Spanish language Q&A Forum
Questions answered by our learning community with help from expert Spanish teachers
5,696 questions • 9,166 answers • 898,795 learners
Let me take a look at that...
Questions answered by our learning community with help from expert Spanish teachers
5,696 questions • 9,166 answers • 898,795 learners
In the following quiz question:
He leído un libro de ________leyendas. I have read a book about great legends.I responded with “gran” but the answer “grande” was indicated. Is this by chance an error? It seems to me that the short-form meaning of “great/fantastic” fits best here.
Llevábamos esperando el tren mucho tiempo." means:I couldn't wait for the train for a long time.We had to wait for the train for a long time.✔️We had been waiting for the train for a long time.✖️ We have been waiting for the train for a long time.
Hello,
I was wondering why the singular "el" is used in the sentence :
"y hace escala en el Amazonas, Barbados y Chile. " I would have thought it would be plural, as they are going to several destinations and if that doesn't factor in, then the Amazonas are plural or is that considered one country. Also, would it be correct to say: "y hace escala en Amazonas, Barbados y Chile. " and leave out the "el" ?
Thank you.
The lesson should also explain whether the meaning is the same if these sentences use the future tense instead. Thank you.
Hola,
This looks to me like a passive construction. Yes /No?
Is there a lesson about using it this way?
Gracias. John
Hola,
I found this a lot to digest, so re-wrote the lesson to try to understand it better.
Would you be able to do me a big favour and check to see if I’ve understood it correctly?
Muchísimas gracias,
Another way of expressing a cause is with de tan, etcThe clause (de tan, etc) can be placed at the beginning of the sentence or at the end in certain circumstances.
The sub-clause ('de tan' bit) expresses the reason the main clause happens
Because he dances so well, he is going to be given a prize
Or
He is going to be given a prize because he dances so well
De tan is used with an adjective or adverb
Can be used sub clause first or second...
Because he dances so well, he is going to be given a prize
OrHe is going to be given a prize because he dances so well.
Sub clause first way...
Because he dances so well, he is going to be given a prize
De tan+ adjective/adverb + que/como + indicative (then the main clause)
De tan bien que baila le van a dar un premio
Or De tan bien como baila le van a dar un premio
Main clause first way...
He is going to be given a prize because he dances so well.
(Main clause...) + de tan + adjective/ adverb + que/como + indicative
Le van a dar un premio de tan bien que bailaOrLe van a dar un premio de tan bien como baila
De tanto/a/os/as is used with a noun/s
He got a stomach ache because of all those chocolates he ate.
(Main clause...) + De tanto/a/os/as + noun + que/como + indicative
Le dio un dolor de barriga de tantos chocolates como comió.OrLe dio un dolor de barriga de tantos chocolates que comió.
With this de tanto, noun construction, the sub clause is always second
The third way de tanto/ tan poco with verbs
He is going to get really fat because he eats so much.
The sub clause can begin or end the sentence
De tanto/tan poco que/como + indicative...
De tanto que come se va a poner gordísimo.
Or
Se va a poner gordísimo de tanto que come
It can be written again either 'de tanto que' or 'de tanto como'
Tan poco...
You will become a loner because you hardly go out.
Te vas a convertir en un solitario de tan poco que sales.
Or De tan poco que sales te vas a convertir en un solitario
Again, we can say 'tan poco que' or 'tan poco como'
Hola Inma! Why we said para el ninos not por el ninos? I am still getting confused between both of them. Thank you!
If one wanted to say: "Police officers are needed at the bank entrance"
One can say: "Se necesitan policías en la entrada del banco."
In sentences like this can "policías" ever precede the verb? (ie "Policías se necesitan..."
Find your Spanish level for FREE
Test your Spanish to the CEFR standard
Find your Spanish level