Words mostly about actions which can be conjugated to indicate person, number, tense, mood, etc.
3
votes
2answers
266 views
When do you not conjugate verbs?
One of my homework assignments asks the following questions, and I'm wondering why the verbs aren't conjugated.
¿Vivir en el desierto o vivir en el centro de una ciudad grande?
¿Tener una ...
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?
3
votes
2answers
237 views
esperar: wait vs. hope vs. expect
The verb esperar (e.g. Estoy esperándolo.) can be used in at least three senses:
to wait for
to hope
to expect
In English, these all mean very different things:
I'm waiting for you to ...
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
305 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. ...
3
votes
1answer
722 views
“pensando en ti” vs. “pensando de ti” vs. “pensándote”
When using the verb pensar to describe thinking about a person, there are at least three options:
Estoy pensando en ti.
Estoy pensando de ti.
Estoy pensándote.
What are the differences between ...
3
votes
2answers
56 views
How is the second person singular formed with rioplatense “vos”?
English
I learned my Spanish in Spain, some years ago. Now I am visiting Uruguay and Argentina and coming across the usage of the pronoun vos, and its corresponding different formation of the second ...
3
votes
1answer
64 views
Can I say “contestar las preguntas” instead of “contestar a las preguntas”?
In my spanish text book there is a sentence:
¿Tenéis que contestar a las preguntas de la profesora?
Since "contestar" can be followed directly by objects, why should we use a preposition "a" before ...
3
votes
2answers
62 views
No se acumulan vs No están acumulados
Ejemplo: Los permisos no se acumulan durante la configuración.
En inglés está bien dicho The permissions are not accumulated during the configuration, o por el contrario lo que estoy diciendo con ...
3
votes
0answers
56 views
Verbos en pasado que tienen una “s” extra al final [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“s” final en tiempo pretérito: -aste(s), -iste(s)
He visto que en algunos países, especialmente centroamericanos, terminan los verbos en segunda persona ...
2
votes
3answers
979 views
Ways to express “to get ready” or “to get dressed”
What verbs in Spanish are used to express the concept of "getting ready" or "getting dressed" (for example, before leaving the house to go out to dinner)? I've seen alistarse, arreglarse, prepararse, ...
2
votes
1answer
108 views
Should I use preterit or imperfect to express something that used to happen repeatedly?
For example, if I wanted to say "They used to travel every day", which would I use:
Ellos viajaron cada día.
Ellos viajaban cada día.
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
...
2
votes
1answer
179 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.
...
2
votes
1answer
183 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 ...
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 ...
1
vote
1answer
476 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
33 views
When using object pronouns, should I say “la van a ver a” or “la van a ver”?
If I have a question:
¿Quiénes van a ver a Luisa el domingo?
I can answer it someway like this, using object pronoun (I do not know if this is the right way to say that in English):
Los alumnos van ...
1
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 ...
1
vote
2answers
35 views
Find all forms of a verb, given one form of the verb
Is there any software that I can use to find all forms of a Spanish verb, given one form of the verb? I know of an online tool called Whitaker's Words that does this for Latin verbs, but I haven't yet ...
1
vote
2answers
107 views
Etymology of “caber”. Why does it share conjugation with “saber”?
Español
¿Alguien me puede explicar por qué los verbos "saber" y "caber" tienen la misma conjugación?
No me sorprende que "saber" sea irregular, que es un verbo muy común, y en todo idioma los verbos ...
0
votes
1answer
64 views
¿Es correcto “siempre quieren y terminan sometiendo”?
Encuentro en una novela que estoy leyendo el siguiente texto:
De entre todas las manías, sin duda la más habitual es hacer el amor
por las mañanas. A esa hora los hombres siempre quieren y ...
0
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 ...
0
votes
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 ...
