Spanish Sentence Structure How can we make better sentences?

Rules with verbs You CAN NOT have two verbs next to each other…. You CAN NOT have two verbs next to each other…. EX. Tengo es una casa bonita. EX. Tengo es una casa bonita. You don’t need the “es”. You don’t need the “es”.

Ownership Rules En English we say: En English we say: - Pedro’s Family - Maria’s house - Etc.  We can’t do this in Spanish!

How can I use ‘s? Instead of using the apostrophe (‘) in Spanish, we have to do this: Instead of using the apostrophe (‘) in Spanish, we have to do this: - The (thing) of (owner). - El/la (thing) de (owner).  So Maria’s book, turns into: - el libro de Maria  Pedro’s family, turns into: - la familia de Pedro

Agreement with adjectives Remember that adjectives: Remember that adjectives: - Go after the noun they describe - Agree in number & gender with the noun they modify. *Just because a girl has something, doesn’t make it feminine. So if a girl is holding a book, “el libro” is still masculine.

Words that don’t translate well to Spanish Get… Try to use another word or work around it Get… Try to use another word or work around it Will… As in “I will go”. This DOES NOT translate to Spanish. Will… As in “I will go”. This DOES NOT translate to Spanish. Remember to look up things like “have”, “eat”, etc. and then CONJUGATE them according to subject. Remember to look up things like “have”, “eat”, etc. and then CONJUGATE them according to subject.

Suggestions The best advice I can give you is to ALWAYS translate what you just wrote! The best advice I can give you is to ALWAYS translate what you just wrote! If the sentence makes no sense, then think of another way to say it. If the sentence makes no sense, then think of another way to say it. If you don’t know how to say a certain word, avoid it and think of a word you do know. If you don’t know how to say a certain word, avoid it and think of a word you do know. Don’t confuse yourself! Don’t confuse yourself!

Actual Examples “Ricardo case es pequeño.” “Ricardo case es pequeño.” “Casa de Ricardo es pequeña una baño y dos dormitorios.” “Casa de Ricardo es pequeña una baño y dos dormitorios.” Dormitorio alfombra roja Dormitorio alfombra roja

Mejor “Ricardo case es pequeño.” Becomes: “Ricardo case es pequeño.” Becomes: - La casa de Ricardo es pequeña.  “Casa de Ricardo es pequeña una baño dos dormitorios.” Becomes: - La casa de Ricardo es pequeña. La casa tiene un baño y dos dormitorios.  Dormitorio alfombra roja - Mi dormitorio tiene una alfombra roja.

Final Thoughts We will work on these things today. We will work on these things today. You do not have to be perfect, but we need to understand the basics first! You do not have to be perfect, but we need to understand the basics first!