Q&A Forum

Hola Shui,

I enjoyed this lesson but it wasn't very straight forward. I searched on the meaning of "cumbia" and it was given as "dance music not unlike a salsa, but originating from Colombia." Who doesn't like salsa!

I find it a bit of a contradiction to see powerful social issues addressed - not just environmental but also injustice and the consequences of violence [as portrayed in the video] - to a dance rhythm. What's more, it reads like a love song but I kind of get that as a metaphor, and in fairness Carlos sings the song with a fair degree of passion, which goes well with the issues portrayed. 

That said it doesn't feel quite right to get up and dance something like the salsa to lyrics which are a mix of love and real tragedy - lost loved ones, widowed mother and child, armed militias etc.

Is this part of the Latin American mentality? Celebrate despite your miseries? Don't let them grind you down? 

Thanks for a challenging lesson. Saludos. John 

Hi,

I'm learning Spanish to keep up with my family (mixed origins from spain, latin america, south america, etc.) and I've noticed that I don't quite understand when the people I'm talking to prefer that I use formal or informal.

Are there any general guidelines or standards as for when one is more appropriate? Like if it's someone who is your senior or based on how close you are to each other? Or is this maybe not as big a deal these days as it might have been in the past?

Thanks, Dawn.

For the quiz question ¿ _____ venir a la alberca? (Do you want to come to the pool?) there are 40+ possible answers in the dropdown, including some which look like nonsense. Is this an error in the system?

el maní - the peanut (el cacahuete in European Spanish)

The question was to say "You like Marbella". How could the correct answer be "Me gusta Marbella." Your answer is incorrect.

I have real problems with when to use articles. In this exercise why fruta Y verdura (no articles) but la piel y el rendimiento (articles)?

Thanks for any advice

Inma - Many thanks for this useful lesson.

I am wondering if it might be worth emphasising, at the beginning, that "-ar" verbs all form their gerund quite regularly. Is that true?

That could be reinforced with examples like pensar [> pienso] > pensando;

and (in your category 3): contar [>cuento] > contando.

and maybe even mention in your category 1 that crear > creando is quite regular - (i.e., with no 'y' inserted).

We do appreciate your hard work and dedication !

Hola Inma y equipo, 

As part of the 'All related grammar and vocab' list for this exercise, would I be right in saying that Inma's excellent lesson, that I've included here, should also be listed?

Using tener + participio to express the completion of an action (perífrasis verbal). 

Gracias

Clara