Explaining ideas and telling stories
A rule can be made clear and an event narrated: distinguish two Spanish verbs through examples and practice.
Read and practiseAdventure journal
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Passive se and impersonal se: choosing singular or plural verbs
Compare passive se with an agreeing thing as subject and impersonal se with a singular verb in common public notices.
Read and practiseHearing about and talking about
A museum mentioned on the radio is something you hear about; a budget discussed at a meeting is something you talk about.
Read and practiseAt last and at the end
A delayed bus brings relief, while the end of a film marks a position: compare two Spanish expressions of eventuality.
Read and practiseEven and inclusive in Spanish
A surprising participant or an included final date: compare two Spanish adverbs and the separate adjective for inclusion.
Read and practiseContrasting alternatives and concessions
Two preferences may differ, while an unexpected outcome can defy the first statement; choose the right Spanish connector.
Read and practiseSpanish concessions: clauses and phrases
Rain or a busy schedule need not stop an action: compare Spanish ways to express a contrast with a clause, noun or infinitive.
Read and practiseCauses and positive outcomes in Spanish
A delay or a welcome discovery can both have a cause; the expression chosen shows how the speaker views it.
Read and practiseAccording to or depending on in Spanish
A report provides a source, while a budget can determine an outcome: compare two ways to introduce information and conditions.
Read and practiseHacer falta and necesitar: two ways to express need
Compare necesitar with a person as subject and hacer falta with the needed thing as subject, including singular and plural agreement.
Read and practiseConocer and reconocer: being familiar with and recognizing
Distinguish conocer for familiarity with a person or place from reconocer for identifying someone or something you have encountered before.
Read and practiseDeberías and tienes que: advice and necessity
Compare deberías for a recommendation with tienes que for a stated necessity in everyday Spanish.
Read and practisePronto and de pronto: soon, suddenly and perhaps
Distinguish pronto for a short time ahead from de pronto for an unexpected event, with a Colombian variant.
Read and practiseQué and cuál in Spanish questions
Compare qué in a request for a definition with cuál or cuáles when identifying one or more choices.
Read and practiseMás de and más que: numerical limits and comparisons
Distinguish más de before an exceeded numerical limit from más que when comparing people or actions.
Read and practiseTener razón and dar la razón: being right and agreeing
Distinguish having a correct point from acknowledging that someone else is right in Spanish.
Read and practiseActualmente and en realidad: currently and actually
Distinguish actualmente for the present time from en realidad for what is actually the case.
Read and practiseConclusion and contrast in Spanish
A conclusion follows from a premise, while a contrast presents an unexpected difference between statements.
Read and practiseFormal and conversational reformulation
Two Spanish reformulators clarify a statement, with different typical registers in formal writing and conversation.
Read and practiseConfirmation and illustrative facts
A confirmation supports an earlier statement; an illustrative fact adds concrete evidence to what has been said.
Read and practisePersistence and decisions regardless
An obstacle need not stop an action, and a decision can stand regardless of an uncertain circumstance.
Read and practiseConditions and repeated occasions
A helmet can be a condition for borrowing a bicycle; repeated bell rings describe occasions. Compare the two Spanish constructions.
Read and practiseTime and contrast with while
Two actions can happen together; two facts can also be contrasted. See how Spanish connects each pair.
Read and practisePrecautions and conditional clauses
A spare key or a possible storm calls for a precaution. Compare two Spanish clauses and the moods they require.
Read and practise