Putting things together. Parte III.
By Os
Hola amigos. ¿How is everything going on? This is the third and last article of this series. So let me ask you this question again:
Guys: ¿Do you know how to make a Wh. question in inglés? ¿Do you start the question with an action word (verb), with the subject (subject), with the helping guy (auxiliary), with something else (the rest) or with a Wh. word? Let’s see:
¿Where does Marcela read a book?
Where = Wh. word;
does = auxiliary;
Marcela = subject;
read = verb;
a book = the rest.
¿When do we walk to the beach?
When = Wh. word;
do = auxiliary;
we = subject;
walk = verb;
to the beach = the rest.
¿Why does the cat live happily?
Why = Wh. word;
does = auxiliary;
the cat = subject;
live = verb;
happily = the rest.
¡Excelente! You do know how to make a Wh. question in inglés. Of course you have to edit a little bit “The rest”. You do not want to put the answer in the questions. Follow the fórmula:
¿Wh. word + Auxiliary + Subject + Verb + The rest?
Spanish is way much easier. ¡No auxiliaries at all! You start with the Wh. word and then put the verb before the subject. Follow the fórmula:
¿Wh. word + Verb + Subject + The rest?
¿Dónde (Wh. word) + lee (verbo) + Marcela (sujeto) + un libro (el resto)?
¿Cuándo (Wh. word) + caminamos (verbo) + nosotros (sujeto) + a la playa (el resto)?
¿Por qué (Wh. word) + vive (verbo) + el gato (sujeto) + felizmente (el resto)?
It can’t be easier, right? Verb before the subject.
Well, it can be easier! If you forget or don’t want to reverse the order of the subject-verb but still put the Wh. word at the beginning and change the tone of your voice it will sound and look like a question.
¿Dónde (Wh. word) + lee (verbo) + Marcela (sujeto) + un libro (el resto)?
¿Dónde (Wh. word) + Marcela (sujeto) + lee (verbo) + un libro (el resto)?
¡Well done guys! It is just marzo and look at all the things we have learned so far this year:
You do know how to make a statement in español. Follow the fórmula:
Subject + Verb + The rest
Marcela + lee + un libro en su casa
You do know how to make a negative statement in español. Follow the fórmula:
Subject + No + Verb + The rest
Marcela + no + lee + un libro en su casa
You do know how to make a question in español. Follow the fórmula:
¿Verb + Subject + The rest?
¿Lee + Marcela + un libro en su casa?
Or: ¿Subject + Verb + The rest?
¿Marcela + lee + un libro en su casa?
You do know how to make a Wh. question in español. Follow the fórmula:
¿Wh. word + Verb + Subject + The rest?
¿Dónde + lee + Marcela + un libro?
Or: ¿Wh. word + Subject + Verb + The rest?
¿Dónde + Marcela + lee + un libro?
You do know how to say ”What”, “Where”, “Who”, “Why”, “Which”, “When” and/or “How” in español. Remember to watch out for the accents (tildes) and the ¿? symbols.
¿Cómo? = ¿How?
¿Qué? = ¿What?
¿Dónde? = ¿Where?
¿Cuándo? = ¿When?
¿Cuál? = ¿Which?
¿Quién? = ¿Who?
¿Cuánt@? = ¿How much?
¿Cuánt@s? = ¿How many?
¿Por qué? = ¿Why?
¡Look at you guys! You do know how to put things together now, don’t you? I am very proud of you… Let me give you one more fórmula:
No more excuses + One hour per day + Play with verbs + Learn vocabulary + Practice anytime you can + Use what you know + Change your attitude + No more bullshit =
¡Yo sí hablo español! Un poquito…
¡I do speak español! A little bit…
Os is a certified and experienced teacher of español.
Call him… you can start to learn NOW.
SPANISH PURAVIDA (506) 88-222-936 www.OsCostaRica.com