Lección 4: Gramática

1. Verbos irregulares en la primera persona

2. Saber vs. conocer3. La “a” personal

4. Contracciones: “al” y “del”5. Presente de indicativo de ir, dar y estar

6. Ir a + el infinitivo

Verbos irregulares en la primera persona (1)

The following verbs are irregular in the first-person singular of the present tense.

Saber vs. conocer (1)

• The verb to know has two Spanish equivalents, saber and conocer, which areused to express distinct types of knowledge.

• Saber means to know something by heart, to know how to do something (a learned skill), or to know a fact (information).

Saber vs. conocer (2)

- ¿Sabes el poema“The Raven” de memoria? “Do you know the poem ‘The Raven’ by heart?”

- ¿Ana sabe bailar salsa?“Does Ana know how to dance salsa?”

- ¿Ud. sabe el número de teléfono de David? “Do you know David’s phone number?”

Saber vs. conocer (3)

• Conocer means to be familiar or acquainted with a person, a thing, or a place.

- ¿Conoces a Hugo?“Do you know Hugo?”

- Sí, es el primo de Alberto.“Yes, he’s Alberto’s cousin.”

Saber vs. conocer (4)

- ¿Conocen Uds. todas las novelas de Cervantes?“Are you acquainted with all Cervantes’s novels?”

- ¿Conoces San Salvador?“Do you know (Have you been in San

Salvador?”

La “a” personal (1)

• The preposition “a” is used in Spanish before a direct object (recipient of the action expressed by the verb) referring to a specific person or persons. When the preposition “a” is used in this way, it is called the personal “a” and has no English equivalent.

La “a” personal (2)

Ejemplos:

- ¿Tú conoces a Carmen y a Héctor?“Do you know Carmen and Héctor?”

- Conozco a Carmen, pero no conozco a Héctor. “I know Carmen, but I don’t know

Héctor.”

La “a” personal (3)

• When there is a series of direct object nouns,referring to people, the personal “a” is repeated: ¿Tú conoces a Carmen y a Héctor?

• The personal a is not used when the direct object is a thing or place.Yo conozco Los Ángeles. I know Los Angeles.

La “a” personal (4)

• The personal a is seldom used following the verbtener even if the object is a person or persons.- Tengo dos hermanas.

I have two sisters.

• The personal a is also used when referring topets.- Yo llevo a mi perro a la veterinaria.

I take my dog to the vet.

• The preposition a and the article el contract to form al.

Contracciones: “al” y “del” (1)

Contracciones: “al” y “del” (2)

• Similarly, the preposition de and the definite article el contract to form del.

El libro de + el profesor

El libro del profesor

Contracciones: “al” y “del” (3)

• A + el and de + el must always be contracted to al and del.

- ¿Vienes del club?“Are you coming from the club?”

- No, vengo de la biblioteca.

- ¿Vamos al cine?“Shall we go to the movies?”

- Sí, vamos.

Contracciones: “al” y “del” (4)

• None of the other combinations of preposition and definite article ( de la, de los, de las, a la, a lo, a las) is contracted.

- El esposo de la profesora viene a la clase de español.

Contracciones: “al” y “del” (4)

Presente de indicativo de ir, dar y estar (1)

Ir, dar, estar

Presente de indicativo de ir, dar y estar (2)

- ¿Dónde está Aurora? “ Where is Aurora?”- Está en el teatro.“ She is at the theater.”

- ¿No da una fiesta hoy?“Isn’t she giving a party today?”- No, yo doy una fiesta. “ No, I’m giving a party.”

Presente de indicativo de ir, dar y estar (3)

- ¿Adónde vas?“ Where are you going (to)?”

- Voy al cine. I’m going to the movies.”

- ¿No estás cansada?“ Aren’t you tired?”- No, no estoy cansada. No, I am not tired.”

Presente de indicativo de ir, dar y estar (4)

• The verb estar is used to indicate location and to describe condition at a given moment in time.

Estar and ser are not interchangeable.

Location: Aurora está en el club.

Current condition: Estoy cansada.

Ir a + el infinitivo (1)

• The ir a + infinitive construction is used in Spanish to express future time, in the same way English uses the expression “to be going to + infinitive.”

ir (conjugated) + a + infinitive Voy a estudiar.

I am going to study.

Ir a + el infinitivo (2)

- ¿Tú vas a bailar con Jorge? “Are you going to dance with Jorge?”

- No, voy a bailar con Carlos.“ No, I‘m going to dance with Carlos.”

Ir a + el infinitivo (3)