Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Assimil Perfect Spanish
Assimil Perfect Spanish
Using Spanish
original text by
of English speakers by
Ágnes Martínez Madrigal
CHICAGO PUBIJC LIBRARY
LITERATURE AND LANGUAGE DfVSSfON
FOREiGN LAfJGUAGE JNFORMATiON CEMTER
IllustrMé&ty& LAQaussévf
400 SOÜTH STATE STREET
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60605
B.P. 25
94431 Chenneviéres-sur-Marne Cedex
FRANCE
Advanced level
Using French
Using Germán
Using Spanish
V
INTRODUCTION
LECCIÓN PRIMERA
Andar (1)
&
2
LESSON ONE
To march
NOTES
(1) Andar, to go, to march, to walk, to tramp, to haul, to move.
This lesson shows you how many different meanings a verb can
take depending on both the context and the nouns with which it
forms idiomatic expressions. This may tead you towards the wrong
direction as for the meaning. Pay attention to the different meanings
of andarshown duríng this lesson. Note that andar is irregular in the
past simple and - as a consequence - in the ¡mperfect of the
subjunctive. Refer to the grammatical appendix on page 385.
(2) La andadura: the action of marching.
El camino: road, way.
Camino de: on the way to, towards. Iba camino del colegio cuando vio
a su amigo: He was on the way to the school when he saw his friend.
(3) Andarse por las ramas: to beat about the bush, to waffle.
(4) Andar con ojo: to pay attention.
Andar con miedo: to be afrakJ.
(5) Andar(se) con rodeos: (lit. "to go in a roundabout way") to waffle
(6) Echar(se) a andar to begin walking, to get started. Mi hijo echó a
andar a los 15 meses: My son began walking when he was 15
months oíd.
Andar por el mundo: to move around the world.
Lesson 1
6 uno decide lanzarse a la aventura y, a la
búsqueda de los primeros pasos, comienza
por ponerse a andar a gatas. (7)
7 En ese momento se percibe ya todo lo
abrupto del andar derecho, lo complejo del
equilibrio entre andar por los suelos y andar
por las nubes. (8)
8 No hace mucho, un niño que ya se tenía en
pie decía que andaba de cabeza para andar
con cien ojos para no volver a las andadas (9)
9 porque -añadía- «ya se sabe..., ¡quien mal
anda mal acaba!» (10)
10 El problema es pues tan viejo como andar a
P¡e. (11)
11 ¿Cómo resolverlo?
12 Cada uno a su manera y a su ritmo, con
confianza, porque... ¡todo se andará!
13 Así que...
14 ¡Andando!
NOTES
(7) Ponerse a: followed by an ¡nfinith/e means to start, to begin. Se
puso a trabajar a las ocho.: He started to work at 8.
A gatas: on all fours, on hands and knees.
(8) Todo lo abrupto (que es): lo ... que with an adjective between
them ¡s a form of expressing "quantity". It ¡s used to express the
same as: qué or cuan. No puedes imaginar lo hermosa que es
ella, or No puedes imaginar qué hermosa es ella: You can't
imagine how beautiful she ¡s.
Abrupto: abrupt, steep, craggy.
Andar por los suelos: to walk on the ground, to walk on the floor.
Andar derecho: to go straight, to behave in accordance with the
moral standards.
Andar por las nubes: to have one's head in the clouds,
absentminded, daydreaming.
6 one decides to dart out at adventure, and
looking for the first steps, he begins moving
on all fours.
7 At this moment one already perceives how
difficult ¡t ¡s to go straight, the complexity of the
balance between hauling on the ground and
having your head in the clouds.
8 It was not long ago that a child that could
already stand said that had a lot to do in order
to be careful not to resume his oíd vices
9 because - he added - uit ¡s well known..., that
he that lives wickedly can hardly die hohestly!"
10 So the problem ¡s as oíd as the hills.
11 How to solve ¡t?
12 Everyone ¡n ¡ts own way and in his own
rhythm, with confidence because everything
will work well.
13 Sothen...
14 Go ahead!
NOTES
(9) Tenerse en pie: to stand.
Andar de cabeza: to be busy, to nave a lot to do.
Andar con cien ojos: (lit. "to walk with a hundred eyes") to be
careful, to take care.
Volver a las andadas: (lit. "to go back to the traces") to resume
one's oíd vices or bad habits, to go back to one's oíd tricks.
(10) «Quien mal anda, mal acaba»: He that lives wickedly can hardly
die honestly. This is a Spanish proverb that could be literally
translated by "He that walks badly, finishes badly".
(11) Andar a pie: to walk, to go on foot.
Más viejo que andará pie: (lit. "olderthan walking") as oíd as the
hills.
Lesson 1
EJERCICIO (repase las expresiones; el primer número remite a la
frase, el segundo a la nota):
*************************************************
LECCIÓN SEGUNDA
¿De qué se trata?
NOTES
(1) The infinitive may become an abstract noun ¡f it ¡s preceded
by an adíele (definite or indefinite) or any other determinen
Necesito un buen dormir I need a good sleep. B vestirse a ta moda
cuesta mucho: Dressing according to the fashbn coste a lot.
6
*************************************************
LESSON TWO
What is it about?
NOTES
Todo lo difícil está en el comenzar Difficulty lies in the beginning. El
mentir pide memoria: Lying needs good memory.
(2) Al final (de): in the end, at the end of.
Lesson 2
5 Comencemos, pues, con una breve
presentación, limitándonos, por el momento, a
la orientación.
NOTES
(3) Integrar to comprehend, comprise, form.
(4) A base de: on the basis of.
(5) ¿A que...?: (lit. "I bet...") Introduces a question to which
confirmation ¡s expected. ¿A que Miguel ama a Maríbel? (lit.
"I bet Miguel loves Maribel.) Doesn't Miguel love Maribel? or
Don't you think Miguel loves Maribel?
5 Let's begin then with a brief ¡ntroduction
confining ourselves, for the time being, to
orientation.
NOTES
(6) Ello: ¡t. The neuter pronoun ¡s used when ¡t refere to a thought,
a concept, a notion not expressed ¡n a word and thus ¡t has no
gender that could agree with the pronouns él or ella.
El camino: journey, travel.
Quitar: to deprive of, to prevent.
Lesson 2
EJERCICIO 1.1. Se puede decir que conoce bien la
ciudad. 2. Es una persona que tiene las ideas claras.
3. Por ahora no tengo proyecto de ir. 4. En España
hay cincuenta y dos provincias. 5. Sí, hemos sabido
orientarnos.
EJERCICIO II
1. With the map I have made myself an idea.
me he
lo he
fuente.
*************************************************
LECCIÓN TERCERA
¡Taxi..., por favor!
1 — ¡Hola, buenas! ¡Vaya chaparrón! (1) (2)
2 — Un poco más y no le veo. ¿Adonde vamos?
NOTES
(1) ¡Hola! ¡s a familiar greeting while ¡Buenas! is the short form of
¡Buenas tardes!, a more formal salutation. In the peninsula nowadays
they are used together - in this order - when meeting anyone or
entering any shop or office. It is because the informal way of treating
each other in everyday life is spreading.
10
Corrección del ejercicio I. 1. One can say that he knows the town
well. 2. It ¡s a person who has clear ¡deas. 3. At the moment I have no
plans to go. 4. In Spain there are fifty-two provinces. 5. Yes, we have
been able to oriéntate ourselves.
¿SL7 OCt
*************************************************
LESSON THREE
Taxi..., please!
1 — Helio, good afternoon. What a shower!
2 — A bit more and I can't see you. Where are you
going?
NOTES
(2) ¡Vaya chaparrón! or ¡Qué chaparrón! are two ways of exclamation. ¡Vaya!
is an interjection used to express surprise, anger, jeer, ridicule or reproof.
Lesson 2
11
NOTES
(3) In Spanish addresses the ñame of the street comes first and it is followed
by the number of the house. In writing, an address can be:
Calle Infanta No 27-2°-C
c/Infanta #27 - 2o - C
Infanta, 27 - 2o - C
where "c/" ¡s an abbreviation for "calle", "No" stands for "número" and
"2o - C" means "segundo piso, puerta C"
(4) Espero que no haya...: Remember that verbs expressing sentiment are
followed by the subjunctive. Haber is irregular in the present
subjunctive. It's fonms are: haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayáis, hayan.
(5) Entre: between, among(st).
Sometimes it refers to the accumulating, gathering of various facts or
persons.
NOTES
(8) El día que se haga bailar... or Cuando se haga bailar...: Remember
that the subjunctive ¡s used after conjunctions (or other structures)
¡ntroducing future or hypothetical action.
Hacer followed by the ¡nfinitive forms the causative. Su patrón le hizo
trabajar 18 horas al día: His master made him work 18 hours a day.
Hemos hecho pintar la casa: We have had the house painted.
Formar parte: to be a part or a number of.
(9) A medias: half, halfway, fifty-fifty, partially, poorly.
(10) Cada vez más: more and more.
Cada vez menos: less and less.
Tiene cada vez menos fuerza: He has less and less strength.
(11) Ni siquiera: not even, even though. It's a negative expression
when it comes before the verb, but - like other negative words -
it needs the no before the verb when it ¡s preceded by the
predícate. Ni siquiera me saludó or No me saludó ni siquiera: He
didn't even greet me.
Lesson 3
13
NOTES
NOTES
Lesson 3
15
EJERCICIO II.
, .... prohibido.
L ?
Pedro ni
*************************************************
LECCIÓN CUARTA
Levante
1 Valencia, capital de la Comunidad Valenciana
-de la que también forman parte Castellón y
Alicante-, con sus dos millones largos de
habitantes, es la tercera ciudad más grande de
España. (1)
NOTES
<p
*************************************************
LESSON FOUR
Levante
1 Valencia, capital of the Valencian Community -
to which Castellón and Alicante belong - with
its as much as two million inhabitants, ¡s the
third biggest town of Spain.
Lesson 4
17
NOTES
(2) Entrar en: to enter. After the verb "entrar" the preposition "en"
must be used. ¿Porqué has entrado en mi cuarto?: Why have
you entered my room?
(3) El huerto: orchard, fruit garden, kitchen garden.
La huerta: large vegetable garden or orchard, an ¡rrígated región.
Valencia ¡s called: "La Huerta" because ¡t ¡s an ¡mportant
agricultural región that gives the country most of the fruit and
vegetables^
18
NOTES
(4) 1094 ¡s read: mil noventa y cuatro. Years ¡n dates are read as
any other number. Zero ¡s not read. The conjunction "y" 's
used between tens and units: Treinta y tres (33). When there
are no tens, no "y" ¡s used: trescientos tres (303). For more
details see Lesson Seven.
(5) Un plato: a píate, a dish or a course.
Un plato sopero/hondo: a soup-plate, un plato llano: a meat-
plate.
Un plato de carne: a meat-dish.
Una cena de tres platos: a dinner of three courses.
Lesson 4
19
NOTES
(6) Construcciones de madera: When referring to the material an
object ¡s made of the preposition "de" should be used. Una
casa de madera: a house made of wood, a wooden house;
una cadena de oro: a chain made of gold, a golden chain; un
jersey de lana: a pullover made of wool, a woolen pullover.
Á
20
NOTES
Lesson 4
21
EJERCICIO II.
1. / feel like trying a speciality of the región.
probar
*************************************************
LECCIÓN QUINTA
Escalada
1 Desde hace una semana Trini y Armando,
simples vecinos que se
ignoraron durante
años, viven un intenso romance. (1)
2 Una avería fortuita del ascensor, que la
casualidad había hecho que cogieran juntos,
había propiciado las primeras miradas directas
y la decisión conjunta y firme de ir, al día
siguiente, a tomar algo juntos. (2)
3 — «Para celebrarlo» -había dicho Trini cuando
Armando, rojo como un tomate, salía del
ascensor, una vez reparada la avería.
4 — «Si tú quieres» -había solamente respondido él.
5 Al día siguiente, por la noche, sus manos se
encontraron sobre el picaporte de la puerta de
entrada de la cafetería.
NOTES
(1) Desde hace: for, desde: since; hace: ago.
Nos conocemos desde hace quince días: We have known
each other for fifteen days.
Vivimos en esta casa desde agosto: We have been living in
this house since August.
Vino a vivir en este pueblo hace cinco meses: He carne to live
in this village five months ago.
22
4. You wíll fínd a fílling station on the way out of the town.
*************************************************
LESSON FIVE
Scaling
NOTES
(2) Coger to take, seize, grasp, caten, take hold of. ¡Coge esta
naranja!: Take this orange!
Coger un resfriado: to catch a cold.
Coger manzanas: to pick apples.
Coger de la mano: to take one's hand.
Coger el autobús: to take the bus.
Lesson 5
23
NOTES
(3) Pasar to pass, go ¡n, go over, go by, go to, walk past, go
through; to spend; to happen.
¡Pasen todos y siéntense en su casa!: Get ¡n, everybody and
feel at home!
Ayer pasé por tu casa: Yesterday I walked past your house.
Mi abuelo pasó por dos guerras: My grandfather went through
two wars.
Pasaron dos horas esperando los resultados: They spent two
hours waiting for the results.
¿Qué pasó ayer en su casa?: What happened yesterday ¡n
his house?
¿Qué pasa?: What's the matter?
Pasarío bien: to have a good time.
¡Que lo pases bien!: Have a nice time!
24
NOTES
(4) Detalle: detail; kindness, a pleasant gesture.
¡Qué detalle!: What kindness! What courtesy! What attention!
(5) Agarrar to seize, take, catch, grab.
Agarrarse: to take hold of.
Agarró un palo para defenderse: He grabbed a stick to defend
himself.
(6) Soltar: to drop, utter, let out, reléase.
Soltar a un preso: to set a prisoner free,
Soltar un caballo: to untie a horse.
Soltar una carcajada: to burst into laughter.
Con soltura: with ease.
(7) Te propongo que vayamos...: I propose you to go...
Remember to use the subjunctive after expressions of
suggestion, wanting, requesting.
(8) ¿Te parece?: Do you agree? Do you like ¡t?
¿Qué te parece?: What is your opinión? What do you think?
Si te parece bien ...: If you like it..., If you agree...
Lesson 5
25
***
EJERCICIO II.
1. We have walked around and then we have sat down on a
bench.
2. / Uve out ofthe town and I have to take the suburban trat'n.
NOTES
(9) Las afueras: suburbs, outskirts.
Vivir en las afueras: to live in the suburbs.
Tren de cercanías: suburban train.
(10) Pisarle (el pie) a alguien: to step on, trample on one's foot.
¡No pisar el césped!: Don't step on the grass!
Pisada: footstep, footprint.
Pisapapeles: paper-weight.
Al
Lesson 5
27
*************************************************
LECCIÓN SEXTA
Saber vender: tener respuesta para todo
NOTES
(1) Ñames of shops are formed with the ñame of the most
characteristic article sold in the shop and the suffix -ería.
Examples:
carne - carnicería (butcher's)
leche - lechería (dairy)
libro - librería (bookshop)
verduras - verdulería (greengrocer's)
pan - panadería (baker's)
pájaro - pajarería (bird-shop)
pescado - pescadería (fishmonger's)
hierro - ferretería (hardware store)
joyas -joyería (jeweller's)
papel - papelería (stationer's)
There are some exceptions like:
la tienda de antigüedades (antique shop)
la farmacia (chemist's)
el estanco (tobacconist's)
28
*************************************************
LESSON SIX
NOTES
(2) Quedar(se): to remain, stay; to be left; to suit.
Me quedan doscientas pesetas: I nave two hundred pesetas left.
Los niños se quedarán en el coche: The children will stay in the car.
Te queda bien este vestido rojo: This red dress suits you.
Quedarse con: to take, keep, stay with.
Me quedo con el paraguas rojo: l'll take the red umbrella.
¡Quédese con la vuelta!: Keep the change.
Los niños se quedarán con sus abuelos durante el fin de
semana: The children will stay with their grandparents during
the weekend.
(3) Lo que pasa es que...: What is happening is that..., It happens
that..., The situation is that... .
(4) Caer to fall, drop, fall down/off/out.
Ayerme cal bajando las escaleras: Yesterday I fell while I was
coming down the stairs.
Caer en la cuenta: to realize.
No había caído en ello: I hadn't realized it. I hadn't thought of it.
Lesson 6
29
NOTES
(5) Ha de analizar - tiene que analizar - debe analizar. (For the
expression of obligatíon see Lesson 49.)
(6) Tragar to swallow.
Tragarse) la pildora: to accept unwillingly, to give ¡n.
No quiso pagarle, pero por fin tragó la pildora: He didn't want
to pay him, but ¡n the end he gave in.
No tragaría: Not to be able to stand, to tolérate.
A este tipo no puedo tragaría: I can't stand this guy.
Un trago: a sip, drop, draught; a drink.
Echar un trago: to have a drink.
¡Vamos a echar un trago antes de ir a casa!: Let's go and
have a drink before going home.
(7) Vista: sight, visión, view, eyesight.
A prímera vista: at first sight.
Se enamoraron a prímera vista: They fell in love at first sight.
A vista de pájaro: from a bird's eye-view.
Del avión vieron la ciudad a vista de pájaro: From the plañe
they saw the town from a bird's eye-view.
Conocer de vista: to know by sight.
Le conozco de vista, pero no sé cómo se llama: I know him
by sight but I don't know his ñame.
30
NOTES
Con vistas a: ¡n view of.
Invirtieron mucho dinero en ese sector con vistas a un
beneficio considerable: They ¡nverted a lot of money in that
sector in view of a considerable benefit.
Hasta la vista: so long, see you later.
Volveré mañana. Hasta la vista: l'll come back tomorrow. See
you then.
(8) Otro, -a means "another", so you don't need to put the
¡ndefinite article un, una before it. On the other hand, to say
"the other one" or "the other ones", you have to say el otro,
la otra, los otros, las otras.
(9) Almacén: store, warehouse.
Grandes almacenes (or nowadays ¡n singular as well: gran
almacén): a department store.
(10) Planta: floor. En la planta baja/alta: downstairs/upstairs.
Piso: floor, pavement; floor, storey. Piso bajo: ground floor.
Piso: fíat. Mi piso está en el segundo piso: My fíat is on the
second floor.
(11) Llevar + period of time + gerund. This structure can be used to
express that the action has been going on for a certain time.
Llevo diez minutos escuchándote: I have been listening to
you for ten minutes.
Lesson 6
31
*************************************************
LECCIÓN SÉPTIMA
Repaso y especificaciones
1. Numeráis
A. Cardinal numbers
EJERCICIO II
1. / prepare it in view of tomorrow's meeting.
Lo preparo
me ha aconsejado.
media.
, ... . ayudarle.
Lesson 7
33
C. Agreement
D. The conjunction y
Other examples:
67 sesenta y siete
76 setenta y seis
155 ciento cincuenta y cinco
511 quinientos once
1 995 mil novecientos noventa y cinco
34
2. Tenses (revisión)
— Presente
It expresses both actions in the time of speech and actions
happening in a more general present.
Voy a la lechería: l'm going to the dairy.
Todos los días se levanta a las 7 y media: He gets up at
half past 7 every day.
— Perfecto compuesto
It is used when the action ¡s recent, but there is not a
necessary continuity ¡nto the present time. It often refers to
an action that has been completed but the time referred to is
not completed. Often the results of the action can be seen.
Ya hemos cenado: We have already had dinner.
Esta semana he trabajado mucho: This week I have
worked a lot.
¿Qué te ha ocurrido?: What has happened to you?
— Imperfecto
It concentrates on the duration of the action, without
specifying ¡ts beginning or end. It often refers to habitual
actions in the past. It is the tense of descriptions.
Dormían cuando sonó el teléfono: They were sleeping
when the telephone rang.
Antes siempre me traías flores: You used to bring me flowers.
El mar estaba en calma: The sea was calm.
— Pluscuamperfecto
It expresses that the action preceded another action that
happened in the past.
Lesson 7
35
— Futuro
It expresses actions ¡n the future.
Mañana jugaré al tenis: Tomorrow I will play tennis.
— Futuro perfecto
It is used to speak about an action that will be finished by
a given time in future.
A las tres ya habrán salido de casa: They will have left home
bythree.
— Passive sense
La ciudad se encuentra al sur The town ¡s found ¡n the
South.
Las ruinas se pueden visitar todos los días: The ruines can
be seen every day.
— Impersonal sense:
Por esta calle se llega a la plaza: This way one arrives at the
square.
EJERCICIO II.
1. What have you done to the cat?
2. At what time will the guests arrive?
3. The film started at 9.
4. Two years after I had been operated on my problems
returned.
5. Every year they booked the same room in the same
hotel.
6. They divorced two years ago.
7. He couldn't get up early because he had gone to bed
very late.
8. When my son was small he was afraid of dogs.
9. Last year there wasn't enough rain.
10. They have forgotten about the meeting, that's why they
are not here.
Lesson 7
37
LECCIÓN OCTAVA
Don Arturo
NOTES
(1) Don, doña are titles expressing respect and used before the
Christian ñame of a man or a lady, respectively: Don José,
Doña Teresa. Don't confuse it with señor, señora and
señorita, which are used before family-names: señor
Sánchez, señora Domínguez, señorita Aguilar.
(2) Soler + ¡nfinitive expresses habitual action ¡n the present or ¡n
the past (always ¡mperfect). Suelen llegar a casa a estas
horas: They usually arrive home at this time. Solían visitar a
sus padres los fines de semana: They used to visit/They
usually visited their parents at weekends.
(3) Costumbre: habit, custom.
77ene la costumbre de fumarse un puro después de la cena:
He has the habit of smoking a cigar after dinner. Peter estudia
las costumbres españolas: Peter studies Spanish customs.
(4) Acostumbrar: to accustom.
Acostumbrarse: to be accustomed.
38
LESSON EIGHT
Don Arturo
NOTES
Acostumbra responder/Suele responder...: He usually answers...
Los soldados se acostumbran a hacer muchos ejercicios:
Soldiers are accustomed to doing a lot of exercises.
(5) ... que tengan buen día!: I wish you should have a good day.
Remember that the subjunctive is used after verbs expressing
request, desire, wish.
Lesson 8
39
NOTES
(6) Simpático: nice, kind, pleasant, charming. Don't get confused;
"sympathetic" is translated by "compasivo" ¡nto Spanish.
(7) Llevar: to carry, take, lead; to be ¡n charge of, manage.
Llevar un negocio: to run a business.
(8) Lo de siempre. "Lo" is a neuter pronoun. It refere to a noun with
an unknown gender: tos problemas de siempre or las noticias
de siempre: the problems or the news we afways hear about.
40
Lesson 8
41
NOTES
(11) Parroquiano: parishioner, that ¡s who belongs to a certain
parish. Consequently it means "regular customer who
belongs to an establishment".
(12) Ponerse a + infinitive expresses the beginning of an action.
A las cinco se puso a aprender las nuevas palabras: At five
he began to learn the new words.
(13) A tumba abierta: ¡n haste, in a hurry.
Corrección del ejercicio 1.1. l'm going to rent a car for the weekend.
2. After phoning, he will receive you ¡n his office. 3.1 habitually buy the
newspaper ¡n the morning. 4. Well, see you tomorrow! 5. Go on
working, it is 10 to.
EJERCICIO II.
1. What's the news today?
Lesson 8
43
*************************************************
LECCIÓN NOVENA
¿Quién da más?
NOTES
(1) Abrir brecha: to convince, to ¡mpress or affect one's mind.
(2) Costar to cost.
Estos zapatos me costaron 3000 pesetas: These shoes
costed me 3000 pesetas.
Costar un ojo de la cara: to cost a lot, to be worth a fortune.
La reparación del coche le costó un ojo de la cara: Repairíng
his car cost him a lot.
(3) El/un ama de casa, las amas de casa: housewife, housewives
There are a seríes of feminine nouns ¡n Spanish that begin
with a stressed 'a' sound. To make their pronunciation easier
in singular the masculino definite and indefinite articles are
used. Some other examples:
el alma solitaria (lonely soul)
el habla cotidiana (everyday speech)
el agua fría (cold water)
el hambre insaciable (insatiable hunger)
el aula pequeña (small classroom)
el arma moderna (modern weapon)
e/ arte aplicada (applied art)
el hada rubia (blonde fairy)
44
*************************************************
LESSON NINE
NOTES
Lesson 9
45
NOTES
Abastecer to supply.
Abasto: supply.
46
NOTES
(10) ¡Oye! or ¡Oiga!: Listen! They are used to ask for attention.
They are imperative forms of the verb oír, the first one is in
second person singular for familiar relations whereas the
second one ¡s more formal.
(11) Pinta: appearance.
Tener buena/mala pinta: to look good/bad.
(12) The exclamations ¡chico!, ¡chica! (phrase number 7), ¡hijo!
(phrase number 13), ¡hombre!, ¡mujer!, ¡señores! are very
frequently used in conversaron to express surprise,
amazement, reproach.
Lesson 9
47
NOTES
NOTES
Lesson 9
49
EJERCICIO II.
1. Is there place?
¿ ?
2. Don't worry, ¡t has no importance.
No se preocupe, no
No en absoluto
que
*************************************************
LECCIÓN DÉCIMA
(Adiós, muy buenas!
NOTES
*************************************************
LESSON TEN
Good-bye!
NOTES
(3) Levantóse: In current Spanish it ¡s not corred. Pronouns
should precede conjugated forms of verbs: Se levantó. This
form is permitted for literary purposes like to assure the
rhythm of a poem or to present an olden style.
Lesson 10
51
NOTES
(4) Ir al grano: to get down to the cases, come to the point.
(5) In Spanish the possessive pronouns are not used ¡n some
cases when they are used ¡n English. These are mostly the
cases when we speak about parts of the body or pieces of
clothes belonging to somebody.
Le duelen tos ojos: He feels pains ¡n his eyes.
Tiene el pelo negro: He has black hair.
Se quitó la camisa: He took off his shirt.
52
NOTES
Lesson 10
53
EJERCICIO II.
le han dicho.
Le una seña
Esto decirte.
54
HA
Lesson 10
55
LECCIÓN ONCE
Galicia
NOTES
(1) The cardinal points ¡n Spanish are as follows:
norte (North), este (East), sur (South), oeste (West).
They can be combined: noreste (Northeast), noroeste
(Northwest), sudeste (Southeast), sudoeste (Southwest).
(2) ¿Cómo no?: of course, certainly.
It can be understood as a shortened form of ¿Cómo puede
pensar usted que no es así, no es posible? Of course, ¡t ¡s
possible.
(3) Orujo ¡s a kind of "aguardiente", that is a brandy made of marc
of grape, while ribeiro is a type of wine of this región.
56
LESSON ELEVEN
Galicia
Su CASA JBSTA S(
KÍL¿H£m
¿4 PIAVA
Lesson 11
57
NOTES
(4) There are certain proper ñames ¡n Spanish that ¡nclude the
definite article as well. Some examples: La Habana, El Cairo,
La Haya, La Plata, la Argentina, el Brasil.
This definite article is never contracted with the prepositions
"a" or "de".
Venimos de La Habana y vamos a El Cairo: We come from
Havana and go to Cairo.
(5) Mercantil: mercantile, commercial.
Operaciones mercantiles: commercial operations, business
transactions.
Mercader: merchant, dealer, trader.
Mercancía: merchandise, goods.
58
NOTES
(6) Brazo: arm, hands; branch of river.
Cruzarse de brazos: to fold one's arms, to do nothing, to
remain ¡dle.
Asidos del brazo: arm-¡n-arm.
4 Abrazan to embrace.
Ser el brazo derecho de uno: a person whom one can trust
In a formal letterthe expression "Un abrazo de...", "Un abrazo
cariñoso de...", "Un fuerte abrazo de..."\s often put before the
signature.
(7) Acudir, to go or come; to frequent.
Acudir a la ayuda/al socorro de alguien: to come or go to the
aid/rescue of someone.
Lesson 11
59
NOTES
(8) Casino: fortress of Celtic and Román origin.
Pazo: ancient manor house ¡n Galicia.
Hórreo: barn made of wood and supported by pillare.
EJERCICIO II.
¿ ?
¿ Os apetece ?¿ ?
60
Tengo el proyecto
Me he enterado
Lesson 11
61
LECCIÓN DOCE
¡Es la lucha...!
NOTES
(1) Empujar to push, shove.
Empuje la puerta: Push the door!
Tirar, to throw, draw, pulí.
Tire la puerta: Pulí the door!
Un empuje, un empujón, un tiro, un tirón: In both cases there
are two nouns formed from the same verb. The second ones,
as they are formed with the augmentative "-on" express
bigness. The suffixes *-ón" and M-ona", besíde the ¡dea of
excess, often have a pejorative sense.
Un llorón: weeper;
Un solterón: oíd bachelor,
Una solterona: oíd maid, spinster (un soltero, una soltera:
single, unmarried);
Un comilón: glutton;
Un dormilón: sleepy-head;
Un borrachón: drunkard;
Un ricachón: newly-rich, very rich.
62
LESSON TWELVE
This is a flght!
NOTES
(2) Verse obligado a + infinitive: to see onself obliged to do
something, be obliged to do something, have to do
something.
(3) Hora: hour, time.
La hora de comer mealtime.
Hacer horas extraordinarias: to do overtime.
Las horas punta: rush hours.
(4) Tratar, to treat, to deal with.
¡Qué mal la tratas!: How badly you treat her!
Se trata de: it is a question of, the topic of... ¡s being dealt with
¿De qué se trata?: What is it all about? What is the trouble?
(5) The past subjuncth/e "haya estado" expresses a past action when
the verb of the main clause is ¡n the present. Here the subjunctive
is used because we deny the existertce of something.
No hay otro hombre que sea tan cortés: There is no other
man who ¡s so polrte.
No hay nadie en mi familia que haya estado en África: There
is nobody ¡n my famity who has been to África.
Lesson 12
63
NOTES
NOTES
Lesson 12
65
EJERCICIO II.
sin querer.
¡ ! esa calle.
i ?
66
Lesson 12
67
LECCIÓN TRECE
¡A su salud! (1)
NOTES
LESSON THIRTEEN
To your health!
Lesson 13
69
NOTES
(4) Cualquiera: any. It always loses ¡ts last M-a" when it ¡s used
before nouns (feminine or masculine): cualquier periódico
(any newspaper), cualquier bebida (any drink).
(5) El sabor: favor, taste.
Sabor a algo: flavor of something.
Este refresco tiene sabor a limón: This refreshment has
lemon flavor.
Saber a algo: to have the taste/flavor of, to taste of something
¿A qué sabe este queso?: What does this cheese taste of?
70
Lesson 13
71
NOTES
(6) Quizás la técnica logre... Remember that the subjunctive is
used when the content ¡s hypothetical. After quizá (quizás)
and tal vez (both can be translated by "perhaps" or "maybe")
the present of subjunctive refere to actions that may happen
in the present or ¡n the future while the past of the subjunctive
refers to actions that may have happened in the past.
Quizás nos veamos mañana: We may meet tomorrow.
Tal vez hayan llegado: They may have arrived.
EJERCICIO II.
¿ ?
¿ ?
Lesson 13
73
LECCIÓN CATORCE
Repaso y especificaciones
1. La numeración
A. Ordinal numbers
Lesson 14
75
EJERCICIO
1. This ¡s the third day of the journey.
2. Tomorrow my parents will celébrate their 24th
anniversary.
3. They have recommended you to go to the pólice.
4. It was not sure that it will rain today.
5. I don't like that they have come home late.
6. The doctor would recommend him/her to eat much
vitamine.
7. They didn't know anyone who has solved the problem.
8. We were worried that the child had a high temperature.
9. They are glad that they have won the match.
10. They were surprised that it was so cold.
LECCIÓN QUINCE
Ver
NOTES
(1) Está por ven ¡t still has to be seen, ¡t ¡s not proved yet.
(2) No ver tres en un burro or No ver ni jota: not to see anything.
(3) Dar crédito: to believe
No dar crédito a sus ojos: Not to believe his eyes. No dar
crédito a sus oídos: Not to believe his ears.
(4) Esto salta a los ojos: literally "It jumps into the eyes", that is to
be self-evident.
(5) Véase en la lección anterior See ¡n the previous lesson.
(6) Tiene un hambre que no ve: He is so hungry that he can't see,
he is terribly hungry.
78
LESSON FIFTEEN
To see
NOTES
Lesson 15
79
NOTES
*************************************************
LECCIÓN DIECISÉIS
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Se le ve la cara 9,11
Verse a la legua 10,12
Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente 11,-
Ver con buenos, con malos ojos 12,-
¡Ustedverá!13
¡Hasta más ver! 14
*************************************************
LESSON SIXTEEN
NOTES
NOTES
(4) The conditional ¡s used here to refer to a future activity at a
given time of the past (future ¡n the past).
(5) Estrechez: narrowness, tightness; penury, poverty.
Estrechar: to narrow, take ¡n, tighten.
Estrechar la mano: to shake hands.
El Estrecho de Gibraltar. Straits of Gibraltar.
(6) Acabar to finish, end; kill; run out.
Acabar con: to destroy, put an end to. La enfermedad acabó
con él: The ¡Unes killed him.
Acabar por. to end by. Acabó por convencerme de su
inocencia: He ended by convincing me about his ¡nnocence.
Acabar de + infinitive: refers to something that has just
happened. Acaba de llegar: He has just arrived.
¡Acabáramos!: At last!
Lesson 16
83
NOTES
EJERCICIO II.
1. / think it is the first one to the left.
¿ deletrearme ?
¡Ya está I
NOTES
lc . 'J
Lesson 16
85
LECCIÓN DIECISIETE
NOTES
LESSON SEVENTEEN
NOTES
(3) Jefecillo: the diminutive here has a sence of disdain,
contempt.
(4) No tener porque + ¡nfinitive: literally means "there ¡s no reason
why".
No tienes porque ayudarte: You don't have to help him.
There's no reason why you should help him.
Lesson 17
87
NOTES
(5) Aquí ¡s used when you point at something near you. Ahí refere
to something near the person you talk to and allí is used to
speak about something which is farther from both you and the
person(s) you talk to.
Aquí está mi abrigo y ahí está el tuyo: Here is my coat and
there ¡s yours.
He aquí: Here it is.
Aquí viene mi hermano: Here comes my brother.
Aquí tiene la vuelta: Here you have the change.
Ahí va el balón: There goes the ball.
(6) Direct speech: S/ el médico te receta algo complicado, será
útil la presencia del farmacéutico: If the doctor prescribes you
something complicated the presence of the chemist will be
useful. Indirect speech: He pensado que, si el médico te
recetaba algo complicado, sería útil la presencia del
farmacéutico: I thought if the doctor prescribed you something
complicated, the presence of the chemist would be useful.
NOTES
(7) Por si, por si acaso, en caso (de) que: in case, just ¡n case.
They can be followed by both the indicative or by the ¡mperfect
of the subjunctive. Thus:
Phrase 12: ... por si hay que trasladarte...
Phrase 13: ... por si acaso tu estado no permite el traslado...
Phrase 14: ... por si no hay esperanza...
And another example:
Llevaré el paraguas por si llueve/lloviera: I will take the
umbrella in case it rains.
The pluperfect of the subjunctive is used to express an action
that preceded another action. Voy a preguntarles por si ya
hubieran visto esa película: I will ask him in case they have
seen that film.
(8) Salir bien/mal: to turn or come out well/badly.
Todo saldrá bien al final: Everything will turn out well in the
end.
Salir a: to resemble, take after.
Sale a su padre: He resembles his father.
Lesson 17
89
EJERCICIO II.
1. Here is your ticket.
¿ ... tratamiento ?
le************************************************
LECCIÓN DIECIOCHO
Extremadura
NOTES
(1) Río: river, stream
Two current expressions:
Cuando el río suena, agua lleva: There ¡s no smoke withogt
fire.
Pescar en rio revuelto: to fish ¡n troubled water
90
LESSON EIGHTEEN
Extremadura
NOTES
NOTES
Lesson 18
93
NOTES
(5) Cerdo: pig, porte.
EJERCICIO II.
1. Nowadays, people travel more.
94
motor
L ?
Lesson 18
95
*************************************************
LECCIÓN DIECINUEVE
NOTES
(1) In Spain the use of the abbreviation CE. (Comunidad Europea)
is more common than C.E.E. (Comunidad Económica Europea).
(2) Entrar a formar parte: to become an intégrate part.
(3) Poner fin a: to put an end to.
Al fin: ¡n the end, finally. Al fin pudimos convencerle: In the
end we could convince him.
Al final de: at the end of. Al final de este mes le pagarán: They,
will pay him at the end of this month.
Por fin: at last, lastly. ¡Por fin, has Bogado!: You have arrived at last!
(4) Emprender to undertake, to start out. Han emprendido la
tarea: They have undertaken the task. ¿Cuándo emprenderán
el viaje a América?: When will you start out for the journey to
América?
96
*************************************************
LESSON NINETEEN
NOTES
Lesson 19
97
NOTES
Lesson 19
99
***
EJERCICIO II.
1. He will not be able to mceive us before that date.
esa
3. In other words...
Se de sus
responsabilidades.
5. / gave up ¡nsisting.
insistir.
100
NOTES
Lesson 19
101
LECCIÓN VEINTE
Más allá del «mercado común»
NOTES
LESSON TWENTY
NOTES
Lesson 20
103
Agrícola agricultural
Agricultura agricultura
Armonización harmonízation
Club de ricos club of the rich
Comercio exterior foreign trade
Comunidad Europea European Community
Económicamente economically
Ejecutar una decisión to execute a decisión
Emisora de radio radio station
Entramado socioeconómico social-economical network
Especialista specialist
Exento exempt
Familia acomodada well-to-do family
Fronteras comunitarias frontiers of the Community
Industrialización industrializaron
Ingresaren la CE. enter the E.E.C.
104
Lesson 20
105
LECCIÓN VEINTIUNA
Repaso y especificaciones
Singular Plural
masculino el que los que
feminino la que las que
neuter lo que —
masculino el de los de
feminino la de las de
Ejemplos:
El que lo ha dicho: the one that has said ¡t.
La que me aconsejó: the one that advised me.
El que quieras: the one you want.
La que compré: the one I bought.
Los que no pudieron ir the ones that could not go.
Las que nos invitaron: the ones that ¡nvited us.
Los que tienes: the ones you have.
Las que he traído: the ones I have brought.
Lo que sea: what(ever) it ¡s.
Lo que quiere decir: that ¡s to say.
El de mi hermano: that of my brother.
La del verano pasado: that of last summer.
Los de la derecha: the ones on the right.
Las de África: the ones from África.
U ARMONIZACIÓN DEL j.
Lesson 21
107
PERSONAL NOTES:
109
LECCIÓN VEINTIDÓS
¿Adonde vamos a parar?
NOTES
LESSON TWENTY-TWO
£4>TE
(£ EDÍfCCto E6 DE RECIENTE
Lesson 22
111
NOTES
NOTES
Lesson 22
113
NOTES
NOTES
Corrección del ejercicio 1.1. At about ñve o'clock 2. l'm going down
to the basement. 3. The child is still very small to go to the nursery
school. 4. This building is a recent construction. 5.1 could not go to the
meeting.
Lesson 22
115
EJERCICIO II.
*************************************************
LECCIÓN VEINTITRÉS
¡Dejad que los niños se acerquen a mí!
NOTES
*************************************************
LESSON TWENTY-THREE
Lesson 23
117
NOTES
NOTES
Lesson 23
119
NOTES
NOTES
Other examples:
¡Lavad el coche!: Wash the car! ¡Lavaos con este jabón!:
Wash (yourself) with this soap!
¡Vestid a los niños!: Get the children dressed! ¡Vestios!: Get
(yourself) dressed!
There is only one exception, that of the verb irse. ¡Idos
ambos!: Go away, both of you!
(7) Dar cuenta de: to inform of, give account of.
Darse cuenta de: to realize.
Lesson 23
121
EJERCICIO II.
1. I haven't realised.
¡ niños!
122
Lesson 23
123
LECCIÓN VEINTICUATRO
Aragón
NOTES
LESSON TWENTY-FOUR
Aragón
NOTES
(2) The conjunction como followed by the ¡mperfect of the
subjunctive shows a very sophisticated style. It is optional then.
Thus the phrase ...tierra de paso, camino de Europa, como lo
fuera de Santiago... can be made up by: ...como lo había sido...
or ...como lo fue... . Another example from the language of the
Press: Como dijera la semana pasada en el Parlamento el
Ministro de Industria (or como dijo, como había dicho): As the
Minister of Industry had said ¡n the Parliament last week.
(3) Comunidad: Community. Here Comunidad with a capital "C"
refers to La Comunidad Autónoma de Aragón, one of the 17
communities that make up Spain. (See lesson 2).
Lesson 24
125
NOTES
(4) For the explanaron of the word hidalgo see Note 8 ¡n lesson
16.
(5) Los mudejares were Arab people who remained on the
Iberían Península after the Reconquest as vassals of the
Christians, but they kept their Islamic religión. The word
mudejar also refers to a style ¡n architecture where both
Christian and Muhammedan elements appear.
126
Lesson 24
127
NOTES
(6) Como si: As if. After this conjunction either the ¡mperfect
(referring to present) or the pluperfect (referring to past) of the
subjunctive must be used.
Habla como si le conociera: He speaks as ¡f he knew him.
Habla como si se hubiera enconctrado con él: He speaks as
¡f he had met him.
(7) El folklore baturro (aragonés): Aragonian folklore. Aragonians
are also known by the ñame los maños.
l£ GUSTA MUCHo
Corrección del ejercicio 1.1. He likes sküng very much. 2. It was the
house, the Windows of which were open. 3. You will arrive going on this
highway. 4. In the Middle Ages the word hidalgo had another meaning.
5. Though he is Swedish he speaks Italian as if it were his mother
tongue.
Lesson 24
129
EJERCICIO II.
1. As he realizad that it was late, he took a taxi.
acuáticos.
determinación
franqueza.
A************************************************
LECCIÓN VEINTICINCO
Una mañana, temprano
NOTES
coste de la reparación
*************************************************
LESSON TWENTY-FIVE
Lesson 25
131
NOTES
(2) Cuyo, -a, -os, -as can be used with a preposition as well. ...en
cuyas escaleras silbotea un barrendero: ...on the stairs of
which a sweeper ¡s whistling.... una calzada en cuyo centro..:
... a road ¡n the centre of which... . Lesson 28 will deal with
relative pronouns in more details.
(3) ¡El de la suerte! that is ¡El cupón de la suerte! In Spain lottery
tickets are sold by blind men. ONCE - Organización Nacional
de Ciegos Españoles (National Organizaron of Spanish Blind
Men) - organizes a lottery-game every day.
132
Lesson 25
133
NOTES
NOTES
Lesson 25
135
NOTES
(8) Proseguir is conjugated as seguir and sonreír as reír. Note
that irregular verbs with prefixes are conjugated the same way
as their simple model. Other examples from th!s lesson: atraer
like fraer (phrase 11), detener like tener (phrase 21).
***
Lesson 25
137
LECCIÓN VEINTISÉIS
Francisco de Goya y Lucientes
NOTES
LESSON TWENTY-SIX
NOTES
(3) El hasta entonces pintor or el que había sido pintor hasta
entonces: the man who "had been a painter until then. The
definite article el refere to a masculine noun ¡n the singular.
Thus the definite articles can be used to avoid the repetition
of nouns.
Tu punto de vista y el de tu amigo: your viewpoint and that of
your friend.
Lesson 26
139
<=¿t COMPETENCIA,
140
NOTES
Lesson 26
141
EJERCICIO II.
NOTES
(7) Lo vulgar, lo feo y lo contrahecho: the vulgar, the ugly and the
deformed. Remember that lo ¡s used to form a noun out of an
adjective. (See note 13 ¡n lesson 3.)
Corrección del ejercicio 1.1. When and where were you born? 2. He
made his studies at the University of Salamanca. 3.1 got ¡nto contact
with him last week. 4. For his competence he was appointed director.
He has lived far from his native town during years.
¿ ?
Lesson 26
143
LECCIÓN VEINTISIETE
Vivir a plazos
1 Ya no es como antes.
2 Antes se ahorraba y se gastaba; ahora se
gasta y se pide prestado para poder gastar
todavía más. (1)
3 Una de las consecuencias del boom económico
de los sesenta ha sido, en efecto, el progresivo
incremento de la «credi-dependencia».
4 Todo está organizado para que el piso, el
televisor, el coche, la lavadora y el lavavajillas,
por no citar más que algunos ejemplos, puedan
pagarse en «cómodos» plazos. (2) (3) (4)
5 A los «crediadictos» puede agarrarles el mono,
de la manera más inesperada, delante de
cualquier escaparate.
NOTES
(1) Pedir or tomar prestado: to borrow.
Pedir dinero prestado: to borrow money.
Prestar or dar prestado: to lend, loan.
Un préstamo: loan.
(2) Don't confuse el televisor: televisión set and la televisión:
televisión.
El televisor no funciona: The televisión set is not working.
La Televisión Española: Spanish Televisión.
Todas las noches ve la tele(visión): He watches the TV
(programmes) every evening.
144
LESSON TWENTY-SEVEN
Living by instalments
NOTES
Lesson 27
145
NOTES
(5) Uno puede salir a la calle... or Se puede salir a la calle... are
two ways of speaking in general (general subject).
(6) Un camello: camel, but ¡n slang ¡t means dealer or hawker. It
is especially used for people who sell drugs.
146
NOTES
Lesson 27
147
NOTES
(8) Un pelotazo: a blow with a ball. Un niño me dio un pelotazo en
la playa: A child gave me a blow with a ball on the beach. The
suffix -azo often expresses a blow with the object named or a
violent action.
Other examples:
un cañonazo (cañón): cannon-shot.
un puñetazo (puño): punch, blow with the fist.
NOTES
un codazo (codo); poke with the elbow.
In slang pelotazo refere to another kind of blow: the flash,
used by drug-addicts. This lesson contains other expressions
used by drug-addicts. For example el mono ¡n this context
describes the syndrome of abstinence and los camellos are
people who sell drugs.
Lesson 27
149
LECCIÓN VEINTIOCHO
Repaso y especificaciones
PERSONAL NOTES:
Lesson 28
151
LECCIÓN VEINTINUEVE
Vuelo 303
NOTES
LESSON TWENTY-NINE
Flight 303
Lesson 29
153
NOTES
NOTES
(3) Se le caen al suelo las gafas de sol: Her sunglasses fall on
the ground. This is more Spanish than saying: Se caen al
suelo sus gafas de sol. It may seem strange but the dative le
here stands fbr the possesive sus.
(4) Se los da a Ana que los mete...: He gives them to Ana, who
puts them. The relative pronoun quien is not always
necessary when referring to persons; que takes its place.
Quien is used when it is preceded by a preposition. Carlos, de
quien hablamos...: Carlos, about whom we are talking... (See
lesson 28.)
Lesson 29
155
NOTES
Lesson 29
157
EJERCICIO II.
L ?
NOTES
(6) Bote: small boat; jar, pot, canister, tin, can; bounce.
Un bote salvavidas: life-boat.
Un bote de leche condensada: a tin of condensed milk.
An expression:
De bote en bote: jammed, packed, crowded, crammed with
people.
Lesson 29
159
LECCIÓN TREINTA
Asturias
NOTES
LESSON THIRTY
Asturias
NOTES
Hereditario: hereditary.
Enfermedad hereditaria: hereditary disease.
(3) Don't confuse the preposition ante and antes. While antes de
simply means before (¡n time), ante has two different
meanings: in the presence of, ¡n front of - place -
(Presentarse ante el público: to appear in front of the public)
or facing a problem (Ante tanta injusticia: facing so much
¡njustice).
An expression: Ante todo: first of all, above all.
Lesson 30
161
NOTES
NOTES
Lesson 30
163
EJERCICIO II.
¿ ?
en todos
los
el catálogo...
dulzura.
164
Lesson 30
16S
NOTES
(1) The definite article before señor, señora, señorita and doctor
followed by the ñames is used when we talk about the
persons named. On the other hand, no definite article ¡s used
when we address people this way.
La señora Jiménez es una mujer simpática: Mrs Jiménez is a
nice woman.
¡Señor Agudo, venga aquí, por favor!: Señor Agudo, please
come here!
(2) Tiene la ciudad dividida or tiene dividida la ciudad. We could
say: Divide la ciudad (Divides the town). This structure
expresses that he has a strong influence ¡n the fact that the
town ¡s divided but he does not divide the town in the physical
sense.
LESSON THRITY-ONE
NOTES
Lesson 31
167
NOTES
(4) Carrera: run, running, race; career, university studies,
profession.
Carrera de caballos: horse race.
Carrera de armamentos: armament race.
Hacer la carrera de derecho: to study law.
¿Ha terminado la carrera?: Has he finished his studies?
Carrera diplomática: diplomatic career.
(5) Formación: education, training.
(6) El parte: official communication, report.
Dar parte: to report.
El facultativo: doctor.
El parte facultativo: medical bulletin.
El cuadro facultativo del hospital: medical personnel of the
hospital.
Don't confuse el parte with la parte (part, portion, share)!
168
Lesson 31
169
EJERCICIO II.
2. He is clever-handed.
Es un
Le han
172
Lesson 31
173
NOTES
(1) Ambiente: atmosphere, environment, setting.
En el bar hay un buen ambiente: In the bar there ¡s a good
atmosphere.
Vivir en un ambiente intelectual: to live in an ¡ntellectual
environment.
(2) La Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando ¡s the
Spanish Academy whose task is to promote the study of
painting, sculpture, architecture and music. It was founded in
1744.
174
LESSON THIRTY-TWO
Manuel de Falla
NOTES
(3) Estrenar to perform a play or to show a film for the first time,
to make one's debut; to use or wear for the first time.
Esa obra de teatro fue estrenada en Madrid: That play was
first shown in Madrid.
Quiero estrenar mi nuevo vestido en tu boda: I want to wear
my new dress for the first time at your wedding.
Un estreno: debut, first performance, premiare.
Lesson 32
175
NOTES
NOTES
(6) Entablar to start, begin.
Me gusta entablar conversación con desconocidos: I like
starting a conversaron with unknown persons.
Entablar amistad: to make friends.
(7) Galo, -a ¡s an adjective used by educated people ¡nstead of
francés, francesa.
El primer ministro galo: the French Prime Minister.
El país galo: France.
(8) Cumbre: top, peak, summit.
Subir hasta la cumbre: to go up to the top.
Una conferencia de cumbre: a summit meeting.
Lesson 32
177
EJERCICIO II.
¿ ?
Lesson 32
179
NOTES
(1) Viernes (Friday) comes directly from the Latín Veneris dies:
el día de Venus. The same way:
lunes comes from Luna (moon);
martes comes from Marte (Mars);
miércoles comes from Mercurio (Mercury);
jueves comes from Júpiter (Júpiter).
(2) Arrastrar: to drag, pul!, trail, haul, carry.
La corriente arrastró a los pescadores mar adentro: The
current hauled the fishermen deep ¡nto the sea.
180
LESSON THIRTY-THREE
Veneris dies
NOTES
Lesson 33
181
NOTES
NOTES
(7) Por + ¡nfinitive. It can shorten causal clauses.
El niño cayó enfermo por haber comido mucho helado: The
child fell ¡II because he had eaten much ice-cream.
(8) In Spain Tuesday is considerad an ill-starred day, especially if
it falls on the 13th of the month.
Another proverb:
Para los desgraciados todos los días son martes: For the
unlucky ones every day is Tuesday.
Lesson 33
183
EJERCICIO II.
meterse ..
, .. he obtenido
fi£á¿l6T4 VESTIRSE
{FANTASÍA
Lesson 33
185
LESSON THIRTY-FOUR
Lesson 34
187
Y es tanta su majestad
(aunque son sus duelos hartos)
que con haberlo hecho cuartos (10)
no pierde su autoridad.
Pero, pues da calidad
al noble y al pordiosero,
poderoso caballero
es don Dinero.
NOTES
(1) In this lesson you can find the first, second, seventh and eigth
verses of Quevedo's poem. Try to analyse the language of the
poem. The translation and the notes will help you.
Caballero: knight, gentleman, sir.
Caballeros: You will find ¡t on the door of the toilette for men
while señoras is written on the entrance for women.
Sección de caballeros: department for men's clothes in a
department store.
Comportarse como un caballero: to behave as a gentleman.
(2) De puro: (lit. from puré) simply, only.
Se durmió de puro cansado que estaba or Estaba tan
cansado que se durmió: He fell asieep simply because he was
tired.
Nos telefoneó de puro contento que estaba: He phoned us
only because he was glad.
(3) De continuo: constantly, continuously.
(4) Andar + adjective describes a constant state.
Desde que aprobó el examen anda contento: Since he
passed his exam he is very glad.
¿Cómo andas?: How are you nowadays?
188
NOTES
(5) Doblón: coin made of gold used ¡n the 15th century when
sencillo was the small change.
(6) The Amerícan continent was first called las Indias due to the
well-known belief of Chrístopher Columbus that he had
found a shorter way to India. Gold was taken from América
to Spain in great quantities and all the wealth ended in
hands of bankers ¡n Genova. The 15th - 16th centuries were
later named Siglo de Oro.
(7) Fiero: fierce, cruel, wild, violent, rough.
(8) Por + infinitivo: see note 7 of lesson 33.
(9) Gato: cat; money-box, money saved; thief, pickpocket,
pilferer. Thus the sentence Gatos le guardan de gatos, can
be translated by Thieves guard it against thieves.
(10) Hacerlo cuartos o descuartizar to quarter, tear or cut into
(four) pieces.
Cuarto: fourth; quarter.
No tener un cuarto: to be penniless.
Dejar sin un cuarto: to leave without a penny.
The structure con haberío hecho cuartos means: a pesar
de ... (in spite of, even if).
Lesson 34
189
Aterrizaje landing
Aterrizar to land
Azafata air-hostess
Bienal biennial
Burguesía bourgeoisie
Bursátil of stock market
Candidatura candidatura
Campaña electoral electoral campaign
Carrera career, profession
Congreso congress
*************************************************
Cumbre summit
Despegar to take off
Despegue takeoff
Embarcar to embark
Enriquecer to enrich
Esclavo slave
Éxito/Fracaso success/failure
Heredero heir, heiress, inheritor
Investigación científica scientific research
Minero miner
Pasajero passenger
Parte facultativo bulletin of medicine
Proletariado protetariat
Proyecto project
Puerto port, hartw(u)r
Rico rich
Social social
Ventanilla small window
*************************************************
2. Corrección
NOTES
(1) To ask: pedir or preguntar.
Pedir, to ask for, beg, request, demand.
Preguntan to ask a question, ¡nquire.
Te pido que vengas: I ask you to come.
Te pregunta si vas a venir He ¡s asking you ¡f you will come.
(2) Pasarse (de la raya): to go too far, exceed the limits, take
undue liberties, to exaggerate.
Raya: line, stripe.
(3) Mismo, -a, -os, -as: same, very, -self.
(4) Uevar encima: to have, carry with himself.
Te telefonearé para darte su dirección, ahora no llevo encima
la agenda: I will phone you to give you his address, now I do
not have my note-book with me.
194
LESSON THIRTY-SIX
Asking
Lesson 36
195
NOTES
NOTES
Lesson 36
197
19 ¿Pedir? (13)
20 ¡Claro que sí!
21 Mejor, por favor.
22 Con previa conciencia de la posibilidad de una
respuesta negativa.
23 Y, siempre, sin pedir peras al olmo. (14)
NOTES
(13) Pedir
- pedir que + subjuntivo: when the subjects of the two
clauses are different
Me pide que le traiga el periódico: He ¡s asking me to bring
him the newspaper.
EJERCICIO II.
1. I am going to ask him the time.
19 To ask?
20 Of course, yes!
21 Better, please.
22 With previous consciousness of the possibility
of getting a negative answer.
23 And always without asking for the moon.
NOTES
Corrección del ejercicio 1.1. The fact that I did not cali you does not
mean that I am angry. 2. Don't move, I will bring it to you. 3. In the shop
we were attended well. 4. He decided to do it at his own cost and risk.
5.1 nave forgotten to take my brief-case, I do not have my documents
with me.
5. / demand to be informed.
Lesson 36
199
NOTES
(1) El paseo: promenade.
Calle: street, road.
Calle mayor high street, main street.
200
LESSON THIRTY-SEVEN
Cantabria
LLEGAR AL
VEOLO
Lesson 37
201
NOTES
NOTES
(5) Recorrer to go over, travel through.
Recorrido: journey; distance covered (trayecto).
Un recorrido por el mundo: a tour round the world.
(6) Santander, a town and a región ¡n Cantabria.
Santanderino, -a: of Santander.
Cantabria: autonomous community.
La Montaña: región of Santander.
(7) El talante: mood.
Estarde buen/mal talante: to be in good/bad mood.
Lesson 37
203
EJERCICIO II.
NOTES
(8) Capilla: chapel.
Cuaternario: quaternary.
(9) Casona: a big house.
Casa solariega: a manor house.
Lesson 37
205
*************************************************
NOTES
(1) Sumirlo sink, plunge) should not be mixed up with sumar (to
sum or add up). Sumir is used ¡n the figurativo sense (Sumirse
en la desesperación: to sink in despair), while tirarse ¡s more
concrete (Tirarse al agua: to plunge in water).
(2) El fin: end (El fín de la película: the end of the film).
Al final de: at the end of. (Está al final de la calle: It is at the
end of the street.)
A finales de: towards the end of. (Lo vi a finales de julio: I saw
him towards the end of July.)
Similarly:
206
*************************************************
LESSON THIRTY-EIGHT
NOTES
El principio/comienzo: beginning.
Al principio/comienzo: at the beginning of.
A principios de: towards the beginning of.
To complete the list:
A mediados de: towards the middle of (A mediados del año:
towards the middle of the year).
Lesson 38
207
NOTES
NOTES
Nacerlo be born), nacimiento.
Salvar (lo save), salvamento.
(6) Poner en marcha: to start (Hemos puesto el motor en marcha:
We have started the motor.) Ponerse en marcha: to get
started (¡Ponte en marcha!: Get started!)
(7) The noun destino has two different meanings: 1. destiny or
fate, 2. destination.
Parece que éste es su destino: This seems to be his fate.
Cuando el tren llegó a su destino, todos los pasajeros,
bajaron: When the train got to ¡ts destination, all the
passengers got off.
Lesson 38
209
EJERCICIO II.
1. We wHI have the answer within some weeks.
2. Don't hurry.
Durante los
Tengo
210
Lesson 38
211
Luis Buñuel
NOTES
(1) Indiano: ¡s used to referto both people from India and to the
aborigines of the American continent. It may also refer to a
person who retums to Europe after working some time and
eaming some money in América.
(2) Treinta años más joven (menor) que su marido: thirty years
younger than her husband.
Mi henvano menor, my younger brother.
El menor de sus hijos: the youngest of his sons.
Su hermana mayor, his eider sister.
El mayor de los siete hijos: the oldest of seven children.
212
LESSON THIRTY-NINE
Luis Buñuel
NOTES
(3) Matrimonio: marriage; married couple.
Matrimonio civil: civil marriage.
Un matrimonio joven: a young married couple.
Contraer matrimonio or casarse: to get married.
Cama de matrimonio: double bed.
Boda ¡s also translated as marriage but it refers to the act
¡tself and the wedding ceremony:
El día de la boda: the day of the marriage, wedding day.
Bodas de oro: golden wedding.
Ir a la boda: to go to the wedding.
(4) Dejar de + infinitive: to stop, cease, quit, fail.
Dejar de fumar to stop smoking.
Dejar de visitar: to fail to visit.
Lesson 39
213
NOTES
(5) Colegio ¡n Spain means primary school or student hostel while
¡n other Spanish-speaking countríes it means college or high
school.
(6) Atención: attention.
Llamar la atención: to catch the attention. (Ese hecho no le
llamó la atención: That fact did not catch his attention.)
Llamar la atención de alguien a algo: to wam somebody of
something (Le han llamado la atención al peligro: He has
been warned of the danger.)
214
NOTES
(7) Insistiera (¡mperfect of subjunctive) instead of insistía: after
the conjunction como (as) this use is optional.
(8) Por + infinitive expresses the ¡dea of cause (see note 7 of
Lesson 33).
(9) Naciente: growing, sprouting, rising, nascent.
Lesson 39
215
NOTES
NOTES
Lesson 39
217
EJERCICIO II.
1. He is four years younger than me.
NOTES
Lesson 39
219
¿ ?
*************************************************
LECCIÓN CUARENTA
Chistes (1)
NOTES
*************************************************
LESSON FORTY
Jokes (1)
NOTES
(2) Juicio: judgement, sense, wisdom.
A mi juicio: ¡n my opinión.
(3) Mudar: to change.
Mudar la cama: to change the bedcloth.
Mudarse: to move, change one's residence/house.
La mudanza: change of residence/house.
Lesson 40
221
NOTES
\A?y A CoüBR Lo
QUE 6B f4A CAÍDO
Lesson 40
223
EJERCICIO II.
1. Our suppüer has gone on holiday.
NOTES
(1) A tontas y a locas: without thinking, helter skelter, at the spur
of the moment, splashdash.
Habló a tontas y a locas: He spoke without thinking.
224
Corrección del ejercicio 1.1. I would like you to lend me that book.
2. He may have said it jokingly. 3. Anybody would tell that you are
crazy about her. 4. We will move from our house towards the end of
the month. 5. This mattress ¡s very comfortabte.
i !
*************************************************
LESSON FORTY-ONE
Helter skelter
Lesson 41
225
NOTES
NOTES
Lesson 41
227
NOTES
NOTES
(9) Quizá sea por ello: maybe it ¡s for this reason, ¡t may be due
to this.
Ello. It ¡s a neuter personal pronoun (it). (When it is a direct
object lo ¡s used instead of ello.) Ello is used when we refer
back to something without clear gender. No sé porqué no me
gusta. Hablemos de ello: I don't know why I don't like him.
Let's speak about it.
Lesson 41
229
NOTES
(10) You have probabty noticed that in this lesson you can fmd a
lot of expressions used in everyday conversation. Let's
repeat some of them:
- Cada vez más: more and more.
- Puesto que ya estamos en ello: since we are already ¡n it,
since we have already started it.
- Se trata de: ¡t is a question of, ¡t is about, the trouble ¡s.
- Hay quien: there are people who.
- Lo que está claro es que: what is clear ¡s.
- Así, por ejemplo: thus, for example.
- Darse cuenta de que: to realize that.
- Quizá sea por ello: it may be the reason.
- Una manera como otra: ¡n one way or another.
- Parece que: it seems that.
230
Lesson 41
231
Use of prepositions
1. La preposición a
2. La preposición en
3. La preposición de
4. La preposición para
5. La preposición por
Lesson 42
233
PERSONAL NOTES:
235
NOTES
LESSON FORTY-THREE
NOTES
(3) Merecer to deserve, to be worthy of, be worth.
Pena: pain, punishment.
Merece (o Vale) la pena: ¡t ¡s worthwhile.
(4) Guardar to keep, guard, store.
Guardarropa: wardrobe, cloak-room.
Guardabosque: forester, gamekeeper.
Guardacostas: coast-guard.
Guardameta: goalkeeper.
Guardaespaldas: bodyguard.
Guardafronteras: border guard.
Guardería infantil: day nursery.
Lesson 43
237
NOTES
NOTES
Lesson 43
239
NOTES
EJERCICIO II.
1. He has hurí himself due to h¡s carelessness.
¿ ?-
Lesson 43
241
NOTES
LESSON FORTY-FOUR
Balearic Islands
NOTES
Lesson 44
243
NOTES
Canary Islands
10 To the northwest of the African coasts, the
Canary Islands, ¡ncorporated ¡nto Spain at the
end of the Middle Ages, form a volcan¡c
archipelago that was related to the mythical
Atlantis by the ancient tradition.
11 Till the 15th century they were ¡nhabited by the
"Guanches".
12 The caravels that took Columbus to América
called at the port of Luz, ¡n Las Palmas -
Grand Canary.
13 Today Las Palmas ¡s a modern and rich town.
It is also a first class port.
14 The free port of Santa Cruz - Tenerife - ¡s a
frequented port of cali. Numerous travellers
acquire there the fine laces of Tenerife.
NOTES
Lesson 44
245
NOTES
(9) Pico: beak (of a bird); peak; odd, and a little more.
Callar el pico: to hold one's tongue.
El Pico de Teide: the peak of Teide.
Diez libras y pico: ten pounds odd.
Son las diez y pico: It ¡s some minutes past ten.
246
NOTES
Lesson 44
247
EJERCICIO II.
Han
NOTES
Lesson 44
249
Decir (1)
1 ¿Decir?
2 Sí, pero ¿qué?
3 Ni que decir tiene que, a pesar de su
sencillez, el asunto es complejo. (2)
4 En efecto, los hay, por ejemplo, que no dicen
ni pío, (3)
5 los hay que siempre hallan que decir,
6 los hay que, preocupados por el qué dirán,
hablan «para que no se diga», (4)
7 los hay que creen que todo se puede decir
con «flores», (5)
8 los hay que se limitan a dar que decir, (6)
9 los hay que dicen misa, (7)
10 los hay que con una mirada lo pueden decir
todo,
11 y los hay también -los más numerosos- que,
sin decir agua va, hablan por hablar, y (8)
12 a decir verdad, por más que digan, nunca
dicen nada.
NOTES
LESSON FORTY-FIVE
Saying
1 To say?
2 Yes, but what?
3 It ¡s obvious that, in spite of ¡ts simplicity, the
subject ¡s complex.
4 In fact, there are people, for example, that
don't say a word
5 there are people that always find something to
say,
NOTES
(6) Dar que decir: to cause criticism, gossip, trouble, suspicion,
grief.
(7) Decir misa: to say a mass. In a figurative sense it means: to
celébrate something.
(8) Sin decir agua va: to warn. This expression comes from the
times when houses did not have canalizaron and dirty water
was poured into the street through the Windows. The
sentence: ¡Agua va! was shouted to warn passers-by.
Lesson 45
251
NOTES
NOTES
Lesson 45
253
NOTES
(14) Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres. (Lit: Tell me who
you are going out with and I will tell you who you are.): Birds
of a feather flock together.
(15) Decir para sus adentros or decir para sí: to say to oneself.
254
NOTES
(16) ¡Digo!: I believe ¡t! That's sure! That's ¡t! This expression
shows surprise, astonishment.
(17) Cerrar el pico: (Lit: to cióse the beak.) To hold one's tongue.
(18) Huelga decir Needless to say.
(19) ¡Lo que usted diga!: It will happen as you like! You can decide!
Lesson 45
255
Lesson 45
257
NOTES
LESSON FORTY-SIX
NOTES
Lesson 46
259
NOTES
Corrección del ejercicio I. 1. What is the new car like? 2. What are
you saying? So much better or so much worse? 3. He is very
interested ¡n his Job. 4. He was glad to see us. 5. What is necessary
is that you could come.
Lesson 46
261
EJERCICIO II.
1. His studies are rolling along fine.
*************************************************
*************************************************
LESSON FORTY-SEVEN
Commercial letters
NOTES
Lesson 47
263
NOTES
NOTES
(4) The date can be written ¡n different ways. Let's see the most
common ones:
Lesson 47
265
NOTES
NOTES
The professional title ¡s only preceded by Sr. or Sra. (Sr.
Director General). In plural Sres. (señores) ¡s used (Sres.
García, Domínguez y Merino). The ñame of the person can be
preceded by the word Atención: or Atn: (Atn: Sr. D. Carlos
Manuel Pérez Luz).
(6) The correct address looks like this:
Sra. D.a Pilar Gómez
CJ María de Molina, 25
28024 Madrid
España
See also Note 3 of Lesson 3.
(7) Debajo de and bajo are both translated by: under, beneath but
the first one more concretely refers to a place and the second
one ¡s more abstract. El perro está debajo de la mesa: The
dog ¡s under the table. Sufren bajo su tiranía: They suffer
under his tyranny.
Bajo pena de muerte: on pain of death.
(8) The reference ¡s usually preceded by S/ref. (su referencia:
your reference) or N/ref. (nuestra referencia: our reference) or
only Ref.
Lesson 47
267
EJERCICIO II.
1. We have been negistened in the Company Register for two years.
*************************************************
NOTES
ese
*************************************************
LESSON FORTY-EIGHT
NOTES
Muy Sres. nuestros or Muy señores nuestros. This formula is
more impersonal and is used when a company is addressed.
Estimado señor... or Distinguido señor... (Dear Mr...)
Estimado cliente: (Dear client)
Lesson 48
269
NOTES
(2) Forexample:
El importe de la factura es de Ras. 52.500. (cincuenta y dos
mil quinientas pesetas): The amount of the ¡nvoice ¡s Ptas.
52.500 (fifty-two thousand five hundred).
(3) The most widespread closing formulas are the following:
Atentamente,
Atentos saludos,
Atentamente le(s) saluda,
270
NOTES
Lesson 48
271
Archivo archives
Asunto (de una carta) subject (of a letter)
Cargar (en una cuenta) to charge (an account)
Carta comercial commercial letter
Copia al carbón (en una carta) carbón copy (in a letter)
Correspondencia comercial commercial
correspondence
Derrochar (despilfarrar) to waste
Despedida (en una carta) closing (¡n a letter)
Destinatario addressee
Distrito postal postal code
Grafismo graphics
Hoja leaf
Lista de precios price-list
Margen (el) margin
Membrete heading
Papel con membrete paper with heading
Párrafo paragraph
Puerto franco free port
Razón social trade ñame
Referencia reference
Registrar un patente to register a patent
Registro mercantil Company Register
Remitente sender
Saludo (en una carta) salutation (in a letter)
Sobre de ventanilla window envelope
Texto (de una carta) body (of a letter)
272
NOTES
(5) Forexample:
ANEXOS: 2 facturas
— 1 lista de precios
(6) For example:
C.C: Manuel Sánchez
Archivo
Repaso y especificaciones
A. Impersonal obligation
Es necesario...
Es preciso...
Es menester... + ¡nfm'rtive
(less usual) (... estudiar para los exámenes.)
Hace falta...
B. Personal obligation
Es necesario...
Es preciso...
Es menester... + subjunctive (...que hable contigo.)
Hace falta...
274
2. Deber
PERSONAL NOTES:
Lesson 49
275
LECCIÓN CINCUENTA
Cuento (1)
NOTES
LESSON FIFTY
Átale
NOTES
Lesson 50
277
NOTES
Lesson 50
279
NOTES
NOTES
Lesson 50
281
EJERCICIO II.
1. / have listened to him and I have changed my mind.
*************************************************
NOTES
(1) Parador, motel, ¡nn, hostel. It originates from the verb parar
and thus refers to a place where travellers can stop for a rest.
282
*************************************************
LESSON FIFTY-ONE
Motéis
Lesson 51
283
NOTES
NOTES
Lesson 51
285
NOTES
Lesson 51
287
EJERCICIO II.
1. As time passes he changes perspectiva.
EL MINISTRO .. . . .
..., t4cv^ uey al.
Lesson 51
289
Estadísticamente suyo
NOTES
(1) Noción: notion, ¡dea.
Concepto: concept, ¡dea, thought.
(2) Apunte: note, memorándum, rough sketch.
Tomar apuntes: to take notes.
Apuntan to sketch, note, jot down, put down; to aim, point,
level.
Voy a apuntar tus señas: I am going to put down your
address. Dicen que no está bien apuntar a alguien con el
dedo: It ¡s said that ¡t ¡s not good poínting at someone with the
fingere.
290
LESSON FIFTY-TWO
Statistically yours
NOTES
Lesson 52
291
NOTES
(4) Remember that the preposition de is put between the verb ser
and a number. Mi renta es de diez mil: My ¡ncome ¡s ten
thousand.
292
NOTES
Lesson 52
293
EJERCICIO II.
Lesson 52
295
NOTES
LESSON FIFTY-THREE
Giving
NOTES
(8) ¿Qué más da?: What's the difference? What difference does
¡t make? So what?
(9) Dárselas de: to like/enjoy showing themselves.
Se las da de rico: He enjoys showing himself rich.
(10) Dársela a uno con queso (Lit: to give it to someone with
cheese.): to own, possess others.
Me las ha dado con queso: He possesses me.
(11) Darla lata: to annoy, bore.
(12) Dar gato por liebre (Lit: to give a cat for a haré): to cheat,
swindle.
Lesson 53
297
NOTES
NOTES
LESSON FIFTY-FOUR
NOTES
Lesson 54
301
NOTES
NOTES
Lesson 54
303
EJERCICIO II.
Lesson 54
305
NOTES
*************************************************
LESSON FIFTY-FIVE
NOTES
Lesson 55
307
NOTES
NOTES
Lesson 55
309
Accionista stockholder
el Alza/la Baja boom/slump
Aprendiz apprentice
Aumento súbito sudden ¡ncrease
Bienes inmuebles real estáte
Bienes muebles movables, personal property
la Bolsa Stock Exchange
Carpintero carpenter
Corredor broker
Cotización quotation
Coyuntura boom
Cursillo de economía course of economy
Desarrollo urbano urban development
Dispararse to go off, bolt
Especulación speculation
Fluctuación fluctuation
Herramienta tool
índice general (de Bolsa) general ¡ndex
(of the Stock Exchange)
Iniciativa privada prívate initiative
Impuesto sobre la renta ¡ncome tax
Liquidación liquidation
Oficina de Turismo tourist office
Organismo oficial official organization
Proceso de crecimiento process of ¡ncrease
Renta per cepita income per head
Renta pública public debt
Sacar beneficio to make profit
Tomar apuntes to take notes
Trancar to trade
Valor estable firm valué
Valor refugio shelter valué
311
The conjunction
1. Coordinators
pues: for
no obstante: however
por lo tanto: therefore
sino: but
como: as
2. Subordinators
as soon as
Lesson 56
313
con tal (de) que, salvo que, excepto que, a menos que,
antes (de) que, a fin de que, para que
Lesson 56
315
NOTES
(1) Quien sirve al común, sirve a ningún: Lit: The one who serves
everyone does not serve anyone.
(2) Quien no arrisca, no aprisca: Lit: The one who does not risk
does not get sheep ¡n his sheep-pen.
(3) Arrisca ¡s an oíd form of arriesgar (to risk, hazard, venture).
Riesgo: risk.
(4) El comer y el rascar, todo es empezar: Lit: Eating and
scratching, they are only a question of beginning.
(5) Rascar, to scratch.
Si te pica, ráscate: If it is itching, scratch it.
(6) El bobo si es callado por sesudo es reputado: Lit: If the silly is
in silence, he ¡s known as a wise man.
316
LESSON FIFTY-SEVEN
NOTES
(7) Callado, -a: silent, quiet.
Callar to be silent, keep silence, be quiet.
Callarse: to stop talking.
(8) Seso: brain.
Sesudo: wise.
(9) El callar es cosa muy virtuosa, entre las virtudes muy
preciosa: Lit: Silence is a virtuous thing; it is very valuable
among virtues.
(10) El bien no es conocido hasta que es perdido: Lit: We don't
recognize good things until we lose them.
(11) Traidor, traidora: traitor, traitress.
Traición: treason, treachery.
Traicionar: to betray.
Lesson 57
317
NOTES
NOTES
Corrección del ejercicio 1.1. This is not good (does not serve), you
can throw ¡t away. 2. Although it ¡s difficult, I will take the risk. 3. If you
scratch yourself, it will be more painful. 4.1 stopped talking because I
thought that it was more prudent. 5. He is a person with a quiet
character.
Lesson 57
319
EJERCICIO II.
estorba.
me llevó
*************************************************
7E dolerá másj
~2>
*************************************************
LESSON FIFTY-EIGHT
Lesson 58
321
NOTES
(1) The ñame Iberoamérica comes from the ñame of the Iberian
Península and refers to those parts of the new continent that
were conquered by either the Spanish or the Portuguese.
Hispanoamérica comes from Hispania, Latín ñame for the
Iberian Península and means Spanish América.
(2) Here are the countries of Latín América and the ñames of
their ¡nhabitants.
Argentina argentino
¡Solivia boliviano
Colombia colombiano
Costa Rica costarricense or costarriqueño
Cuba cubano
Chile chileno
Ecuador ecuatoriano
Guatemala guatemalteco
Honduras hondureno
Méjico/México mejicano/mexicano
Nicaragua nicaragüense or nicaragüeño
Panamá panameño
Paraguay paraguayo
Perú peruano
Venezuela venezolano
322
PERSONAL NOTES:
Lesson 58
323
Lesson 58
325
EJERCICIO II.
*************************************************
*************************************************
LESSON FIFTY-NINE
Lesson 59
327
NOTES
(2) Uso: use, employment.
En buen uso: ¡n good condition.
Hacer buen uso de algo: to take advantage of something.
Hacer uso de la palabra: to take the floor.
Tener uso de razón: to be of age, mentally capable.
Al uso de la época: according to the customs of the period.
De uso: second-hand.
En buen/mal uso: ¡n good/bad condition.
(3) Andar de cabeza: to be going crazy, drive one's nuts, to be
going around ¡n circles.
328
NOTES
Lesson 59
329
NOTES
NOTES
(16) Buscar cinco pies al gato: to expect an ¡mpossibility, look for
trouble, pick a quarrel.
(17) Ver (o saber) de qué pie cojea uno: to be familiar with one's
vice, fault, moral defect or any weak point.
(18) No dar pie con bola: (Lit: not to be able to hit the ball) to make
one mistake after another, do nothing right.
*************************************************
LECCIÓN SESENTA
Carta abierta al lector (1)
Querido lector:
NOTE
*************************************************
LESSON SIXTY
Dear reader,
NOTE
Lesson 60
333
EJERCICIO II.
1. / did not forget that detail.
TR4fi4J& £N £L CAMPo pe ÍA
Lesson 60
336
Grammatical Appendix
and Verb üst
338
Grammatical Appendix
Contents
haber 341
2. The verbs uto have":
tener 343
ser 345
3. The verbs "to be":
estar 347
Basic Notions
2. Irregular verbs
There is an easy way of deciding wether a verb is irregular
or not: compare it with the models of -ar, -er or -ir verbs,
and check the singular form of the following tenses:
a) present indicative — first person
b) preterite — third person
c) future — first person
But if the verb is irregular ¡n (a) the first person singular of the
present indicative, then it will also be irregular ¡n the present
subjunctive and the imperative. If it is irregular in (b) the third
person singular of the preterite, it will also be irregular in the
imperfect subjunctive and the future subjunctive. If the first
person singular of the future indicative ¡s irregular (c), the
conditional tense will be irregular too.
We can cali these three groups (a) the present group, (b)
the preterite group and (c) the future group.
3. Compound verbs
Compound verbs are conjugated like the simple verb from
which they are derived. Thus for example, satisfacer "to
satisfy" is conjugated like hacer; disponer de: uto have at
one's disposar ¡s conjugated like poner.
Note:
IMPERSONAL FORMS
simple forms
Infinitive hab er
Gerund hab iendo
Past participle hab ¡do
compound forms
Infinitive haber habido
Gerund habiendo habido
INDICATIVE
he he hab ido
- has has hab ¡do
g> ha "O- ha hab ido
8? hemos hemos hab ido
habéis habéis hab ido
han han hab ido
hab ré <-
CONDITIONAL
he
hab ed
simple forms
Infinitive ten er
Gerund ten ¡endo
Past participle ten ido
compound forms
Infinitive haber tenido
Gerund habiendo tenido
INDICATIVE
e
tien
ten
e
emos
3 ha
hemos
ten
ten
ido
¡do
ten éis
a habéis ten ¡do
tien en han ten ido
•8 ten ía
1 había ten ¡do
a ten íamos
i habíamos ten ¡do
.5 ten íais i habíais ten ¡do
ten ían habían ten ¡do
CONDITIONAL
8í
tuv ¡eres
tuv ¡ere
I hubieres
hubiere
ten ¡do
ten ido
a
"5 tuv ¡eremos hubiéremos ten ido
tuv ¡eréis 1 hubiereis ten ido
tuv ieren hubieren ten ¡do
IMPERATIVE
ten
ten ed
345
SER: to be (1)
IMPERSONAL FORMS
simple forms
Infinitive s er
Gerund s iendo
Past participle s ¡do
compound forms
Infinitive haber sido
Gerund habiendo sido
INDICATIVE
soy he s ido
^ eres *- has s ido
m ha ido
$ es s
CONDITIONAL
se a haya s ¡do
se as hayas s ido
o
(0
se a haya s ido
se amos <5 hayamos s ¡do
a
se ais Q- hayáis s ¡do
se an hayan s ido
fu era or ese
•8 fu era ese
fu éramos ésemos
fu erais eseis
fu eran esen
1 hubiéramos
hubierais
hubiésemos
hubieseis
s ¡do
¡do
"o. s
hubieran hubiesen s ¡do
IMPERATIVE
sé
sed
(1) The verb ser ¡s, like haber, also an auxilliary verb. It is
used to express the passive voice.
347
IMPERSONAL FORMS
simple forms
Infinitive est ar
Gerund est ando
Past participle est ado
compound forms
Infinitive haber estadc>
Gerund habiendo estado
INDICATIVE
■S
estuv ¡ste 4 hubiste est ado
48
'§ estuv o c
hubo est ado
estuv irnos hubimos est ado
8 to
a estuv isteis hubisteis est ado
estuv ieron hubieron est ado
i
estar á Q.
habrá est ado
estar emos 8 habremos est ado
estar éis habréis est ado
estar án •*- habrán est ado
348
CONDITIONAL
SUBJUNCTIVE
1 est emos
est éis
1 hayamos
hayáis
est ado
est ado
est én hayan est ado
1 hubiéramos
hubierais
hubiésemos
hubieseis
est ado
est ado
hubieran hubiesen est ado
IMPERATIVE
est á
est ad
349
FIRST CONJUGATION:
INFINITIVE ENDING IN-AR
CANTAR: to sing
IMPERSONAL FORMS
simple forms
Infinitive cant ar
Gerund cant ando
Past participle cant ado
compound forms
Infinitive haber cantado
Gerund habiendo cantado
INDICATIVE
CONDITIONAL
IMPERATIVE
cant a
cant ad
351
SECOND CONJUGATION:
INFINITIVE ENDING IN -ER
COMER: to eat
IMPERSONAL FORMS
simple forms
Infinitive com er
Gerund com iendo
Past participle com ido
compound forms
Infinitive haber comido
Gerund habiendo comido
INDICATIVE
£
comer ás
comer á
1 habrás
habrá
com
com
ido
ido
a
•5 comer emos habremos com ido
^ comer éis 3 habréis com ¡do
comer án habrán com ¡do
352
CONDITIONAL
1 com ierais
com ¡éramos
ieseis
iésemos
com ¡eran iesen
com ¡do
**- com ¡eréis hubiereis com ¡do
com ¡eren hubieren com ¡do
IMPERATIVE
com e
com ed
353
THIRD CONJUGATION:
INFINITIVE ENDING IN-IR
VIVIR: to live
IMPERSONAL FORMS
simple forms
Infinitive viv ir
Gerund viv iendo
Past participle viv ¡do
compound forms
Infinitive haber vivido
Gerund habiendo vivido
INDICATIVE
CONDITIONAL
i
0
viv a haya viv ido
viv amos 0 hayamos viv ido
Q.
viv ais hayáis viv ¡do
viv an hayan viv ¡do
1
.5
viv ¡éramos
viv ¡erais
iésemos
ieseis
viv ¡eran iesen
IMPERATIVE
viv e
viv id
SPELLING CHANGES
Spelling changes required by certain verbs for certain persons do not in reality represent ¡rregularities. In all these verbs
they merely exist to retain the same sound. It is therefore not a question of ¡rregularity since, to the ear, nothing changes.
Thus for example in Vence/*: to conquer, if we want to keep the same sound in the present we do not write venco, but
venzo: I conquer.
Listed below are the equivalents:
Looking at this tabfe, we can establish that the change takes place when the ending begins with an "e". Therefore these
changes only appfy to the first person of the preterite and to the whole of the present of subjunctive.
B. Changes in the second and third conjugation
Verbs ending in cer, cir, ger, gir, guir, quir
In these verbs change takes place when the ending contains an o or a sound, i. e. in the first person of the
present indicative and all the forms of present subjunctive. s
CLASSIFICATION OF IRREGULAR VERBS
Group one
ene
These verbs have the diphthong te when the e preceding the verb ending canies a tonic accent. This
change thus only applies to the three persons singular and the third person plural of the present
tenses (both indicative and subjunctive) and the singular of imperative.
AJÍ the other forms of this verb - and of those belonging to the irregular verbs of group one - are regular
and are conjugated like cantar.
PERDER: "to lose"
All the other forms of this verb - and of those belonging to the irregular verbs of group one - are regular
and are conjugated like comer.
Discernir "to discern" and concernir: "to concern", are the only verbs ending in -ir belonging to group one
and consequently follow the same irregularity. Discierno: I discem, disciernes: you discern, etc. Concierno:
I concern, conciernes: you concern, etc. 8
Group two
s
o-ue
These verbs have the diphthong ue when the o preceding the verb ending carries a tonic accent. This
change therefore only applies to the three persons singular and the third person plural of the present
tenses (both indicative and subjunctive) and the singular of imperative.
All other forms of this verb - and of those belonging to the irregular verbs of group two - are regular and
conjúgate like cantar
MORDER: "to bite"
All other forms of this verb - and of those belonging to the irregular verbs of group two - are regular and
conjúgate like comer
In this group there are only verbs of the first conjugation - ending in ar- and of the second conjugation
- ending in en
Group three
c-zc
The verbs in this group take a z in the first person singular of present indicative and in all the forms of pre
sent subjunctive: when the c must be followed by a strong vowel (a and o)f i.e. when, phonetically, the
ending takes the sound k (ca, co).
indicative subjunctive
crezc o crezc a
cree es crezc as
cree e crezc a
indicative subjunctive
luzc o luzc a
luc es luzc as
luc e luzc a
luc irnos luzc amos
luc ís luzc ais
luc en luzc an
The other forms of these verbs - and oí those belonging to this group - are regular and are conjugated like
comer and vivir.
Ónly verbs of the second and third conjugation are found in this group.
Exceptions:
Hacer: "to do"; placer: uto please"; yacer: "to lie" - these three verbs have other irregularities and belong to
a list of verbs which cannot be classified here -; mecer: "to rock"; cocer "to cook" and escocer: "to itch".
In addition to these six verbs, the Real Academia Española includes in the exceptions of this group verbs
ending in ducir, since these verbs, in addition to the irregularities of group three, are also irregular in the
preterite. These verbs form group four.
Group four
c-zc (present)
c-j (preterite)
Verbs belongíng to group four are those ending in ducir In the present they have the same irregularities as
verbs ¡n group three. in addition to this - and this is why they form a group apart - the preterite ends in duje
and consequently the imperfect subjunctive in dujera or dujese and the future subjunctive in dujere.
TRADUCIR: "to transíate"
present indicative present subjunctive
traduzc o traduzc a
traduc es traduzc as
traduc e traduzc a
The other forms of this verb - and of those ending ¡n ducir- are regular and are conjugated like vivir.
Group five
Loss of ending i
Verbs ¡n this group lose the "i" in the 3rd persons of the preterite and, therefore, in all the forms of the
¡mperfect as well as ¡n the future subjunctive and the gerund.
Verbs belonging to this group are those ending ¡n -añer, -añir, -iñir, -uñir, -eller and -ullir.
With the exception of the third person singular and plural of preterite, the imperfect, the future subjunctive
and the gerund, the other forms of this verb - and those sharing the same irregularity - are regular and are
conjugated like vivir and comer.
Group six
e-¡
The "e" of the stem of the verbs in this group changes to V when ¡t is stressed or if the ending begins with
a diphthong or with an "a". This change applies ¡n the present, the preterite, the imperfect and the future of
subjunctive and the gerund.
In addition to servir: Mto serve", verbs belonging to this group are those ending ¡n ebir, edir, egir, eguir, emir,
endir, estir and etir.
The other tenses of these verbs are regular and are conjugated like vivir.
Group seven
The verbs in this group assemble all the ¡rregularities of groups five and six.
Verbs belonging to this group are those ending ¡n eír, enchir and eñir.
ri es rí as rí e
rí e rí a
re irnos rí amos
reís rí ais re id
rí en rí an
preterite indicative imperfect subjunctive future subjunctive
re í n era or ese n ere
re íste ri eras eses ri eres
ri ó ri era ese ri ere
re irnos rí éramos ésemos ri eremos
re ísteis ri erais eseis ri eréis
ri eron ri eran esen ri eren
gerund
ri endo
The other forms of the verbs belonging to group seven are regular and conjúgate like vivir.
A further difference between verbs ending in -eír and ~enchir/-eñir consists in their way of writing. The
latter verbs (e. g. henchir and reñir) have no accent mark in the present tenses (¡ncluding the imperative):
hincho, henchimos, hinche; riño, reñimos, riñe, etc. These verbs have an accent mark in the 1st and 3rd
person singular of indicatíve preterite only: henchí/reñí, hinchó/riñó. Reír, freír, etc. have an accent mark in
their past participle too: reído, freído.
Group eight &
e-ie
e-i
The verbs of this group have firstly: in the present group - present ¡ndicative, present subjunctive and the
imperative — the same irregularity as the verbs of group one, i.e. they have the diphthong ie when the e of
the stem is stressed.
Secondly in the present, preterite and the gerund, these verbs have the same irregularity as the verbs of
group six, i.e. unstressed "e" becomes "i" when the ending begins with a diphthong or an "a".
Verbs belonging to this group are those ending in entir, like sentir "to feel", erir like proferir: "to utter", and
ertir like divertir "to entertain": ¡n short, all verbs having V or "nt" after the "e" of the stem belong to this
group. The only exception is servir.