Grammar Review Nouns and Gender All nouns have gender in Spanish. The adjectives and articles are matched to the gender of the noun they are attached to: the red book = el libro rojo the red books = los libros rojos

The use of articles: Definite articles are used when referring to something specific or definite. Example: I like the blue book Me gusta el libro azul. Definite articles in Spanish are:  el – masculine nouns  la – feminine nouns  los – plural masculine nouns (or mixed)  las – plural feminine nouns

Indefinite articles are used when referring to something in general. Example: When it is cold I like to wear a sweater Cuando hace frío, me gusta llevar un suéter. (not a blue sweater, or red sweater, just any sweater in general) Indefinite articles in Spanish:  un – masculine nouns  una – feminine nouns  unos – plural masculine nouns (or mixed)  unas – plural feminine nouns

Rules for definite articles: You have noticed that sometimes we use the articles with the nouns and sometimes we don’t: Es otóno. Es viernes. Hoy es miércoles. What do these have in common? (ser) In most cases the article must be used with the noun: To/in/from church = a/en/de la iglesia On television = en la televisión Water is good for digestion. = El agua es buena para la digestión There are many other exceptions you will learn as you study more of the language.

Possessive adjectives: Like other adjectives, possessive adjectives agree in number with the nouns they modify. Only nuestra/nuestro have gender agreement. mi (mis)nuestro/nuestra (nuestros/nuestras) tu (tus)su (sus) mi cámera mis cámeras nuestro abuelo nuestros abuelos nuestra hijanuestras hijas Notice that “su” and “sus” have many different meanings: his, her, its, your (formal), or their.

Examples: Use a possessive adjective in front of the noun in a sentence. You can also use ‘de’ plus the noun or pronoun: Es mi libro.It is my book. Es tu amigo.She is your friend. Es el libro de mi primo.It is my cousin’s book. Es la abuela de tu amigo.She is your friend’s grandmother. sus flores. orlas flores de ella. her flowers sus regalos. or los regalos de Javier y Carlos. their gifts el + de = del La corbata del Presidente Calderón de + la = de la El vestido de la Senadora Fernández

Verbs -ar verb endings:-o-amos -as-áis -a-an -er verb endings:-o-emos -es-éis -e-en -ir verb endings:-o-imos -es-ís -e-en Conjugate hablar, comer, and vivir

Estar and Ser – both mean “to be” Irregular verbs. Estar is irregular because of the yo form: estoy. The rest of the forms are regular, they follow the “ar” pattern with added accents: estoyestamos estásestáis estáestán Estar is used to express location and condition of health or temporary state of being. Estoy bien. Ella está inferma hoy (sick). However, she isn’t always sick.

Ser – used when you are talking about where someone is from or a personality trait and with time. It is irregular in it’s conjugation: soysomos eressois esson Soy de Neuva Jersey. Yo soy delgada. Es la una.

Questioning Words All questioning words have an accent when used as a questioning word: ¿Cuándo vienes? ¿Qué hora es? ¿Dónde vives? ¿Cómo estás? However: ¿Qué llevas cuando hace calor? Learn the questioning words. (Mod. 4, lesson 1, slide 11)