Spanish language Q&A Forum

What is the rule for using "mientras" or "mientras que"?

For example:

Escribo mientras que él come. Why can't I say: Escribo mientras él come.

Él habla mientras yo leo.           Why can't I say: Él habla mientras que yo leo.   

I cannot see any difference in syntax, usage or meaning between these two sentences, yet three native speakers have all told me they would only say the first, but could not tell me why or give me any grammatical rule.  Please help... someone/anyone.

Hola, 

I never received a reply to my 2nd question below, it starts like this:

"Hello Inma,

Thank you so much for your patience and reply.

I was wondering, is there a way I can find my questions and answers received within my page....."

see below for the full question, thank you.

Hi,

I came across the below question in the quiz on this lesson. Am I missing the part where “and she is affected by it” becomes important?

QUESTION: 

Choose the correct sentence expressing: "Her baby doesn't eat any fruit and she is affected by it."

CORRECT ANSWER: 

Su bebé no le come nada de fruta.

Other choices: 

ayyyyy necesitamos otra parte para saber que pasara con Angela y Robertooo

I would like to point out that the third example does not contain any fraction.

Disfruté mucho este video. Me encantó ver todas las cosas coloridas, la música, el arte y las cosas maravillosas que hacen los artesanos. Especialmente me encantó ver el baile tradicional. Me parece que la atmósfera allí es muy emocionante.

Este es también un gran ejercicio con un montón de texto para digerir.

Muchas gracias Shui y un saludo :)

Hi,

I was wondering if and how this sentence would change if you were to use "para" and it comes to mind that perhaps if you used "para" then the sentence would have to change to "para trabajar" and not "para trabajo" ?

Or would there be 3 different meanings for each use: por trabajo, para trabajo, para trabajar (the latter meaning for the purpose of work, correct?)

Thank you. Nicole

Hi, I’m an environmental consultant. Am I a consultura ambiental or a consultura medioambiental please? 

Also, i know I should say soy consultura, so assume I should still say soy consultura ambiental not soy una consultura ambiental, as the ambiental part is still describing my professsion and not a quality adjective? 

Thank you. 

"What does "Laura fue actriz cuando era joven." mean?"

When would that sentence be used vs "Laura era actriz cuando era joven."

Thanks, K

No ________ a más de 50 kilómetros por hora! Don't drive at more than 50 kilometres per hour!

The "correct" answer provided was conduzcáis with conducid was not an option.  A mistake?