Spanish language Q&A Forum

Hi. Was this marked wrong because I'm studying LA Spanish and chose "hubiesen aprobado" (used more in Spain) instead of "hubieran aprobado"? Thanks!

Ojalá ustedes  ________ el examen final. I wish you had passed the final exam.(HINT: Use "ustedes" form to conjugate "aprobar" in El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo)

16 July 2023

Dear Kwiziq Lesson Writing Team:

I am uncertain as to when I must (or should) use the definite articles "el/la" or "los/las" when translating from English to Spanish. See following examples from the "Fire Heroes/Héroes del fuego" exercise:

Example 1:

"...protect buildings and save lives in danger"

I wrote: "...proteger los edificios y salvar las vidas en peligro."

The Kwiziq answer was: "...proteger edificios y salvar vidas en peligro."

Example 2:

"These professionals protect forests and natural areas..."

I wrote: "Estos profesionales protegen los bosques y las áreas naturales..."

The Kwiziq answer was: "Estos profesionales protegen los bosques y las áreas naturales..."

As you can see, in neither of the English translations is a definite article included.

In Example 1, my use of "los" was accepted, but my use of "las" was not. Upon studying the final Kwiziq translation, I noticed that neither "los" nor "las" had been used in the translation of that phrase. Then in Example 2, I used "los" and "las". To my delight (and surprise) I saw that in the Kwiziq translation "los" and "las" were used as well. 

So --- I am confused and uncertain as to WHEN  (under what specific circumstances?) is it necessary, appropriate, or customary to use el/la and los/las. I know they must be used at the start of a sentence and (I believe) after some uses of gustar, but what about other circumstances?

Please upload lessons that offer specific examples (and explanations) about when to use these definite articles.  

Your attention to this request would be very greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Pati Ecuamiga

Hi! The kwizbot is not changing the lessons even though I have gotten 100% on all 10 recommended lessons. He is only giving me A0 lessons and not introducing A1 lessons. How can I have the bot change lessons to something new to help me progress? 

Hi, I've just come across a use of estar + hecho that I didn't know before: 
  Tu hermano está hecho un hombretón. 

That doesn't seem to be quite the same as the usage here, and I cannot find any reference to this kind of estar + hecho elsewhere on kwiziq...

I think the title of this lesson needs to be edited - it looks like it's saying "un" + "tanto/algo" + adjective. But it's saying "un tanto/ algo + adjective"" (which is how people are saying it in the discussion below).

I know this keeps coming up, but in the examples we see: “las llaves de la casa”, and “la reserva de hotel”. Both these expressions follow the structure of NOUN + DE + NOUN. Why do we only use “la” for the first one?

This triggers subjunctive. may i ask if this is because this sentence is asking for advice?

Because i remember that only negative construction of opinions will trigger subjunctive, for example i dont think that = no creo que.. 

or is this understanding of mine wrong too?

thanks

Eso encontré en mis kwizzes. Pues, ya sé que necesito usar "por" y no "para", pero tengo otras preguntas más importantes... 🤣 ¿Eso es un  dicho o un refrán de hispanohablantes, o simplemente kwizbot haciendo un chiste?

Are “muy de lujo” and “muy lujoso” not synonymous and therefore interchangeable? Asking for a friend 😏!