Tener Expressions

There are some expressions in Spanish where the verb "tener" is used, which means "to have", the strange thing about this is that when translated into English, the expression is usually "to be" for example, in English we might say "I am hungry" in Spanish they would say it with "tener" so they would be saying "I have hunger".

Indirect Object Pronouns

After posting on Direct Object Pronouns, I figure that it is only logical to post on Indirect Object Pronouns. So D.O.P.'s will replace a direct object as to avoid being repetitive, Indirect Object Pronouns will explain "to who" or "for whom" something is. An example would be, "I am writing the letter for you", I am the subject. writing will be the verb. The item I am writing, the letter, is the direct object, "for you" is the person who the letter is for, or the Indirect Object.

Direct Object Pronouns

Here are a few lessons explaining direct object pronouns. These are used to replace the direct object in a sentence. It helps to avoid repetition of the noun, Example, "I have a book, I will read the book" vs "I have a book, I will read it"

Special Treat (maybe, maybe not)

OK, I have been at this blog for a few months now, and I have kept it pretty non-personal (in a way) but if anyone knows me, you will know that my primary passion is music. I have a band called Delay the End and we performed last Friday night 3/22/2013 and thought as a special post I would post the performance. We actually performed at the school that I teach at, Redlands East Valley High School in Redlands California. Another reason why I wanted to post is to also promote a couple of talented young musicians. On guitar is a kid named Heinrich Wolfgramm and his sister Isabella is on bass. They are extremely talented kids and play in a band called Wolfgramm the band. Their father was in the 80's pop band the Jets and is a friend of mine. Enjoy and don't worry I will post some Spanish lessons again!!!! Thanks for allowing me this little plug.

Preterite vs Imperfect when telling a story

First, it has been some time. I was on spring break and spent my days remodeling a bathroom (as if you cared!!!) be ready for the lesson on plumbing and tiling (not). This lesson was actually filmed a year ago, and there is a mistake in the lesson. When I say I stepped on a raccoon in Spanish, I should have omitted the word "en" in the example. This is a phenomenon called "language transfer" when grammar or vocabulary from one language accidentally "spills over" into another language. So hey, you get 2 lessons in 1 today!!! I will make sure to bill you for 2!

The imperfect tense (saying what used to happen)

Here is my lesson on the imperfect tense. It's another "past" tense. It is used to describe what used to happen or what was happening. In our book, they separate those definitions and this Chapter in the book it's used to talk about what used to happen.

The verb "ser" in the imperfect tense

This is a short clip on the verb "ser"/"to be" in the imperfect past tense. Very commonly used when describing what someone used to be like. For example, "Yo era muy, muy, muy, muy, muy guapo" "I used to be very, very, very, very, very handsome"

Irregular comparisons

I told you I had another video that covered "irregular comparisons", well, I came through! I told you I was not a liar! Here are some comparisons that are more irregular in the sense that they do not follow the regular "más...que" formula. And by the way, it looks like I'm picking my nose in the still shot for the video! In the words of Jerry Seinfeld "IT WAS A SCRATCH!!!!"

making equal and unequal comparisons

Here are 2 videos on making equal and unequal comparisons. I have an earlier post about comparisons, and it's probably similar, but with each lesson and each level taught, there is always some different view or insight on the concept. I have a third video on irregular comparisons that I am still trying to get uploaded and will post it ASAP.

"e to ie" stem-changing verbs and the verb "jugar"

Here is a lesson I gave 2 days ago on "e to ie" stem-changing verbs, with the verb "jugar" which is a "u to ue" stem-changer. This will go well with the "o to ue" stem-changing verb lesson from before. You might want to reference it as well.