3.

1 Clausulas Subordinadas (Preguntas)

To the non-defining relative clauses, in Spanish we know them as subordinate
adjective explanatory clauses

The Use of This Type of Phrases:

They are attached to the main sentence through a relative pronoun: who, which,
whom, whose.

This type of sentence gives an additional explanation about the antecedent.

The antecedent is the word to which the relative pronoun refers.

Mary

Extra information is not essential. If we remove it, it would not affect the general
meaning of the sentence.

quien

The information I need: I have a boss who is always late. The fact that he adds
that he is also a nice gentleman, is what we would consider extra information
and therefore, would go between commas.

T-shirt

The point is that this is my favorite shirt ... whether or not it is cheap, it is the
least, as far as essential information is concerned, of course.

children who

1) Remember to put the commas if you do not want misunderstandings:

nens

2) Never use the THAT relative pronoun in the explanatory ones.

dog

3) Additional information goes between commas at all times.

extra

4) The relative pronoun can not be omitted because it functions as the subject
of the subordinate.

My teacher, who is French, is very old.

Eye!!

There is a type of exercise for practicing relative clauses (both explanatory and
explanatory), in which we are usually asked to join two sentences by a relative
pronoun and place the commas if necessary.

This exercise brings a lot of head but it really is just a matter of practice.

Here I show you some simple steps that we can follow to get them. We start
from this example:

This tower was built in 1870. The tower is beautiful.

1º) Localizo the antecedent: the tower

2) I choose the appropriate relative for this antecedent: which (animals / things)

3rd) I write the subject: This tower

4º) I add the relative immediately after its antecedent: This tower which

5º) I think about what information is the main and what the secondary.

6th) Main: was built in 1870 (I consider that the year of construction is more
relevant than its appearance)

7) Extra information goes between commas.

Well, that's it! Our prayer would look like this:

This tower, which is beautiful, was built in 1870.

3.2 Los Artículos

Define a name and are always located in front of the name. In English, unlike
Castilian, they have neither gender nor plural form. In Spanish we say "the car"
(masculine, singular) or "las casas" (feminine, plural) and in English it is "the
car" and "the houses". "The" corresponds to the following articles in Spanish: el,
la, los, las.

Examples:

Singular masculine

The boy

The book

Masculine / plural

The boys (the children)

The books

Feminine / singular

The girl

The table

Feminine / plural

The girls (girls)

The tables

This article can be preceded by the "of" or "to" prepositions. In English there is
no contraction of preposition and article ( "Del" = "of the" and "al" = "to the").

Examples:

The days of the week

I'm going to the garden. I'm going to the garden.

Uses Of The Definite Article (Uses Of The Definite Article)

1. When we know who or what we are talking about.

We use "the" to indicate something or someone in particular, so it is called

defined. We are talking about something or someone specific that both the
sender and receiver of the message know because it has already been
previously in the conversation or because the two know it previously.
Examples:

What is the name of the restaurant? What is the name of the restaurant?

Do you remember the day we went to New York? Do you remember the
day we went to New York?

Who is the president of the United States? Who is the president of the
United States?

The doctor is very good. The doctor is very good.

2. With the names of geological regions, mountain ranges, seas, oceans,

groups of islands, rivers and countries in the plural.

Examples:

The United States (United States)

The Netherlands (The Netherlands)

The Andes (The Andes Mountains)

The Atlantic Ocean (The Atlantic Ocean)

The Canary Islands (Canary Islands)

The Nile River

3. To refer to directions (right, left, top, bottom) and to the cardinal points (north,
south, east, west).

Examples:

The south of France (the south of France)

The house on the left (the house on the left)

The top of the page (top of page / top of page)

4. With adjectives in superlative degree and ordinal numbers.

Examples:

The tallest building (the tallest building)

The strongest man

The first time (first time)

The second floor (the second floor)

When Not To Use The Definite Article

1. When we talk about something in general.

Examples:

I like ice cream. (I like ice cream.)

Math is difficult. (Mathematics are difficult.)

2. We will never use "the" when we refer to television, or when we refer to meal
times, days of the week, months of the year, seasons, years or time.

Examples:

I do not like to watch television. I do not like to watch TV

I have an appointment on Monday. I have a date on Monday.

We eat breakfast at 9:00. (We eat breakfast [Breakfast] at 9:00.)

3. With institutions and modes of transport, when we are speaking in general.

Examples:

We like school. We like school.

I go to work by train. I'm going to work by train.

They go to church on Sundays. They go to church on Sundays.

4. The article is not used with city names or place names in general, although
there are some exceptions as we have seen in the previous section. Also, do
not use the article with lakes or streets.

Examples:

I went to Lake Titicaca. I went to Lake Titicaca.

She lives on Flores Street. (Lives in Flores Street.)

3.3 Sustantivos Contables E Incontables

Characteristics of accounting nouns:

They can be counted.

They have a singular and a plural form.

You can use numbers in front of them to express their quantity.

You can use indeterminate articles (a / an) in front of them.

Examples of accounting nouns:

Coin:

Plural form: coins

It is correct to say 3 coins. Also, it is correct to say to Coin

hamburger

Plural form: hamburguers

It's correct to say 5 hamburguers. Also, it's okay to say a burger.

Penny:

Plural form: pennies

It is correct to say 30 pennies. Also, it is correct to say say penny.

Countable nouns.

What are countless nouns?

Words like sugar and money are countless in Spanish, since we can not say
"two sugars", "three monies".

In English you will also find words that are not countable. Let's look at the
following examples:

Uncountable nouns.

Characteristics:

They have no plural form.

They can not be counted.

They can not be used with indeterminate articles (a / an) in front of them.

They always use the verb singular.

Some examples of countless nouns:

Flour:

Plural form: it is said flour

You can not say flours / it is not correct to say 3 flours / it is not correct to say to
flour.

Milk:

Plural form: it is said milk

You can not say milks / It is not correct to say 5 milks / It is not right to say milk.

Snow:

Plural form: it is said snow

You can not say snows / it is not correct to say 10 snows / it is not correct to say
snow.

Sugar (sugar):

Plural form: it's said sugar

You can not say sugars / it is not correct to say 4 sugars / it is not right to say to
suck.
3.4 Adverbios De Cantidad

As its name implies, adverbs of quantity in English are those words that qualify
or affect an adjective or even another adverb of a sentence. Therefore, they are
words that give us more information about these elements. In this way, adverbs
of quantity refer precisely to the number or frequency with which the adjective or
adverb is manifested or presented. These types of adverbs are very easy to
identify because of their relationship to a quantity or something that can be
subject to quantification.

Example of adverbs English quantity:

A lot of

absolutely

Almost

at least

barely

Enough

Entirely

Less

Mainly

More

much

Nearly

Not even

Partially

pretty

Remove

too

very little
 Some (some, some) refers to an indefinite number (a number of ...) used in
affirmative phrases and interrogatives when an affirmative answer is expected:

Leave us some apples.

I have some money

Would you like some coffee? / Do you want some coffee?

Some can be replaced by the following expressions:

A) 'A little', with singular nouns that lack plural (tea, sugar, coffee, water):

I have a little tea

B) 'A few', with plural nouns:

I have a few books about Mexico

Any, can be used in interrogative sentences (indefinite quantity) or negative (in

this case it expresses the absence of quantity). In the case of interrogative
phrases, unlike 'some', we do not expect an affirmative answer (we can expect
both an affirmative and a negative answer).

Are there any Argentinians here? Is there an Argentinean here?

There is no problem

In affirmative sentences any means any:

Bring me any book you can find

It has no negative value and therefore requires the use of the verb in an
affirmative form:

I bought no potatoes yesterday / I did not buy potatoes yesterday

Much. So much. Too much. How much? (how much?)

How much is it? / How much is this?

Thank you very much / Thank you very much.

As much as you can

Many. Its meaning varies depending on the noun to which it accompanies or

substitutes.

In affirmative sentences 'a lot of' is used, whereas in interrogative and negative
phrases are used alternatively 'many' or 'a lot of' when the noun is countable.

It uses 'much' or 'a lot of' when the noun is uncountable.

He has been here many times

He's got a lot of money

I have not drunk a lot

You can also use expressions like 'a great deal' (of ...) and 'plenty' (of ...)
meaning 'much'

I need a lot of money to travel

'Great many' ... corresponds to the Spanish target very many, and always
precedes a plural noun:

I have a lot of friends in Madrid

Little, (little). 'A little' has a more positive meaning and is equivalent to
'something of ...'. It is always used with countless nouns.

We have little time left

I have a little money

In addition little means small, and also is used to form diminutives:

A little child / a small child

When we refer instead to the concept of small in dimensions, we use 'small'

This is a small child.

Few, always followed by a plural noun. It has a negative (little) sense while 'a
few' has a more positive meaning and is equivalent to 'some'.

There are few books on the table

Give me a few cigarettes

We will usually find constructions with many negatively rather than few in their
positive form. Thus, the first sentence of the previous example would be:

There are not many books on the table

Several

I have seen him several times

Certain means safe, true, and can refer to a noun in singular or plural.

I'm sure it's true.

A certain Mr. Lopez / A Mr. Lopez

 Most (most of ...). It is the superlative of much and many and is used with
countless or plural nouns. In front of pronouns or when the preceding noun
carries 'the' or a possessive or demonstrative adjective 'most of' is used.

Who has most money? Who has more money?

Most of the country is forest

You should not use 'most' when there is a comparison between two people or
things. Thus, we should not say 'of those two men, Charles is the most strong'
but '... the strongest'

All

All our books are expensive

The whole means everything in the sense of complete:

The whole world / The whole world, the whole world

Enough means enough, in the sense of sufficient. When accompanying an

adjective, an adverb or a participle is always placed behind them. On the other
hand, when it comes with a name, it is usually placed in front of it.

He is strong enough.

He has enough money

3.5 Determinativos (Determiners)

These adjectives are used to specify, to determine to which noun / s we are

referring.

For example: this, those, every, each, either, neither.

This (dis) - this, this, this

That (dat) He / she / it (singular)

These (díis) - these, these (plural)

Those (ones); Those (plural)

All (ól) - all, all

Every (évri) - each (meaning all)

Each (ích) - each (taken in particular)

Both (Bóuz) - both, both

Either (leader or leader) - either (of two), both; None (by denying)

Neither (leader or náider) - neither one nor the other

Another (anóder) - other

Other (óder) - other, others

The other (di óder) - the other, the other, the others, the others

This (dis) - this, this, this (singular)

This car, here, is mine.

This car, here, is mine.

I do not understand this.

I do not understand this.

This house is too small for me.

This house is too small for me.

This is my book.

All nations have a territory.

All nations have territory.

All the families were present there.

All the families were present there.

He has drunk all the wine.

He has taken all the wine.

Who are all those people?

Who are all these people?

Every (évri) - each (meaning all)

I go there every day.

I go there every day every day.

Every language has its grammar.

All languages have their grammar.

She goes to the gym every week.

She goes to the gym every week.

He goes to the dentist every six months.

He goes to the dentist every six months.

Each (ích) - each (taken in particular)

Each day is different for me.

Every day is different for me.

Each person has a different idea.

Cadapersona has a different idea.

Each province has its capital city.

Each province has its capital city.

They paid three dollars each.

They paid three dollars per person (each one).

Both (Bóuz) - both, both

Take this with both hands.

Take this with both hands.

Both of John's brothers work there.

Both of John's brothers work there.

I like both of these books.

I like these two books.

On both sides of the river.

On both sides of the river.

Either (leader or leader) - either (of two), both; None (by denying)

You can take either way.

You can take either path.

There are trees on either side of the street.

There are trees on both sides of the street.

I do not like either book.

I do not like either book.

I have not seen either film.

I have not seen any of the two movies.

Neither (leader or náider) - neither one nor the other

I have seen neither film.

I have not seen any of the two films.

Neither of my parents lives here.

Neither of my parents lives here.

Neither of them knows the answer.

Neither (two) knows the answer.

Neither house is for rent.

Neither house is for rent.

Another; other

They bought another house.

They bought another house.

Do you need another copy?

Do you need another copy?

We need another three hours.

We need another three hours.

I stayed there for another few days.

He stayed there for a few more days.

Other (óder) - other / s

3.6 Pronombres

Subject pronouns

A subject pronoun is the person or thing that does the action of the verb.
Usually comes before the verb except in questions. A pronoun takes the place
of the specific person or thing.

example:

John runs. >>> He runs.

(Juan runs. >> He runs.)

Pronouns Object

An object pronoun is the person or thing that receives the action of the verb.
Usually comes after a verb or preposition.

Possessive adjectives
Possessive adjectives indicate who is something. For example, instead of saying that the book
is from John, we must say that it is his book

Possessive pronouns

Possessive pronouns also indicate who is something but are not adjectives. A
posessive adjective is used before a noun (ie that is her book.

Reflexives pronouns

A reflexive pronoun is a pronoun that refers to the subject of the sentence. For example, if I
say "I hurt myself." (I hurt myself), I am the subject and object of this sentence because I did
the action of the verb and I received the verb action.
3.7 Colocaciones

When words are used regularly together, rules are created about their use not
for grammatical reasons but for simple association. "Black and white", for
example, appears in that order by placement; Always used that way and put it
backwards "white and black" looks wrong.

For the same reason, "we make a mistake" or "do a test" (we do a test). In
these examples, the reason for using these verbs is that we always do it in the
same way: this is collocation.

Knowledge of placements is vital for correct use of language and for adequate
translation of a text from Spanish to English, since a grammatically correct
sentence may seem "strange" if placement preferences are ignored.

Some examples of frequent verbs that precede certain nouns are:

Agreement: BREACH OF agreement (breach of contract)

Agreement: REACH an agreement

Change: MAKE changes

Conclusion: DRAW, COME TO, REACH FINDINGS

Course: TAKE a course, a test

Decision: MAKE decisions

Exam: TAKE, SIT an exam

Goal: ATTAIN, ACHIEVE a goal

Information: SPREAD, DISSEMINATE information

Interest: AROUSE, AWAKEN interest

Opportunity: MISS an opportunity

Requirement: MEET, FULFIL, SATISFY requirements (meet the requirements)

3.8 Expresiones Idiomáticas

Learning to understand them is key to being able to listen to a conversation in

English and not to stay in check. If you are going to do an English stay abroad,
you will probably hear them very often among the people on the street, which is
where you truly learn. I've been researching the meaning of some of them and I
want to share them with you, including some examples so you can know how
you can use them.

English idioms

1. So far, so good. This expression could be translated more or less like "At the
moment well" or "For now, well". Usually it is the answer to something or
someone who asks us how a specific issue is going. For example: "How are
your studies going?". And the boy replies: "So far, so good". Which indicates
that at the moment is going well, but we do not know how it will end the thing in
the end.

2. It is a piece of cake. It literally means "It's a piece of cake". In Spanish we

would say, for example, "it's bread and butter". It refers to something that is very
tender and soft, does not require too much effort. We use it when we say
something is enormously easy.

3. Pull someone's leg. It means teasing someone. In English they use a

completely different expression and I have no idea why. It literally means
something like "pulling someone's leg". Example: "Do not pull my leg".

4. By all means. Although the literal translation is "by all means", it can be used
in different contexts and comes to mean something like "in any case", "anyway",
"there would be no more", etc. I like how they explain it in the Wordreference
forum.

5. To be on the carpet. "Carpet" literally means "carpet" (it is not a folder, it is a

false friend). The expression "to be on the carpet" is a bit curious, but we use it
in Spanish in another way, when we say "the matter is on the table" or "the
subject is on the mat". An example in English would be: "This matter will be on
the carpet at todays press conference".