Q&A Forum

I'm almost 2 years into learning Spanish and I get lost after hearing a couple of words if I close my eyes.  I watch shows and listen to Spanish podcast, and my ear for Spanish has not developed at all.  What could I possible do to change this?

Puede explicar con mas detalle cuando se usa el preterito imperfecto y cuando se usa el preterito perfecto, por favor?

Escucho y uso "De qué se trata?" cuando pido más información sobre un libro o película.

Así por qué no se usa "De qué trata?"? A veces veo "este libro se trata de..." también. No es correcto en absoluto? 

Gracias!

Hola Inma,

I'm wondering if sin que se (lo) enterara is also valid in this case.

Saludos

Ελισάβετ

I came across a sentence in a book I was reading and it said, 

"ya no se sienten ganas de beber"

I understand "ganas" as a noun meaning that they are stating they do not have the "desire" to drink I think. 

Why is sentirse used instead of sentir when "ganas" is the direct object?

Thank you

During the translation process, these possible answers were displayed:

>

The best answer is:

La prosperidad es representada por el buey [> thus, my answer "está representada" was marked wrong]

You could also say:

La prosperidad es representada con el buey, 

Or also:

La prosperidad es simbolizada por el buey, 

Or also:

La bonanza está representada con el buey,

- . - . - . -

It seemed to me that this particular passive construction focussed on the *result* rather than the action, so I used "estar"... It is interesting that you do allow the use of an "estar" passive with "bonanza", but not with the others; (is there therefore something different about the word "bonanza"?)

- . - . - . -

However, in the opening sentence: "El año chino es representado cada año con un animal", I think I can see how in this particular sentence we are focussing on the action (rather than the result).

- . - . - . -

We discussed this point in the Q&A of Forming the passive voice with ser + participle (+ por) (passive - simple tenses) - and I mentioned it again in Forming the passive voice with ser + participle (+ por) (passive - simple tenses)

In English it’s only math, never the plural “maths.” This word doesn’t exist. 

Is this common usage in both spoken and written Spanish? Is it more common in Spain than in Latin America? (i.e. Will there be raised eyebrows if I use it in Mexico, like there often are when I use "cover?") Thanks!

Hola Inma,

my answer was: no te olvides de que la mejor mezcla es ...

but the "de" was marked wrong and deleted.

According to the lesson, when using the reflexive form olvidarse, we need to use the preposition "de".  Does this not apply when it comes to imperative?

Muchas gracias

Ελισάβετ