frío .... pero no te olvides al menos dos dientes de ajo. Las patatas terminan la textura del plato perfectamente. Tenemos la suerte tener pescaderías excelentes en nuestra región [de Irlanda] así que no es difícil comprar atún fresca.
Para información: El nombre inusual es de "Marmite" [de francés], que es una tipa de cacerola metálica con una tapa. "Marmitako" es lo que se llama en el país vasco. Además, en el oeste de Cantabria este plato se llama "Sorropotún," y en el este y en el centro de la costa, "Marmita." Todo el mundo debería probarlo. Saludos. John
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