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.

Sequencing words

There comes a time in every Spanish speakers life when they will be visiting a South American country and will be approached by a "thug" and threatened to be beat up unless they are able to explain what your plans are for the next day. Now unless you know sequencing words (like first, then, after, finally), you might not make much sense which could lead to frustration by your attacker and possibly a painful experience. So I wanted to say "your welcome" ahead of time for this lesson, and if you have not been through this experience yet, be glad you are able to watch this lesson before certain tragedy!

Prepositions and Prepositional Pronoun

Here is a lesson about prepositions and prepositional pronouns. It's definitely worth looking at. A way that I can describe this lesson, is that it's for those of you who maybe have a difficult time with the "small things", they are not verbs, but fall into a category of words that tend to be "forgotten" or not as much emphasis is put on them.

Using "acabar+de + infinitive" to say what has just happened

When you want to say "I just ____" for example, "I just ate", you can use the verb "acabar". The formula is "acabar + de + infinitive". This is another example of the 2 verb rule, since the verb "acabar" needs the second verb to make a complete thought, the rule applies.

Expressing feelings using the verb "estar"

This lecture illustrates another use of the verb "estar", expressing feelings and emotions. This might be my favorite video to date. Not sure why, I had a good time with it. I refer to "adjective agreement" so feel free to watch that one again to help with this one!

Saber vs Conocer, they both mean "to know"

This is a lecture I actually recorded yesterday. It compares and contrasts (mostly contrasts) the verbs "saber" and "conocer" these verbs are similar to "ser" and "estar" as to the fact that in English they both mean the same thing, "to know" in this case, but in Spanish they are 2 different words and cannot be used interchangeably. Enjoy!

Irregular informal (tú) commands

Here is a little lesson on irregular informal commands to supplement the last post! Even though they are irregular which means they don't follow the normal pattern, and the best way to learn irregulars is to just memorize them, some of these do have a bit of a pattern. Some of them, instead of using the "tú" form, you will use the "yo" form.

Informal (tú) commands

Here are a couple of lessons explaining informal commands or telling your friend to do something. Now in Spanish there are 2 types of commands, affirmative commands, or telling someone to do something. The other are negative commands, or telling someone NOT to do something. There are 2 different forms of the verb. In English, we don't really do this, we say "talk" or "don't talk", the form of the verb doesn't really change, we just add the word "don't" in front.

Expressing possession using "de"

I gave a lesson on using possessive adjectives, part of it was this lecture on expressing possession using "de" which should have actually been posted with the possessive adjectives. Sorry, enjoy!!!!

Special Request, Guest Blog Post

OK everyone, today Jan 4, 2013, I have been featured as the guest blogger for homeschool.com for an article I wrote on teaching your children Spanish. If I get enough likes on the facebook page for it, there is a chance that I will be asked to write again in the future. Please show support for my little blog by visiting the homeschool.com facebook page or even to homeschool.com to read my article. Thanks all!
Steve

The Preterite (simple past) Tense

The Preterite tense is also known as the "simple past" tense. It's where one would explain something that happened. In Spanish, there are 2 types of past tenses, one is the preterite, and the other one is the imperfect. I will not show the imperfect tense yet, as to not confuse the learner. When I learned Spanish, I learned them both together which was very confusing at times. In school, I teach one the first semester and the second one the second semester, so I will, at a later time, share the imperfect tense.