Ser vs Estar Today I just want to review the basics of ser vs estar. I still sometimes get them confused. To the best of my knowledge, English only has one "to be". I wish the same was true for Spanish. My keyboard doesn't have the accent marks, I don't feel like copying and pasting the accent marks on to italki. I realize estar needs accent marks when you conjugate it most times, I know that. 1. Estuve en la casa. 2. Estuve enfermo. 3. Estuve nervioso! 4. Estare tranquilo! 5. Estoy malo 6. Estoy triste 7. Estoy feliz 8. Estas aburrido ahora (you are boring right now) 9. Cuando estaba en Nepal en 2013, siempre comia en el McDonalds (when I was in Nepal in 2013, I always ate at the McDonalds) 10. Soy de los estados unidos 11. Fue en espana en el quince de mayo 12. Soy Kyle y esta es mi padre y la novia de mi padre 13. Soy alto 14. Eres bajo 15. Eres linda 16. Ella era linda 17. Cuando era nino, era bajo 18. Antes era timido pero ahora, soy extrovertido. 19. En la clase de ingles para el examen final, estaba nervioso pero ahora, estoy tranquilo. Does anybody know how many "to be" we have in English? I think it's only one, isn't it? Is it common for other languages to have two or more "to be"? Thank you for your help for my 19 examples of ser vs. estar!

Translate my phrases from English to Spanish please! Today, I'm writing a few phrases/idioms that are very common in the English language. If these phrases/idioms have a translation from English to Spanish, please translate them for me. If the phrases that I post in English don't DIRECTLY translate to Spanish, or if they WOULDN'T make sense in Spanish then PLEASE TELL ME! Thanks! If anybody has some other good Spanish phrases, tell me! Credit for inspiration: http://www.smart-words.org/quotes-sayings/idioms-meaning.html 1. For the life of me, I can not believe.............. - this means you can't believe something is true, false, or happening 2. For the life of me, I can not understand...... - basically it means the same thing as #1 except you replace "believe" with "understand" 3. What the hell?! - this is said when you can't believe what you are seeing/what somebody said; it's used for something shocking 4. Actions speak louder than words - This phrase means that what you actually DO means more then what you SAY. 5. Add insult to injury - this means to make things worse 6. At the drop of a dime - this means you stop what you are doing (usually an action) at that very moment 7. Back to the drawing board - this means to start over 8. Ball is in your court - this means that YOU (the person you are talking to) has to make the decision on something 9. Barking up the wrong tree - This means you're Looking in the wrong place. You're Accusing the wrong person 10. Beat around the bush - to be very indirect about something; for example, if you want to ask a girl if she likes you then instead of just simply asking the girl "hey, do you like me" you would ask her 15213521356 questions to try to figure out if she likes you 11. Best of both worlds - Normally used when there are two options to choose from, but when you get to have BOTH options, then you have the best option from option A and the best option from option B. 12. Bite off more than you can chew - to take more responsibility then you can handle; to take on a task or activity that is to much for you to handle 13. Blessing in disguise - when something bad happens to you, but then in the very end everything works out very good for you. For example, you lose your job. But then two months after losing your job, you get an even better job with three times the annual salary! That would be a blessing in disguise. 14. Don't judge a book by its cover - When something (usually a person) is actually different then what your perceptions of it/them are.

Spaniards - Lets hear it, what idioms from Spain should I know?

Here's your chance to shine Spaniards - what are some popular idioms/phrases that I should know for when I speak Spanish with Spaniards? 

Please think of common and short idioms/phrases that I can use. If any other Latin Americans would like to join in and give me some useful and COMMON idioms, I'm all ears! 

Please state your nationality on your post. I would like to focus on universal/Spain idioms. I don't need the idioms that are exclusive to parts of Latin America. 

Equal Comparisons please help Italki! Hello Italki, today I wanted to write some comparative sentences using the following formulas: - Tanto + noun + como for equal comparisons - Más/menos + noun + que for unequal comparisons - The English sentence is what I want to say. The Spanish sentence is what I’m attempting to translate - I used the phrase “everybody else” a lot on here. Spanishdict says that the translation for this is “todos los demás”. If anybody has a good translation for “everybody else, anybody else, everyone else” then please let me know. EQUAL COMPARISONS FORUMLA: Tanto + noun + como 1. There are just as many people here then there are over there. 1. Aquí hay tanto personas como allá. 2. There are just as many options here as there are there. 2. Aquí hay tanto opciones como allí. 3. You are as beautiful as the rest of the girls (formal). 3. Eres tanto linda como las todas más chicas. 4. You are just as Smart as everybody else (formal). 4. Eres tanto inteligente como las todas más personas. 5. I was just as handsome as everybody else at the party. 5. Fue tanto guapo como todas más personas en la fiesta. 6. I was just as nervous as everybody else. 6. Estuve tanto nervioso como todas más personas. 7. I will be just as happy as the rest of my classmates when this semester is over with! 7. Estaré tanto feliz como los todos estudiantes cuando este semestre terminará. 8. I have just as much money as you do (formal). 8. Tengo tanto dinero como tú. 9. I like to party as much as everybody else does. 9. Me gusta tanto fiesta como todas más personas hacen. 10. I am struggling in my class as much as everybody else is. 10. Tengo tiempo duro tanto en mi clase como todas más estudiantes. 11. I want the same things in life as everybody else does. 11. Quiero tanto las cosas en mi vida tanto todas más personas.

Please correct my notebook entry with affirmatives & negatives in Spanish! Hello Italki! I posted this in the discussion part of the site, but I think that's the wrong place to put notebook entries that you want corrected. Somebody else helped me out when I posted it in the discussion part of the site, but I can't tell what he corrected & didn't correct, so I'll post this here too. If anybody could please correct my make believe conversation I would appreciate it very much! English is what I want to say, Spanish is what I attempt to translate. I have used as many affirmative and negative expressions as possible that are outlined in my textbook (alguien, algo, alguno, siempre, tambien, nadie, nada, ninguno, nunca, tampoco, ni). Please forgive me for my terrible Spanish. ENGLISH: Tom: I don’t know anybody here. Do you know anybody here? Julia: No, I don’t know anybody here either. Maybe if we go to a different club, we will know some more people who are there? Tom: That’s a good idea! But I don’t know of any clubs around here. Do you know of some good clubs in the area? Julia: Yeah, I know of a few that you might like. I know that you don’t like any rock or rap music, but what about house music? Do you like clubs that have house music? Tom: Yeah I do! However there are none around the area within walking distance. Julia: No, that’s not true! Somebody told me yesterday that there are always two clubs open on Fridays! We can go to “Club Crush” or “Club Life”. Which one do you want to go to? Tom: Either one, it doesn’t matter to me since I’ve never been to either one! Julia: Perfect, we can go to “Club Life”. Let’s go! SPANISH: Tom: No conozco a nadie aquí! Conoces a algiuen aquí? Julia: No, yo no conozco a nadie aquí tampoco! Tal vez van a una discoteca diferente, conoceríamos a algunas personas quien allí? Tom: Es un bien idea! Pero yo no sè donde esta algunas discotecas por aquí. Sabes algunas discotecas cerca de aquí? Julia: Si, yo sè algunas que te gustaría. Yo sè no te gusta la música rap o rock, pero te gusta la música electrónico? Te gusta las discotecas que tiene la música electrónico? Tom: Sí, me gusta! Sin embargo, no hay ningún cerca de aquí a pies. Julia: No es verdad! Ayer alguien me dijò hay siempre dos discotecas que abre en viernes! podemos ir a “Club Crush” o “Club Life”. Que prefieres? Tom: Me gusta dos opciones porque nunca en mi vida he estado a los dos discotecas! Julia: Perfecto, podemos ir a “Club Life”. Vamanos!

Affirmative & negative expressions in Spanish, please help Italki!

Hello Italki! If anybody could please correct my make believe conversation I would appreciate it very much! English is what I want to say, Spanish is what I attempt to translate. I have used as many affirmative and negative expressions as possible that are outlined in my textbook (alguien, algo, alguno, siempre, tambien, nadie, nada, ninguno, nunca, tampoco, ni). Please forgive me for my terrible Spanish. <o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

ENGLISH: <o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Tom: I don’t know anybody here.  Do you know anybody here?<o:p></o:p>

Julia: No, I don’t know anybody here either.  Maybe if we go to a different club, we will know some more people who are there?<o:p></o:p>

Tom: That’s a good idea! But I don’t know of any clubs around here. Do you know of some good clubs in the area?<o:p></o:p>

Julia: Yeah, I know of a few that you might like. I know that you don’t like any rock or rap music, but what about house music? Do you like clubs that have house music?<o:p></o:p>

Tom: Yeah I do! However there are none around the area within walking distance. <o:p></o:p>

Julia: No, that’s not true! Somebody told me yesterday that there are always two clubs open on Fridays! We can go to “Club Crush” or “Club Life”. Which one do you want to go to?<o:p></o:p>

Tom: Either one, it doesn’t matter to me since I’ve never been to either one!<o:p></o:p>

Julia: Perfect, we can go to “Club Life”. Let’s go!<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

SPANISH:<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Tom: No conozco a nadie aquí! Conoces a algiuen aquí?<o:p></o:p>

Julia: No, yo no conozco a nadie aquí tampoco! Tal vez van a una discoteca diferente, conoceríamos a algunas personas quien allí? <o:p></o:p>

Tom: Es un bien idea! Pero yo no sè donde esta algunas discotecas por aquí. Sabes algunas discotecas cerca de aquí?<o:p></o:p>

Julia: Si, yo sè algunas que te gustaría. Yo sè no te gusta la música rap o rock, pero te gusta la música electrónico? Te gusta las discotecas que tiene la música electrónico?<o:p></o:p>

Tom: Sí, me gusta!  Sin embargo, no hay ningún cerca de aquí a pies. <o:p></o:p>

Julia: No es verdad! Ayer alguien me dijò hay siempre dos discotecas que abre en viernes! podemos ir a “Club Crush” o “Club Life”. Que prefieres? <o:p></o:p>

Tom: Me gusta dos opciones porque nunca en mi vida he estado a los dos discotecas!<o:p></o:p>

Julia: Perfecto, podemos ir a “Club Life”. Vamanos!<o:p></o:p>

Giving directions - Please correct my Spanish grammar!

Hello Italki. I was wondering if anybody could help me out with my directions post. Some wonderful people helped me out last week in a similar post that I made, so I'm hoping that I have improved with this post. In English is what I want to write, in Spanish is what I’m attempting to translate. I’m a little confused about hasta/hasta que, so I’m not sure if I got those right in this post. Thanks for the help!<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

English Version<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

TOURIST: Hello, excuse me, can you tell me how to get to the grocery store? <o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Me: Hello, yeah sure no problem. First, go straight and turn left at the end of the street. Continue down the street  until you see the church. Then, turn left. Cross the light and continue straight until you see the “Hilton Hotel.” Then, turn left and continue straight for three blocks until you see the supermarket on the right hand side of the street. <o:p></o:p>

Tourist: Thank you very much!<o:p></o:p>

Me: You’re welcome, good luck!<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Tourist: Hola, Perdoname, me puede decir cómo llegar al supermarcado? <o:p></o:p>

 

Me: Hola, sí no problema. Primero, vaya derecho y doble izquierda al final de la calle. Siga a la calle hasta que mira la iglesia. Entonces, doble derecha. Cruce la luz y siga derecho hasta que mira el “Hilton Hotel”.  Entonces, doble izquierda y siga derecho para tres cuadras hasta que mira al supermacado en la derecha de la calle. <o:p></o:p>

 

Tourist: Muchisimas gracias!<o:p></o:p>

Me: De nada, buena suerte!<o:p></o:p>

Correct my make believe directions (English to Spanish) please!

Hello Italki!  I remember when I was in Lagos, Portugal and two tourists girls from Barcelona asked me in Spanish for directions. I was able to successfully give them directions to their hostel and I was so happy to help people in another language, just like so many people have helped me in my  native English language when I travel abroad!

So today, I have created a make believe conversation with two tourists asking me for directions.If you could, please correct my mistakes. I have written what I WANT to say in English, so please read that first before you read what I wrote in Spanish. For Spanish, I used the command plural form (ustedes) of the verbs since I'm talking to two girls. Although In English, I wrote what I would naturally say and it turns out I would naturally use the singular form when giving directions, even to two people at once! So, I’m not sure if that was correct or not in Spanish to use the ustedes command form. Also, names of businesses are in parenthesis.

Thank you in advance and please forgive me for butchering your language lol!!!!<o:p></o:p>

 

ENGLISH<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

One girl talking, while another girl is right beside & with her: Hello, how are you? We want to go to “Paprika Hostel.” Can you help us please?<o:p></o:p>

Me: Yeah sure, no problem. First, go to the end of the street. Then, turn to the right. Walk for about three minutes. When you see the store that’s called “Wal-Mart,” turn to the left. Continue walking straight until you see the supermarket that’s called “Ben’s”. When you see the supermarket “Ben’s” on the right hand side of the street, look to the left side of the street in front of “Ben’s” and you will see “Paprika Hostel.” <o:p></o:p>

Both girls at once: Thank you very much!<o:p></o:p>

Me: You’re welcome ladies, good luck!<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

SPANISH<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Two girls: “¿Hola, como está? Queremos ir a “Paprika Hostel.” ¿Puede ayudar? <o:p></o:p>

Me: Si, no problema. Primer, ven al final de la calle. Entonces, giren a la derecha. Caminen para tres minutos, mas o menos. Cuando ven la tienda se llama “Wal-Mart”, giren a la izquierda. Sigan caminar derecho hasta que miran el supermercado se llama “Ben’s”. Cuando ven al supermercado “Ben’s” en la derecha de la calle, miren a la izquierda de la calle enfrente de “Ben’s” y verán “Paprika Hostel.” <o:p></o:p>

Two girls: ¡Muchisimas gracias!<o:p></o:p>

Me: De nada damas, buenas suertes!<o:p></o:p>

Confusion about my textbooks example of the future/present tense (Spanish)? Please help!

In my textbook, when talking about the present progressive tense, it says this:

"Use the present progressive in Spanish only to describe actions in which people are engaged at the moment. Don't use it to describe routine ongoing activities (use the present indicative), to describe generalized action (use the infinitive) or to describe future actions."

Ok, that part seems simple enough. But the it gave this example when talking about the future:

"Estudio con Mario el lunes."

Translated to (according to the book):

"I will study with Mario on Monday."

My question is - why don't I use the future tense for estudiar (estudiare with the accent mark over the E) in that example, instead of the present indicative? Is this the same concept as "Ir + A + Infinitive"? Where in this example, "Voy a la casa," translates to "I'm going (to go) to the house", where "Voy" is conjugated in the present indicative even though it's talking about a future event? 

I just don't understand how "estudio con Mario el lunes" translates to "I will study with Mario on Monday."

Italki, please help me! Thanks!