Spanish language Q&A Forum

please, help to understand why when I am using formal question

tiene un boligrafo is correct but

tiene usted un boligrafo marked as incorrect

The question is

Será mejor que ________ sin apostar dinero.
It's better to play without gambling money.
HINT: Conjugate "jugar" in El Presente Subjuntivo.

The answer given is “juguemos”. Why not “juguéis” , “jueguen” , “juegue”  or “juegues”?

Please, help me understand the difference:

Me alegro de que hayas viajado a diferentes países.   

I am pleased that you have travelled to different countries.

To me the english deffinition appears to be equal to the present perfect "has viajado".  Is it that there is doubt that you have actually travelled to different countries? or....is there something else that needs to be read into the use of subjunctive here.

Hi, I was a bit surprised to see this use of "gustar" as none of the books I have mention this usage i.e. Barron's 501 verbs, shows only that this verb is  used in the third person, etc.    Would it be a Iberian usage?  I am in Canada and study Latin American Spanish [looking forward to that distinction in your program:) -- any news on that?]

Thank you. Nicole

[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.

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!

I noticed these two sentences used the preposition 'a' instead of 'que' in these sentences. Is there a reason why? 

Las ventas fueron superiores a los costes.

The sales were higher than the expenses.

Los costes fueron inferiores a las ventas.

The expenses were lower than the sales.