Spanish language Q&A Forum

I did struggle to understand why "se recordaba" was in the singular in "... solo se recordaba a los difuntos el 1 de noviembre" [= "the deceased were only remembered on November 1st"].

At first, I was tempted to make it plural to agree with "difuntos". As a passive construction, I thought it could be compared with "se venden apartamentos de lujo en la playa" - (given as one of the examples in Forming the Spanish passive with se (la pasiva refleja) ... which is the lesson we get referred to).

Anyway, I was also "scratching my head" regarding the use or non-use of the "personal 'a' " in a passive sentence of this nature - [Compare "Se buscan secretarias con experiencia" in that^ same lesson] ..

I then looked in my grammar book [by Butt and Benjamin], and discovered that this is part of a construction which evolved comparatively recently in the Spanish language - in which the use of the "personal 'a' " makes a singular verb necessary even when the [passive] subject is in the plural.  

por qué usaste "tendrá lugar" y no "se celebra" which creates the sense of a "tradition" rather than an "event". I don't think that particular man's voice was really appropriate.

Por qué "no me pederé" surely "perdería" is more correct for the context?

What is an "Asdecalde"? 

What equipment is placed on the horses heads? Is there some special decoration?

When would be appropriate to use formal and informal second person?

For context, I'm planning to speak mostly with my Mexican family members, many that I'll be meeting for the first time or for the first time in many years. Most of them are older than me (I have one younger brother who speaks mostly Spanish). Would it be better to speak formally to the older family members, or informally because they're family?

Would you start formally with strangers (esp. those who are older) and then at some point be able to drop formality as you become closer to people, or as they express to you that it's okay (similar to Korean and Japanese)?

What if you want to say I have to finish the speech for Thursday (instead of by Thursday) in the sense that it is Thursday's speech? Would it be, Tengo que terminar el discurso que es para el jueves? o el discurso de jueves..? 

Gracias, 

Re les vs los below.. les is incorrect because ver is a transitive verb, correct? 

Hello, my question is regarding the use of “les” for “you” rather than “you all”.  It makes sense to me to use “le” for the formal usted and then “les” for the formal “you all” but I was never taught to use “les” for a singular person. The example I am referring to is: 

Señor López, le entrego el paquete.

I wonder what the purpose of the subtle but significant change of meaning in Tanta luz no es buena to mean "This much light is not good." instead of "So much light is not good?"

If one is hired as a translator, I don't think one would take it upon oneself to make a change of the speaker's meaning in such a way.

I don't get it

y bellos paisajes que inspiraron

Durante su vida, vivió en distintos países

Debido a su sobresaliente carrera literaria

"I couldn't find her so I left" - I put encontre (with an accent) because it was a completed action. I thought that encontraba would be the past continuous. Am I misunderstanding something?