Spanish language Q&A Forum

On the question:

Mamá, ________

Why wouldn't "cómo está" be a correct answer? Wouldn't it be formal when speaking to a parent?

Thank you!

The phrase "para aprender a ser" is the "a" an idiomatic expression? is two consecutive infinitives incorrect?

Would you explain why it is el hacha afilada, but it is una ave bonita, please.  Both have feminine modifiers.  I’m becoming more confused as I go.  

Here’s an explanation that I found elsewhere:

“Feminine nouns that begin with a stressed "a-" or "ha-" sound in Spanish use the definite article "el" in the singular."

The example given is:
"Who's incredibly attractive; a real night owl.  Sí, pero indica que no es un ave de paso.”

The above example uses un, not una.

Hi - In your topic on El Condicional Simple, the description reads as follows : "El Condicional Simple expresses hypothetical actions that would or might happen in the past and in the future. It is also used to express wishes, to give advice and suggestions or to invite and ask in a polite way."

How does one differentiate between this description and the use of El Futuro Simple for the use in prediction, probability and speculation? Seems quite confusing and overlapping.

It's not clear which preposition to use with quien for Whose, For Whom / To Whom and With Whom?

Is the below correct?

Whose = de quien

For Whom / To Whom = para quien

With Whom = con quien

In an e-mail entitled: "A new error has been submitted by a user [#252851]", Laura Lawless today (4th May) asked me to repost this here:

>

Question 6 in the [first] 'StudyPlan' quiz which I did on 3rd May, required a translation for:

"You two, wash your hair!"

The 'vosotros' part was already provided for us, so I chose:
Vosotros dos, ¡A lavaros el pelo! 

However, I was marked incorrect, because you said that another possible option is:
Vosotros dos, ¡A lavarse el pelo!

>> But surely the "-se" suffix is not compatible with "vosotros"? … i.e., it has to be '-os', [only '-os', not both].

[A comment, not really a question]: It is interesting that you are using the infinitive construction here after "recomendar": "...nos han recomendado poner suelo de madera"; (instead, I put: "han recomendado que pongamos suelo de madera"). My grammar book (by Butt and Benjamin - admittedly an oldish, 2004 edition) discusses the well known rule: "Use the subjunctive when there is a change of subject between the two portions of the sentence" - and it lists verbs which are exceptions. 'Recomendar' is not actually given as a clear-cut exception, but the book says that this verb is in a transitional state - where the infinitive construction is "slowly creeping into" written Spanish. It adds that it would be better for non-Spaniards to stick with the subjunctive in these particular circumstances, just to be sure..... I am sure you do have a lesson on this specific point; I look forward to seeing what it says about various verbs.

I guess I wasn't clear in my question.  The "any" in parens is what I added in my question.  There were no parens in the English in the lesson.

Also I was asking if "No hagan ningún ruido" is the correct way to say "Don't make any noise."     

Maybe it's just me, but I find it very difficult when translations are so different from each other.  Quite often the subleties escape me.

Re: Exercise: Spanish dictation exercise

SOPHIA OF GREECE AND DENMARK (A1)

Line: Doña Sofía habla 5 idiomas;

1) This is not pertaining specifically to this section, but it brought up something that I have been noticing: that the “s” has a tendency to be dropped, whether in real life, or songs, etc

      I am French from Quebec, and in French, the “s’s” are silent for the most part. I have a feeling Spanish is moving towards that, whether acceptable grammaticaly, or not; by the powers that be J

My question is, what are the “rules” or guidelines for when to make the “s” silent (or skipped).

2) Also, is there a rule where numbers would be written in numerals or in script?

I wrote “cinco” but it was corrected to “5”

3) Also, Kwizbot added a semi-colon at the end of this section, other times I put in a comma, and it strikes it, other times I don’t and there’s a comma.  Notwithstanding that, it’s a bit difficult to know from the audio.  (I’m not faulting that, just a note, but I appreciate the fact that it’s noted, as that is a good way to learnJ)

I did a search on your site for lessons in “punctuation” but didn’t find any.  Could you direct me to any?

Sorry about all these questions, these quizzes really get me thinking, and I think that’s a good thing. J

Thank you for being there and your patience with us learnersJ

Nicole