Words mostly about actions which can be conjugated to indicate person, number, tense, mood, etc.
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1answer
145 views
Translation of “to wind (a rope, hose, string, cord, etc.)”
The other questions about "wind" got me thinking about it's normal verb use. To "wind" something is to wrap it in circles, either around an object or simply making a coil. For this use, it looks like ...
3
votes
2answers
668 views
What does “haiga” mean?
What is the Spanish word haiga? Is it a properly conjugated form of a verb? Or a regional variant or improper conjugation? Where/when is it used?
2
votes
1answer
184 views
Translation of “to be fluent (in a language)”
The literal translation of "to speak a language fluently" would be hablar un idioma con fluidez, but I have heard that means that you speak the language fluidly and smoothly rather than that you have ...
4
votes
2answers
83 views
Should I include “a” after “conocemos”?
Which would be correct?
Nosotros conocemos a los padres de nuestros amigos.
Nosotros conocemos los padres de nuestros amigos.
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vote
2answers
97 views
waste: desperdiciar vs. malgastar
I learned that "waste" in English can be translated as desperdiciar or malgastar in Spanish. What is the difference between these two words? Are there any cases where one is correct and the other is ...
3
votes
2answers
182 views
What is the difference between parece and pareciera?
What is the difference between parece que and pareciera que? How are both normally translated? What tenses can be used after pareciera que, and in general how is pareciera used?
2
votes
1answer
79 views
What is the verb landarse (to be it in a game of tag)?
In Nicaragua, when children are playing tag, "to be it" is expressed using what is apparently the verb landarse:
Pablo se landa. -> Pablo's it.
Me lando yo. -> I'm it.
I can't find landar ...
4
votes
1answer
43 views
If you need to clarify a speaker with a pronoun, do you need to clarify all verbs in the sentence with one?
The following is ambiguous:
Mientras era feliz, eres cansado y era triste.
If you want to clarifiy speakers by adding pronouns to the verbs, would you have to do it to all them, or only until ...
4
votes
1answer
387 views
Translation of “to catch up” (sharing recent happenings with someone you haven't seen lately)
In English, "to catch up (with each other)" can be used to describe two people that haven't seen each other in a while that are sharing recent events in their lives with each other. For example:
"I ...
2
votes
1answer
181 views
Most common verbs
I am a spanish learner and I figured out that I really need to learn the verbs. Is there a good (preferably online) resource with let's say the 100 most common verbs and conjugation to get me started.
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3
votes
1answer
72 views
Difference between 'podría estar' and 'estaría'
This question could apply to a number of verbs I guess, including:
podría ser OR sería
podría hablar OR hablaría
podría comer OR comería
Which could be generalised as 'conditional ...
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vote
1answer
479 views
How should “have been” be translated?
I often use the phrase "have been" (or "has been") in English in sentences like:
It has been raining a lot recently.
I have been thinking about the exam all week.
It's been a long time since I've ...
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votes
2answers
313 views
What's the difference between “debe de” y “debe”?
Is there any difference? What's their usage? When should one be used instead of the other one?
Examples:
El niño debe de hacer su tarea.
El niño debe hacer su tarea.
4
votes
1answer
541 views
Spanish phrasal verbs
The most difficult feature of English language (at least for myself) are "Phrasal verbs".
Today I stumbled upon one sentence from a newspaper that made think about Phrasal verbs in Spanish. If we ...
2
votes
1answer
67 views
Difference between some verbs and pronomial forms of the verb with the same translation
SpanishDict translates some verbs and their pronomial forms (+de, +a, etc.) as the same thing. Off the top of my head:
Escapar - to escape
Escaparse de - to escape
Olvidar - to forget
...
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votes
1answer
177 views
Speakers' location in determining venir vs. ir
In English, we use the word "come" very loosely (at least in day-to-day spoken English):
Want to come over to my place later?
Can I come over to your house for New Years'?
Can you come meet me at ...
3
votes
1answer
306 views
se pronoun in “no fault constructions”
One page I recently ran across discusses the concept of "no fault constructions" or verbs that use se in such a way to describe an action as taking place apart from the person who caused the action. ...
13
votes
4answers
758 views
I forgot how to say “I forgot”
Okay, so I didn't really forget how to say it... I just wanted a clever question title.
In my Spanish class I was taught that olvidarse is reflexive:
Me olvidé (de la cita).
Me olvidé (las ...
11
votes
3answers
111 views
Is there any subtle difference between the two forms of the imperfect subjuntive?
The imperfect subjuntive has two forms. For example:
Ojalá viniera.
Ojalá viniese.
I think both has the same meaning. However, is there any subtle difference?
7
votes
4answers
233 views
Why should we use estar over ser for being old or fat?
I can understand why we would use estar for temporary states. But there are conditions that people have that are not temporary, such as being old (or for some people, being fat).
¡qué gordo está!
...
5
votes
1answer
230 views
When should you use the preterite or the imperfect to express past time?
There are two ways to express simple past time actions and conditions in Spanish. One is the preterite,
Comí tacos. (I ate tacos.)
Besé a una chica. (I kissed a girl.)
and the other is the ...
4
votes
1answer
122 views
How to interpret “dar a” or “dar a conocer”?
I only know "dar" in its literal sense of "to give".
And I know "conocer" in its literal sense of "to know" or "to get to know".
But in reading Cien años de soledad I came to this passage:
... y ...
5
votes
2answers
117 views
How to choose between “carecer” and “faltar”?
I've always used "faltar" to mean "to lack, to be missing".
But in my reading I find that "carecer" seems to mean exactly the same.
When should I use the one or the other? Are there some ...
8
votes
2answers
496 views
How to translate 'to become?' (hacerse, ponerse, convertirse en, etc.)
I've heard several different words used for 'to become' in Spanish. Obviously sometimes there are specific verbs to use, like 'enfadarse' means to become angry, but often you need to use a verb that ...
