The Spanish subjunctive and past tenses are known to be some of the most difficult grammar points for people learning Spanish as a foreign language. However, the infinitive verb form should not overlooked, as it can be sneakily tricky. Check out just how many different uses the infinitive has.

The Spanish subjunctive and past tenses are known to be some of the most difficult grammar points for people learning Spanish as a foreign language. However, the infinitive verb form should not overlooked, as it can be sneakily tricky. Check out just how many different uses the infinitive has. <h3>Introduction.</h3>In the Spanish language, we sometimes see certain non-personal forms of the verb in the infinitive, as well as in the gerund and in the participle. These can be used to express a meaning similar to the verb itself, however, they do not indicate tense, quantity or gender.&nbsp;Thus, it’s necessary to learn about the different usages of these forms, in order to prevent us from becoming completely lost. So, let’s review them together.&nbsp;We need to keep in mind that the infinitive has two methods of expression:&nbsp;<ul><li>Infinitivo simple (simple infinitive): trabajar, hacer, ir.</li></ul> Quiero trabajar - I want to work<ul><li>Infinitivo compuesto (compound infinitive): haber trabajado, haber hecho, haber ido.</li></ul> Deberías haber trabajado más - You should have worked more. <h3>Usages of the infinitive</h3>1. Grammar structures: Verbs + Simple infinitive.2. Simple infinitive as a grammar subject.3. Prepositions + Simple infinitive.4. Simple Infinitive vs. Subjunctive.5. Compound&nbsp;Infinitive&nbsp;(Perfect Infinitive). <h3>1. Grammar structures: Verbs + Simple infinitive.</h3> There are a lot of these types of grammar structures. Below we are goingo to review some of them.&nbsp; 1.1 Grammar structures to express wishes. <ul><li>Querer + infinitivo - Quiero vivir en un pueblo - I want to live in a town.</li><li>Desear + infinitivo - Deseamos aprobar el examen. - We want to pass the exam.</li><li>Necesitar + infinitivo - Necesitas trabajar menos - You need to work less.</li></ul> 1.2 Grammar structures to express an action in the future. <ul><li>Ir&nbsp;+ a +&nbsp;infinitivo - Mañana voy a ir al cine - Tomorrow I'm going to go to the cinema.</li><li>Empezar + a infinitivo - Tan pronto como pueda empezaré a comer - As soon as I can I will start eating.</li></ul> 1.3 Grammar structure to express being able to do something . <ul><li>Poder + infinitivo - Mi jefe me puede despedir en cualquier momento. - My boss can fire me at any time.</li></ul> 1.4 Grammar structures to express the need of doing something (obligation). <ul><li>Tener + que + infinitivo (personal)&nbsp;-Tengo que limpiar mi casa - I have to clean my house.</li><li>Haber + que + infinitivo (impersonal)&nbsp;-Hay que escoger el tipo de tela que quieres para el traje - We have to choose the type of fabric you want for the suit.</li><li>Deber + infinitivo - Debes estudiar más - You should study more.</li><li>No + infinitivo (is equivalent to a command or a general statement in signs, posters, and ads ) - No pisar el césped - Keep off the grass.</li></ul> 1.5 Grammar structures to express feelings. <ul><li>Gustar. Encantar + infinitivo - Me encanta estar de vacaciones - I love being on vacation.</li><li>Tener ganas + de + infinitivo - Hoy tenemos ganas de comer pizza - Today we feel like eating pizza.</li><li>Apetecer +&nbsp;infinitivo - No me apetece ir al trabajo - I don't feel like going to work.</li></ul>&nbsp; <h3>2 Simple infinitive as a grammar subject.</h3> In Spanish, infinitives can be used as the subject of a verb. When infinitives are used as subjects, they usually appear before the verb and can optionally be preceded by the definite article el (the).&nbsp;Notice that in English, when the verb shows action, it uses a gerund “-ing.”&nbsp;<ul><li>‘Amanecer -&nbsp;dawn’ -&gt; - El amanecer aquí es tranquilo - Dawn here is quiet</li><li>‘Anochecer - dusk’ -&gt; El anochecer - The dusk.- El anochecer en invierno es muy pronto - Dusk in winter is very early.&nbsp;</li><li>‘Beber&nbsp;- drink’&nbsp;-&gt; (El) Beber agua es bueno para la salud - Drinking water is good for health.</li><li>‘Dormir - sleep’ -&gt; (El) Dormir cuando hace calor, es duro - Sleeping when it 's hot is hard.</li><li>‘Aprender - learn’ -&gt; (El) Aprender un nuevo idioma es muy interesante - Learning a new language is very interesting.</li></ul>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <h3>3 Prepositions + Simple infinitive.</h3>In Spanish when we use a verb after a preposition, we always need the simple infinitive form. Notice that in English you use an “-ing” in some cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <ul><li>Regresó a su país para estar más cerca de su familia - He returned to his country to be closer to his family..</li><li>Se marchó sin decir adiós - He left without saying good-bye.</li><li>Apaga las luces antes de salir - Turn the lights off before leaving.</li><li>Está cansado de discutir - He is tired of arguing.</li><li>Sueña con tener un día su propio negocio - She dreams of having her own business.</li><li>A saber -&nbsp;La mano tiene cinco dedos, a saber: el meñique, anular, corazón, índice y pulgar - The hand has five fingers, namely: the little finger, ring finger, middle finger, index finger and thumb.</li><li>Al (a&nbsp;+ el)&nbsp;entrar, dijo hola -&nbsp;Upon entering, he said hello.</li></ul>&nbsp; <h3>4 Simple Infinitive vs. Subjunctive.</h3> To express wishes to the same subject, the simple infinitive is needed avoiding the subjunctive tense.&nbsp;(YO) Deseo que (YO) viaje (subjunctive present) por todo el mundo -&gt;(YO) Deseo viajar por todo el mundo - I want to travel around the world(ELLA)&nbsp;No quiere que (ELLA) (subjunctive present) trabaje en su casa -&gt;(ELLA)&nbsp;No quiere trabajar en su casa -&nbsp;She doesn't want to work at home.&nbsp;Also, some influential verbs can be followed by the simple infinitive. This structure can be used as an impersonal alternative to the subjunctive. However, you should be very careful! In many of these cases, the passive voice is used in English.&nbsp;El magnate mandó construir una pirámide.It 's accepted subjunctive: Mandó que construyeran una pirámide.The tycoon ordered a pyramid to be built&nbsp;El gobierno prohibió mostrar las imágenes.It 's accepted subjunctive:&nbsp;El gobierno prohibió que mostraran las imágenes.The government didn't allow the pictures to be shown. <h3>5 Compound Infinitive (Perfect Infinitive).</h3> The compound infinitive is created by combining the infinitive form of the auxiliary verb 'haber' (meaning 'to have') with the past participle of a different verb. This construction is employed alongside another verb to convey an event that took place prior to the main verb's action. To employ this form, both actions must share the same subject. Compound Infinitives are utilized in identical situations as basic infinitives (either as the subject, following a conjugated verb and after a preposition). El haber estudiado todos los días me ayudó a pasar el examen.Having studied every day helped me pass the exam.Espero haber resuelto tus dudas.I hope I have resolved your questions.Salió sin haber terminado la tarea.He left without having finished his homework. You can use the preposition ‘de’ followed by the compound infinitive to state a condition. De haber estudiado todos los días, no habría pasado el examen.If I hadn’t studied every day,&nbsp;I wouldn’t have passed the exam. Feel free to leave any questions or comments in the chat. I'll be glad to answer them.&nbsp;I hope the article has helped you better understand the uses of the Infinitive.If you'd like to delve deeper into this topic, or any other, let's begin an iTalki classroom. I am more than happy to work together. Thanks for reading.Antonio

¡A estudiar! Infinitive Spanish usages

Since English is the default language, it is important to develop and improve your English speaking skills.  The following 10 tips should help you improve your verbal communication skills and also help those that you speak with when using any second language.

As you may know, English is now the global language of business. More and more multinational companies are mandating English as the common corporate language—Airbus, Daimler-Chrysler, Nokia, Renault, Samsung, SAP, Technicolor, and Microsoft in Beijing, to name a few.<img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/q-vkmny5awblZ2GvDd-ehWIzYJrJ-QeVcBP7592XROQgk473j6duZeLoDwHg1meIfJtre0Z9-dpElQB9U5kTc0pGTUCpubm4KCY_FvmT3HO2HxmAVfgCYe_wP6fi-uNMxnazd2GrFHGWj6ufyJKaOehUjXPG9t4t1V-RDx9z1CgMNQcaJANMwuC8bdNxPA" height="171" width="324">&nbsp;Your life would be much easier if the international language of business was your native language.&nbsp;But since English is the default language, it is important to develop and improve your English speaking skills.The following 10 tips should help you improve your verbal communication skills and also help those that you speak with when using any second language.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>1. Worrying about your accent</h3>Everyone has an accent, but in a language speaking test such as IELTS, speaking with an accent is not important; proper pronunciation is important. There are many online audio resources that you can listen to and copy, but the best way is to ask a native speaker if you are pronouncing a word the correct way.&nbsp;<h3>2. Speaking and writing at the level of the listener or reader</h3>It is important to recognize the language level of the person you are speaking or writing to. If your second language skill is at an intermediate level and the listener or reader’s level is lower than your level, then you must speak or write at the level of the listener or reader ― doing this will result in better communications.<img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/tptFAYnC9q00JFwfa0KC8GzuC3lEoocZMqMxaPbOwE_Sdfj27hePFL7W9vAihIPaYhMYb2aB5FXO4JUpKKdrnHY3CVQaa6iWYfIscaQPGhbiMGDUGa9-vqJATbwhW1Pc_spfTahtsnAhOUpqN1vWMoJVXssvQdK8lF9xcRk0Qge2_jmGbGeniwWp85VgMg" height="174" width="261">&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>3. Using filler words</h3>Everyone uses filler words, such as “um” “ah” “eh” “uh”.We use these words for two reasons. First, we use them to buy some time (to take some time) to think of what we will say next. We also use filler words to let the listener know that we have not finished speaking.It is important to use these filler words sparingly (i.e., not too often).So, try not to use these words or sounds too often. &nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>4. Using unnecessary, slang phrases</h3>If you are using English or another second language when speaking to someone, you should not use phrases, such as “you know” or “like” or “right”. Too many English speakers finish every sentence with “you know”. It is not necessary to use these phrases ― they add nothing to the conversation and they are not professional.In the past people would say, “Have a good day”, but in the last few years people often say “Have a good one”. When I hear someone say “Have a good one”, I feel like saying “Have a good WHAT?”&nbsp;<h3>5. Speaking too quickly</h3>Some people believe that speaking a second language quickly makes one sound more fluent; however, that’s not really true. Speaking too quickly may make it difficult for the listener to follow what you are saying and could lead to confusion on the part of the listener. <h3>6. Speak 10% louder and 10% slower than usual</h3>When two people speak using their native language, they can speak quickly and the other person will understand the speaker. But when we are using a second language, the listener will have more time to understand what we are saying if we speak 10% slower and 10% louder.Doing this will help to make our conversation clearer.<img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/XukxlMjVjkMXiX2OGOqoqKYmfZ2oTzX42LBhzH3_4eEjVvl47UIzFKeGV9NsM6YGDbTtndD6CWU_kV31mvF8Cbyj4n_lfjEXxl81UgZzu8oue2Uv1tZdzQTqDrB4PaBg8BrnuN8TnuxFfLmc45jMNzvikxcj-i1QQrnC3358mgITr5runcRNo3n_IXYWsw" height="197" width="294">&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>7. Enunciating properly</h3>Pronunciation and enunciation are closely related terms, but they do not have the same meaning.Pronunciation is related to the way a word is spelled and how the word, its syllables, and combination of letters are spoken properly.Enunciation refers to how clearly and distinctly words are spoken (the sound of your voice).Enunciating each word clearly and separate from other words will lead to clearer communications.&nbsp;<h3>8. If you speak to a native English speaker</h3>─&nbsp;ask them if you are speaking too quickly─&nbsp;ask them to tell you if you are speaking clearly─&nbsp;ask them if they understand all the words you are speaking─&nbsp;ask them to correct any pronunciation mistakesIf they do correct your pronunciation or enunciation, be sure to thank them for their help. <h3>9. Using acronyms, abbreviations, and idioms</h3>If you are using terms, acronyms, abbreviations, unfamiliar words, or technical jargon that the listener does not know, you need to ensure that the listener understands their meanings.Ask the listener if they understand the expression you are using, and if necessary, explain the meaning to them. <h3>10.&nbsp;Avoiding speaking because you may make a mistake</h3>One thing that we can all be sure of is that we will all make one or more mistakes every day, even when we are speaking using our native language.Saying “I want to buy computer” (without the article “a”) is not a big mistake, but some information such as technical terms, numbers, and units of measurement (Kg, Pounds, Km, and miles) is critical, especially in business.So, don’t worry about small grammar mistakes, but be sure that the listener understands critical terms, numbers and data.<img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/zTCXWTFawUVKVlfseUy4QXk7IT6ufd975IFV2hSZAqslMcNPDCDYV94GmGV4EpbSxNveHrFJyIW2b-yV7vqL3vJJQTtvJHyxSXuJLkWZ-n70Tm4jvduc-fvcJEYGAk5xcgqISqgRvYhN67w9SPIs_R0cAq43Po2EIUgN8MT5s_N4j2SlSepUlCmJRpdWfg" height="288" width="288">&nbsp;

Communicating Professionally ― 10 Helpful Tips

Today let's find out the 15 ways of inquiring about someone's well-being in Italian and understand when to use them best.

Every time we bump into a family member, a friend, or an acquaintance, our initial instinct is to ask: how are youDepending on the context and the person you are addressing, the level of formality can vary. For instance, when talking with a complete stranger, it's essential to be polite and use the appropriate pronouns, whereas with your closest friends, a more casual and informal approach is acceptable. Today let's find out the 15 ways of inquiring about someone's well-being in Italian and understand when to use them best. <h3>1. “Come stai?” ( informal) vs. “come sta?” ( formal) - how are you?</h3>This is the most common way of greeting someone. The first phrase - “come stai” is used when you are speaking to a friend, someone very close to you, or a family member. The sentence is constructed with the verb “stare” which literally means to stay and it is conjugated in the 2nd present indicative person when speaking informally whereas “come sta”&nbsp;is used when speaking formally and it is conjugated in the third person of the present indicative. <h3>2. “Come va?” - how is it going?&nbsp;</h3>This is a very common method of asking how someone is doing. This phrase takes a neutral form and it can be used both informally or formally. So stay reassured that it can be used even with a complete stranger! <h3>3. “Come va la vita?” - how is life?</h3>This third method of greeting literally translates into How is life? It can be used when you are seeing someone after a long time and whether you are wondering how things have been proceeding in their life. <h3>4. “Come butta?” -&nbsp;what's up?</h3>It is an informal way of asking what’s up. It is often a slang jargon used at a more colloquial level among friends. Although the literal translation is not what’s up, the word “butta” comes from the verb buttare/buttarsi which literally means to throw.&nbsp;This phrase translates to - how does it throw?&nbsp; <h3>5. “Allora, cosa mi racconti?” - So, what’s been going on?</h3>This expression is an informal way of asking someone what they would like to tell. It can be translated into What’s up or What can you tell me? The verb used is “raccontare” which means to tell. “Cosa mi racconti” is the informal greeting whereas “cosa mi racconta” is the formal way.&nbsp; <h3>6. “Che si dice?” -&nbsp;what's up?</h3>Another very common expression to ask what's up. It is used neutrally to ask what's new or what's up. <h3>7. “Come andiamo?” - how are we doing?</h3>“Come andiamo, Paolo?” - it means how are we doing, Paolo? Depending on the context, it could mean several things. In this instance, it could be used to ask about the status of a project and where we stand with it. It could also mean “How are we looking?” <h3>8. “Tutto apposto?” - is everything ok?</h3>This phrase isn't used to initiate a conversation but to ask if someone has been feeling okay in general. Let’s say you see a friend looking sad, you would approach them and ask them “Tutto apposto?” <h3>9. “Novita’?” - whats new?</h3>This expression goes beyond the typical way of greeting someone. Although you wouldnt use it to ask how someone is doing, it is rather used to ask if someone has anything new or exciting to share about their life. This expression can be used both in a formal or informal setting <h3>10. “Come vanno le cose”&nbsp;- how are things?</h3>This is also a very common Italian expression used to engage in a conversation and ask someone how everything is going. <h3>11. “ Come ti senti?” - “ how do you feel?</h3>This expression is asking how someone is feeling. You would use this sentence for instance,&nbsp;when someone got hurt during a game, or maybe got sick. It is a very casual expression used to check on someone. The formal way of asking the same question is “come si sente?” <h3>12. “Ti senti meglio/ Si sente meglio?” - Do you feel better/ are you feeling better?</h3>This is an alteration of “ come ti senti/come si sente” - it is again used to ask how someone is feeling, but inclined more towards a positive direction to ensure someone is feeling better. “Si sente meglio” is the formal version. <h3>13. “Come te la passi?” - how is it going/how have you been?</h3>“Come te la passi” is an informal method of asking someone how they have been. It is a great conversation starter. “Come se la passa” is the formal version. <h3>14.&nbsp;“Che fai di bello?” - What are you up to?</h3>This is a greeting expression to say what you are doing for fun or excitement. It is used to initiate a conversation and to learn what the other person has been up to. The formal version is “che fa di bello?” <h3>15. “Che succede?” - what's going on/ what's wrong&nbsp;</h3>This expression is not necessarily used to initiate a conversation, but rather to know what's going on in a particular situation. For example, if you suddenly see your neighbor calling the police, you would ask “ che succede?”A variation of this sentence would be “che succede con Paolo” which means How is everything with Paolo/ how are things going with Paolo… Context-wise, the question would be asked to know how the relationship with Paolo is evolving.&nbsp; Now it is your turn to practice.&nbsp;Whether you are going for a check-up at the doctor's or going for a grocery at the store, use any of the above expressions to put into practice what you have learned.Be careful with whom you are addressing and the context. Divertiti ( have fun)

15 Says of Saying How are You in Italian

Even those who have recently begun to take their first steps in the Italian language know the word "THANK YOU!"   Sometimes, however, it seems trivial or insufficient…or you feel like diversifying and trying new expressions as well. This article is designed precisely to meet those needs!

Hello students from all over the world! In the September article we talked about how to compliment someone, So I thought you would need to know how to respond. It is so nice when someone says something kind to us, but how do we respond to all those compliments? If in addition to embarrassment, we can't find the words because we don't know them, it might seem that we didn't like the compliments but if not, we need to enrich our vocabulary.Even those who have recently begun to take their first steps in the Italian language know the word "THANK YOU!"&nbsp;Sometimes, however, it seems trivial or insufficient…or you feel like diversifying and trying new expressions as well. This article is designed precisely to meet those needs!&nbsp;then let's start with:1) say thank you with the addition of terms that reinforce the meaning:&nbsp;GRAZIE MILLE!MILLE GRAZIE!&nbsp;GRAZIE INFINITE!&nbsp;MOLTE GRAZIE!&nbsp;GRAZIE TANTE!&nbsp;GRAZIE DI CUORE!THANK YOU VERY/SO MUCH!MANY THANKS!THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART! WARNING!One mistake that those studying Italian often make is to use "Thank you for / of + a verb in the infinitive"&nbsp;Examples:&nbsp;Grazie di chiamare&nbsp;Thank you for calling Grazie per rispondereThank you for responding Grazie di aiutarmiThank you for helping me&nbsp;In Italian, however, this structure is not correct!In fact, in these cases, the grammatically correct structure is:&nbsp;Thank you + OF / FOR + infinitive auxiliary + past participle of the verb&nbsp;Examples:&nbsp;Grazie di aver chiamato&nbsp;Thank you for calling Grazie per aver rispostoThank you for responding Grazie di avermi aiutatoThank you for helping me&nbsp;Or the alternative structure is:Thank you + OF / FOR + noun&nbsp;Examples:&nbsp;Grazie della chiamataThanks for the call Grazie per la risposta&nbsp;Thank you for your reply Grazie dell’aiutoThanks for your help&nbsp;Let’s discover the 5 most common mistakes made by Italian learners!&nbsp;2) The verb "to give thanks" ringraziareN.B. When we use "thank you," since it is a verb, we must be very careful to conjugate it correctly! Therefore, we will say:&nbsp;Ti ringrazio! Thank you. → in informal contexts, if the person to thank is our friend, relative, close acquaintance...La ringrazio! Thank you! → in formal settings, if we are addressing our employer, professor, doctor, or if we do not know the person in front of us&nbsp;Vi ringrazio! Thank you! → If there are more than one person to thank, whether in a formal or informal setting.&nbsp;This verb can also be reinforced with other terms. We will thus have expressions such as:&nbsp;Ti ringrazio di cuoreI thank you from the bottom of my heart!&nbsp;La ringrazio tanto (formal)Thank you very much!&nbsp;Vi ringrazio tantoThank you (all) so much!&nbsp;3) The expression "to be grateful to someone of/for something" “essere grati a qualcuno di / per qualcosa”&nbsp;Examples:&nbsp;Sono grata ai miei genitori per avermi pagato le tasse universitarie!I am grateful to my parents for paying my college tuition!&nbsp;Ti sono grato per avermi aiutato a realizzare questo video!I am grateful to you for helping me make this video! 4) The expression "owe a favor (to someone)" → "owe something to someone" “dovere un favore (a qualcuno)“ → “dovere qualcosa a qualcuno”&nbsp;means to owe something: in this case, a favor&nbsp;Example:&nbsp;Devo un favore a Lorenzo per avermi aiutato a montare questo armadio!I owe Lorenzo a favor for helping me assemble this cabinet! What better occasion than this to thank my students who are reading this article?&nbsp;Well, I take this opportunity to open a small parenthesis to say hello and thank you to all my students and readers, working as an italki tutor has been a parenthesis of my life that I will never forget (and that I don't deny that I miss so much) thanks to these articles I am still able to keep in touch with this world. I remember that a student of mine who later became my friend (with whom we also met by arranging for a vacation), had the word "grazie" dedicated to the Italian and Italy. Just as it was for her, it was gratifying for me knowing that I have been helpful to someone. So today I leave you with this word, gratifying - feeling gratified. (gratificare - sentirsi gratificati). &nbsp;I would like each of you in the comments to write what you feel grateful for.&nbsp;&nbsp;Talk to you in November, ciaoo dear students :)

Ways to say "Grazie" in Italian

Language is a fascinating facet of human culture, rich with idiomatic expressions that can be both amusing and perplexing. Spanish, one of the world's most widely spoken languages, is no exception. In this article, we'll take a journey into the world of Spanish idioms that will leave you scratching

Language is a fascinating facet of human culture, rich with idiomatic expressions that can be both amusing and perplexing. Spanish, one of the world's most widely spoken languages, is no exception. In this article, we'll take a journey into the world of Spanish idioms that will leave you scratching your head and chuckling. These peculiar expressions are not only entertaining but also reveal the vivid and creative nature of the Spanish language. <h3>1. "Está lloviendo a cántaros."</h3> Literal Meaning: "It's raining pitchers." When someone exclaims, "¡Está lloviendo a cántaros!" in Spain, they're not suggesting that pitchers are falling from the sky. Instead, they're describing a heavy rainstorm. The imagery of pitchers pouring from the sky is both quirky and vivid, making this idiom a delightful way to express torrential rain. <h3>2. "Estar en las nubes."</h3> <img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/7RtMgHSERzIuxODA0sp3d1Ky2f-42u3kAzSg252k3HEUHppuFQ0KGKQB5u7AuM7_cTvkSpWk-ggGoRX9iw1W4cUnyhO4-U7NdD_SHqlD0p5WOT6tqBYvsjDyldVTJHWbTCZL6YmuYQ44UtxVmYWCXg" alt="estar-en-las-nubes1.jpg" height="231" width="347"> Literal Meaning: "To be in the clouds." If you hear a Spanish speaker saying, "Estoy en las nubes," it doesn't mean they've suddenly acquired the ability to float among the cumulus. Rather, it's a way to express that someone is daydreaming or not paying attention. This idiom beautifully captures the notion of a person's thoughts drifting away like clouds. <h3>3. "Meter la pata."</h3> Literal Meaning: "To put the paw in." If someone says, "Metí la pata," they're not confessing to an awkward encounter with a furry friend. Instead, they're admitting to making a mistake or messing things up. This idiom's visual imagery of putting a paw where it doesn't belong adds humor to the confession of an error.<img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/InFW_y8gx1S4eL0zGxdGPEsRmFB65Y_eKIWM9iK6_Q2Lez7LZhD2ceDVm9hGLZMypTsOz3quANWWhz-b8UhHZVmm88HrYJ7sOZg9Qdg9119Ec0KXGEtXLJvleCxOIzDtNXPG2px6n30iJnTKINz3gA" alt="vyqMwwP.jpg" height="271" width="361"> <h3>4. "Ser pan comido."</h3> Literal Meaning: "To be eaten bread." "Ser pan comido" implies that something is a piece of cake or incredibly easy. You won't find any actual bread being devoured; it's just a way to convey the simplicity of a task. The idiom's simplicity mirrors the ease it describes. <h3>5. "Tener un humor de perros."</h3> Literal Meaning: "To have a dog's mood." When someone says, "Tiene un humor de perros," they're not comparing the person to a canine's moodiness. Instead, they're saying the individual is in a bad mood. The idiom's humor lies in the association of grumpiness with man's best friend. <h3>6. "Ponerse las pilas."</h3> Literal Meaning: "To put on the batteries." If someone tells you to "ponerte las pilas," they're not suggesting you start inserting batteries into your body. Rather, they're encouraging you to get your act together, be more alert, or work harder. The image of putting on batteries vividly conveys the idea of boosting your energy and motivation. <h3>7. "Estar como una cabra."</h3> <img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/cfmaKD9rdLkcI7as_L5qewUvSpfSOcvfpuQrtZiTA7d1WFXVlKH-kjzaxQGZoEvqLSiqYjmoelUA8EbSjZL0fAPD4MoHU4LyPYsxz47acRtv5IIhO-E-Ip9ceode3XE0YlbTPfpJu1bPSWannuNBuw" alt="Cabra-negra-web-1.jpg" height="259" width="408"> Literal Meaning: "To be like a goat." When you hear someone exclaim, "¡Estás como una cabra!" they're not commenting on your resemblance to a farm animal. This idiom means that someone is acting crazy or eccentric. The humor arises from the comparison of human behavior to the unpredictability of goats. <h3>8. "Tener más lana que un borrego."</h3> Literal Meaning: "To have more wool than a lamb." If someone tells you they have "más lana que un borrego," they're not bragging about their extensive collection of lamb's wool. Instead, they're boasting about their wealth or abundance of money. The idiom's imagery draws a playful parallel between wealth and the fleece of a lamb. <h3>9. "Tomar el pelo."</h3> Literal Meaning: "To take the hair." When someone is "tomando el pelo," they're not engaged in a strange follicular activity. Instead, they're teasing or pulling someone's leg, joking or mocking in a light-hearted way. This idiom adds a touch of humor to the act of playful banter. <img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/0zrgJ5UFjfDXhBef2G_gM_5jlmfkeg5KuJbTlVdsu4KN5MIO0i78X_R6rfx3WOTPYcXKlz-WhIJC1rf1QZdnc17HkgkUiHMXYd4qgi-e87uvYEWSenrA_qa09qvk2EiOHJC1VD9YdxsA3v-dBPLbmg" alt="1140-running-low-on-energy-esp.jpg" height="253" width="441"> <h3>10. "Estar en las últimas."</h3> Literal Meaning: "To be in the last ones." If someone says they're "en las últimas," it doesn't mean they're on the brink of becoming the last person on Earth. Rather, it means they're feeling exhausted or near the end of their strength. The idiom's literal interpretation and the actual meaning couldn't be farther apart. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Spanish idioms are a window into the cultural and linguistic richness of the Spanish-speaking world. These expressions often defy logic when taken literally but provide a unique insight into the colorful and creative nature of the language. From raining pitchers to having more wool than a lamb, Spanish idioms add a touch of whimsy and humor to everyday conversations. So, the next time you encounter one of these quirky expressions, you'll be ready to scratch your head and share a chuckle with native Spanish speakers.

Spanish Idioms That Will Leave You Scratching Your Head (And Chuckling)

Let's learn Paronyms and homonyms in French!

<h2>Paronymy:</h2>Introduction :Paronymy is the relationship between two linguistic forms, oral and written, which are close but different. It is therefore a lexical relationship between two words whose meanings are different while the spelling (script) and/or pronunciation (oral) are almost identical to the point where they are confused when reading or hearing. Définition :Paronyms are words that have similar (not identical) forms. We often tend to confuse them in writing and speaking. But the meanings are completely different.Examples : « message et massage ».There are many paronyms that are often confused. Here are a few :-à faire (to do) / affaire (business)-à faire : avoir une tâche (have a task), une mission (a mission), quelque chose à réaliser ( something to achieve).-affaire : avoir affaire à quelqu’un (to deal with someone). *Auspices / hospice.- Auspices means support, patronage, protection…- Hospice means “social assistance home”. *Bâiller / bayer.-Bâiller : Opening your mouth as a sign of fatigue or sleep.-Bayer : daydream, be carried away by dreams. *Balade / ballade.-Balade : a stroll is a walk or hike.-Ballade : ballade is a poem or the lyrics of a song. *Bimensuel / bimestriel.-Bimensuel means “that which takes place twice a month”.-Bimestriel means “what happens, happens once every two months”. *Censé / sensé.-Censé means “supposed” (followed by an infinitive). John is supposed to do this work alone.-Sensé means “who has common sense”, opposite of “insane”*de suite / tout de suite.-de suite= following , consecutively.-tout de suite = on the field. *En train / entrain-en train = what is currently running.-entrain = liveliness, enthusiasm. *Fond / fonds-fond = the deepest, lowest point.-fonds = business capital, large sum of money. *Repaire / repère.-Repaire = a refuge, a shelter, a den.-Repère = a mark, a point of orientation *Suggestion / sujétion.-suggestion means a proposal, advice.-sujétion means a constraint, a dependence. <h2>Homonymy:</h2>It is the relationship between words in a language which have the same oral and/or written form but different meanings. Homonymy is a special case of ambiguity (case of polysemy). <h3>Classes d’homonymes.</h3>1.Les homographes : These are words that are spelled the same way but have different meanings.Examples :&nbsp;Fortune / fortune-Fortune = luck-Fortune = large amount of money *Mineur / mineur-Mineur = one who works in a mine-Mineur= a child (who is not yet an adult). *Vent / vent-Vent = a strong movement of air.-Vent = intestinal gas. 2.Les homophones.These are words that are pronounced the same way and written differently.Example :*Chat / chas.-Chat = the cat (animal) meows.&nbsp;-Chas = the eye of the needle.Note: Words that are written and pronounced the same way are called “true homonyms.” Here is a list of common homonyms :-Aller=(verbe) , aller à l’école.&nbsp;&nbsp;-Allée= (nom) , l’allée du jardin.Go=(verb), go to school.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Allée= (name), the garden path.&nbsp; *Au / eau / haut.-Eau= buvez l’eau minérale&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Au=les joueurs sont au stade.&nbsp;-Water=drink mineral water&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Au=the players are at the stadium.-Haut= le haut du tableau. (haut =/= bas).-Top= the top of the table. (top =/= bottom). *Balai / ballet.-Ballet = groupe de danseurs&nbsp;&nbsp;-Balai= outil pour nettoyage (les escaliers) .-Ballet = group of dancers&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Broom = tool for cleaning (stairs). *Bar / barre.-Bar=local où on vend du vin&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Barre= une barre de fer.-Bar=local where wine is sold&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Bar=an iron bar. *Bon / bond.-Bon= Un bon travail (=/= mauvais)&nbsp;&nbsp;-Bond= saut : le lapin fait des bonds-Good= Good work (=/= bad)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Bond= jump: the rabbit jumps *Sans / sang / cent.-Cent=(100) , un siècle signifie cent ans.&nbsp;&nbsp;-Hundred=(100) , a century means a hundred years&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Sang= Nous avons tous du sang dans les veines.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Blood= We all have blood in our veins.&nbsp;-Sans(préposition)= Ne conduisez pas sans permis.&nbsp;&nbsp;-Sans(preposition)= Do not drive without a license.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*Chair / cher / chère.-Chair= la chair humaine&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- Cher= Les bijoux en or sont chers.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Flesh= human flesh&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- Expensive= Gold jewelry is expensive.-Chère= Chère maman.-Dear= Dear mom. *Cour / cours / court.-Cour= La cour de la maison est spacieuse.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Courtyard= The courtyard of the house is spacious.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Cours= Un cours de français-Course= A French course-Court(=/= long) un short est un pantalon court.-Short (=/= long) shorts are short pants. *Faim / fin.-Faim =(need to eat). It's noon, the children are hungry.-Fin = (=/= début) the referee whistles the end of the match, the spectators leave the stadium. *Lait / laid.-Lait= Lait de vache. Boire un café au lait.&nbsp;-Laid(=/= beau). Un visage laid.-Milk= Cow's milk. Drink a latte.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Ugly (=/= beautiful). An ugly face. *Mer / mère.-Mer= La mer Méditerranée sépare l’Europe de l’Afrique.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Sea= The Mediterranean Sea separates Europe from Africa.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Mère= J’aime beaucoup ma mère.-Mother= I love my mother very much.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*Mot / maux.-Mot= ensemble de lettres. Les mots d’une phrase.&nbsp;-Word= set of letters. The words of a sentence. -&nbsp;-Maux= les maux de tète.- pain=headaches. *Pâte / patte.-Pâte : pâte pour faire du pain ou des gâteaux.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;-Dough: dough for making bread or cakes.&nbsp;-Patte= la poule a deux pattes.-Paw= the hen has two legs.&nbsp; *Poids / pois.-Poids : le poids de ce bébé est cinq kilos-Weight: the weight of this baby is five kilos-Ce plat de petits pois est vraiment délicieux.-This pea dish is really delicious. *Reine / renne.-Reine (féminin de roi) . La reine Elizabeth.-Queen (feminine of king). Queen Elizabeth.-Renne (un animal).-Reindeer (an animal). *Sale / salle.-Sale (=/= propre). Laver le linge sale.-Dirty (=/= clean). Wash dirty laundry.-Salle (grande pièce) . La salle de classe n°2.-Room (large room). Classroom n°2. *Vin / vingt-Vin= le vin blanc.-Wine= white wine.-Vingt (20). Robert est jeune. Il n’a que vingt ans.-Twenty (20). Robert is young. He is only twenty years old.

Discover Paronyms and homonyms in French

I grew up playing violin. When I was young and people asked how often I practiced, my dad joked, “Every day we eat!” Language, like music, requires practice. Daily practice: research tells us that consistent habits contribute to big successes. Unless you’re a five-year-old with a lot of free t

I grew up playing violin. When I was young and people asked how often I practiced, my dad joked, “Every day we eat!” Language, like music, requires practice. Daily practice: research tells us that consistent habits contribute to big successes. Unless you’re a five-year-old with a lot of free time and a parent constantly encouraging you, however, it can be pretty difficult to maintain the practice habit! After a long day at work, sometimes the last thing you want to do is study language. And even if you have the motivation, the best-laid language plans usually get pushed aside when something more urgent arises. Why do these things happen? Because time and motivation force us to make decisions, and somewhere in the decision-making process, language learning is lost.&nbsp; What can we do? We can minimize the number of decisions we have to make. The more you can reduce the number of times you have to make a decision about spending time on a language, the more you can actually spend time on that language and integrate it into your everyday life.&nbsp;How can we do it? Read on. (Bonus: All of the activities below can be completed by yourself or with others!)&nbsp; <h3>Use Micro-Immersions</h3>Micro-immersions help us immerse ourselves in a target language without living in a country where the language is spoken. Examples include:<ul><li>Setting your phone to your target language. You know where all the buttons are anyway! And given that most of us glance at our phones a few dozen times per day, you’ll get a lot of vocabulary repetition very quickly.</li><li>Writing to-do lists in your target language. This is something we may take for granted in our native language but doing it in a target language can open a new world of vocabulary. As a bonus, to-do list vocabulary is practical vocabulary – words you’re likely to use on a regular basis!</li></ul> <h3>Set Your YouTube Feed to Your Target Language</h3>We all spend time on YouTube. Whether we’re looking for entertainment or instructions on how to fix a faucet, YouTube has it all. That means YouTube also has content in your target language! You can play that content with subtitles, slow it down, and/or repeat it – all for free! But the reasons I’ve included YouTube on this list are:<ul><li>The videos are short. You don’t have to spend two hours in front of a movie – instead, you can spend five minutes watching a news clip you probably would have looked up in your native language anyway.&nbsp;</li><li>You can choose to be surprised. Enabling push notifications from YouTube means you can be surprised by new videos several times per day. It’s like having an Advent calendar – you never know what you’re going to get! And we’ve all spent too much time scrolling trying to decide what to watch – push notifications do away with that.</li></ul> Tip: Download a translation app like WordReference to your phone so you can be ready to look up any new vocabulary that might appear in a video. WordReference automatically saves a list of your recent searches, so you can search a word, and then go back later for review! <h3>Digital Flashcards</h3>Download a digital flashcard app so you can practice your vocabulary anywhere. Even if you only have 30 seconds, it’s still enough time to review a handful of words! <h3>Two-for-One Activities</h3>Brainstorm a list of tasks where your hands are occupied but your brain is on autopilot. Think of activities like folding laundry, driving, stretching, or taking a shower. Use those times to plug into a podcast or practice speaking out loud! Even a few minutes by yourself in an elevator is enough time to practice a bit of pronunciation. That’s all for now! Please leave a message below to share your thoughts, questions, and/or comments about minimizing decisions to maximize language learning – I and other language learners would love to hear your ideas! 😊

How to Practice Language Every Day You Eat

Have you ever thought of how beautiful is the feeling of agreeing with someone and acknowledging that you share with them the same values and opinions? This feeling is priceless, and today I want to tell you how you can do it in Italian! There are many ways to express agreement, and in this brief ar

Have you ever thought of how beautiful is the feeling of agreeing with someone andacknowledging that you share with them the same values and opinions?This feeling is priceless, and today I want to tell you how you can do it in Italian!There are many ways to express agreement, and in this brief article ,we will explore howyou can do that by simply resorting to adverbs and verbs.&nbsp;Let’s start with adverbs.Of course, the most common, as you might already know is Sì.1. Sì means Yes.&nbsp;But there are also other adverbs which you can use, like:2. Certamente (of course)e.g.A: Ti dispiace passarmi il sale per favore? (Would you mind passing me the salt,please?)B: Certamente! (Of course!)&nbsp;Or&nbsp;3. Esattamente (Exactly)e.g.A: Chiara mi ha detto che domani verrai alla sua festa. (Chiara told me that you willbe coming to her party tomorrow.)B: Esattamente. (Exactly.)&nbsp;These two adverbs share exactly the same meaning, and you can use them interchangeably.Do you also use adverbs to express agreement in your language?Let me know in the comment section below!&nbsp;Anyway, the thing that I like the most about adverbs is that they are very easy to use.Indeed, you do not have to think about conjugations, and you can easily place them at thebeginning, in the middle or at the end of a sentence, and this will not change a thing aboutthe meaning of the whole sentence.They are quick and also very concise.&nbsp;On the other hand, verbs a quite different.You have to conjugate them and put them in the right place.So, you can use them to diversify and give a more meaningful sense to what you want toexpress.Let me show you two verbs in Italian, which are very much used and that you might need tomean that you agree with someone.4. Avere ragione, which means to be right.e.g.A: Secondo me, dovresti dirgli come la pensi. (In my opinion, you should tell him whatyou think.)B: Hai ragione, più tardi penso che gli telefonerò. (You are right, I think I will phonehim later.)&nbsp;To emphasize even more, you can also combine adverbs with verbs.So you can say Sì, hai ragione! (Yes, you are right!)&nbsp;Can you see it? In this case, using adverbs reinforces the meaning of the sentence, and givesit a more firm meaning.Another verb that you can use, which is actually an adverbial locution, is:5. Essere d’accordo, which means to agree.e.g.A: La campagna pubblicitaria non sta avendo successo, dobbiamo cambiarestrategia. (The new advertising campaign is not taking off. We must changestrategy.)B: Sono d’accordo con te. Che ne dici di utilizzare un nuovo canale di comunicazione?(I agree with you. What about using another communication channel?)&nbsp;As in the previous example, of course, you can add Sì at the beginning:Sì, sono d’accordo con te. (Yes, I agree with you.)Again, the adverb Sì reinforces the meaning of the sentence and expresses agreement.&nbsp;How many verbs do you have in your language to express agreement, instead?Let me know down below!&nbsp;I think that is all for today’s lesson.Thank you for reading this article and do not hesitate to contact me for furtherclarifications!If you want to learn more about me, feel free to check out my profile!Ciao!

5 Ways to Agree with Someone in Italian

Italians are very creative people and it will be very easy for you to get a little bit confused when listening to different answers to grazie in only a single day!

Italians are very creative people and it will be very easy for you to get a little bit confused when&nbsp;listening to different answers to grazie in only a single day!&nbsp; So, do not worry, we are going to have a look at the most common answers you can give, so as to&nbsp;find yourself prepared for any situation, be it formal in the workplace or with people you don’t know&nbsp;directly, or informal with your friends and family!&nbsp; These answers are perfect to be used in speaking and you can immediately apply them in your daily&nbsp;life!&nbsp;Let's start with the most known answer, which I am pretty sure you have already heard in some&nbsp;books or heard pronounced by an Italian speaker:&nbsp; <h3>1. Prego!&nbsp;</h3>This is the easiest and fastest way to answer to someone thanking you.&nbsp;You will never get wrong if you answer prego, because it is valid both in formal and informal&nbsp;situations. One thing about prego, is that on one hand it is very fast and easy to say, but on&nbsp;the other hand it is also the less creative answer you can give, as it is very neutral and&nbsp;standard.&nbsp;Let's then explore together other interesting and alternative ways to answer to grazie!&nbsp; <h3>2. Di niente! / Di nulla!&nbsp;</h3>These two answers are interchangeable and you will use them when you want to minimalize&nbsp;your effort in helping someone.&nbsp;This way of replying is usually also accompanied by a shrug of your shoulders and a shake of&nbsp;your head, as this gesture very well emphasizes that you did not have that much of an effort&nbsp;in helping the other person.&nbsp;IMPORTANT REMINDER: Italians will always accompany words with very colourful gestures!&nbsp;Gestures are, indeed, an essential part of the communication in Italian.&nbsp;But this would need to be explained in another article, as it is a huge world to describe!&nbsp; The same “rule of the gesture” applies to the next one:&nbsp;<h3>3. Non c’è di che!&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>Indeed, saying this will also be perceived in a very kind way, as you do not want the other&nbsp;person to think that you experienced some effort in helping them.&nbsp;Same here, if you accompany this answer by shaking a hand in the air, this will definitely&nbsp;have much more impact on your interlocutor.&nbsp; <h3>4. Figurati! (in informal situations) / Si figuri! (in formal situations)&nbsp;</h3>You will answer this way to mean don't mind, it is ok.&nbsp;It is a kind way to say that helping it was absolutely no effort for you.&nbsp; <h3>5. E di che?!&nbsp;</h3>I know, this one really looks like a question, but it is not.&nbsp;Indeed, it is a rhetorical question, so it does not need to be responded.&nbsp;It more or less corresponds to the polite anytime! in English.&nbsp;Remember, this one is perfect in informal situations!&nbsp;You do not want to use it at work or in any formal situation where some sort of rigour is&nbsp;required.&nbsp; <h3>6. Ma ti pare! / Ma che scherzi! / Ci mancherebbe!&nbsp;</h3>These three are very similar to the previous one, and they are also very informal. You will use them when you want to communicate that your help was sort of taken for&nbsp;granted and that it did not cost you anything.&nbsp;The meaning between the lines could be explicitly translated as “Of course! This is the&nbsp;minimum I could do to help you out. You do not have to thank me!”&nbsp;Even if you moved heaven and earth to help your friend solve the problem, you just want to&nbsp;be kind and friendly.&nbsp; <h3>7. (È stato) un piacere!&nbsp;</h3>This one literally means my pleasure!&nbsp;You will use it when you want to emphasize that you are more than glad to be of help and of&nbsp;course you want to sound kind and nice.&nbsp;Sometimes it feels so good to show people that helping was just a pleasure and not a heavy&nbsp;thing!And last but not least, another effective way to respond back is by simply thanking the other&nbsp;person back straight without any further complications, if of course, you also received a&nbsp;favour back.&nbsp; In this case, you could directly say:&nbsp;<h3>8. A te! (in informal situations) A Lei! (in formal situations)&nbsp;</h3>Easy peasy, and you will never get wrong with these ones.&nbsp;They literally mean Thanks to you!&nbsp; Good! That is all for today’s lesson.&nbsp;I hope that this brief article helped you improve your vocabulary and that you will apply one of the&nbsp;answers explored today in real-life situations!&nbsp;Let me know how it goes and do not hesitate to leave a comment to share your experience below!&nbsp; Thank you for reading this article.&nbsp;If you want to learn more about me, feel free to check out my profile!&nbsp;Ciao!&nbsp;

8 Ways to Respond to Grazie in Italian

In Spanish, it is very easy to confuse the use of “bien'' and “bueno” because they look and sound similar and have similar meanings. If you have doubts about when to use them, I hope after reading this article they will disappear.

<h3>Introduction.</h3>Similar to how English learners face difficulties with "good vs well," Spanish learners encounter challenges with "bien vs bueno." That’s why it's important to move away from directly translating bien and bueno, and instead focus on comprehending the grammatical distinctions. By gaining a solid grasp of a few fundamental grammar concepts and recalling typical scenarios where each is appropriate, the use of bien or bueno will become effortless. <h2>1. Bien.</h2> While bien is a common translation for "well", it can also take on meanings such as "very," and "fine."Working as an adverb, bien has the versatility to modify: verbs, adjectives, or even other adverbs.The opposite of bien is mal. So, all of the following uses of bien can replaced by mal to express bad situations. Pay attention! We never use the grammar structure: SER (verb) + BIEN or MAL&nbsp; <h3>1.1 Uses of Bien.</h3> 1.1.1. Answering questions. - ¿Cómo estás? - How are you?&nbsp;- Bien, gracias, ¿y tú? - Fine, thanks and you? - ¿Cómo te va? - How are you doing?-&nbsp;Me va bien gracias - I'm doing well, thank you. 1.1.2. Hablar de la salud. - ¿Cómo se siente tu hijo hoy? - How is your child feeling today?&nbsp;&nbsp;Mi hijo no se siente bien - My son is not feeling well. - ¿Cómo te encuentras hoy? - How are you feeling today?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Me encuentro muy bien. Gracias. - I feel very well. Thank you. Note that in this context when talking about health, bien can also be used with the verb ‘estar’ when we know that someone was sick. 1.1.3 Emphasizing an adjective. If you add the adverb bien in front of an adjective, you emphasize it: El partido fue bien duro. - The match was very tough. (Emphasizing the adjective ‘duro’) Previously, I asked for your attention not to use the structure:&nbsp;SER (verb) + BIEN, however the above sentece is using SER verb ‘fue’ (simple past) plus adverb ‘bien’. Well, here it’s an exception: when bien has the same meaning of ‘very’, only in this case,&nbsp;we can use it.&nbsp; Please don’t say: La comida es bien. Nosotros somos bien. Los niños son bien. We need to add an adjective:&nbsp;La comida es bien buena. The food is very good. (Emphasizing the adjective ‘bueno’)&nbsp;Nosotros somos bien listos. We are very smart. (Emphasizing the adjective ‘’listo’)Los niños son bien traviesos. The kids are very naughty.(Emphasizing the adjective ‘travieso’)&nbsp; 1.1.4 Emphasizing an adverb. It’s the same case above, but emphasizing an adverb instead of an adjective: Comes bien rápido. - You eat very fast. (Emphasizing the adverb ‘rápido’.)&nbsp;Tu casa está bien lejos -&nbsp;Your house is very far away.(Emphasizing the adverb ‘lejos’.) 1.1.5 Describing the action of&nbsp;a verb. Compare with the previous sentences: Comes bien. - You eat well. (Describing how you usually eat.)&nbsp;Tu casa está bien -&nbsp;Your house is fine.(Describing how your house looks.) 1.1.6 Introducing a pause. You can use the word bien to begin a sentence if you want to include a pause that emphasizes what you are about to say. Using bien to start sentences is far more common in speech than writing. Si hoy no vienes a trabajar, bien, serás despedido.&nbsp;If you don't come to work today, well or fine, you'll be fired. Mi jefe piensa que es el mejor. Bien, su arrogancia no duarrá mucho tiempo. -&nbsp;My boss thinks he is the best. Well, his arrogance will not last long <h3>1.2 Expressions with Bien.</h3> &nbsp;&nbsp;- ¡Bien! Ganamos el partido de fútbol - We won the football match. Bravo ! Yahoo !&nbsp;&nbsp;- ¿Todo bien?&nbsp;— Is everything all right?&nbsp;&nbsp;- ¡Bien hecho! &nbsp;— Well done!&nbsp;&nbsp;- Ahora bien&nbsp;— However, having said that&nbsp;&nbsp;- Está bien &nbsp;— It’s okay/fine, all right&nbsp;&nbsp;- Bastante bien&nbsp;— Quite well&nbsp;&nbsp;- Caer bien &nbsp;— To make a good impression, to be liked by&nbsp;&nbsp;- Portarse bien&nbsp;— To behave well&nbsp;&nbsp;- Ir bien &nbsp;— To go well&nbsp;&nbsp;- Ni bien ni mal&nbsp;— So-so <h2>2 Bueno.</h2> Bueno is an adjective. It has four forms that always have to agree in gender and number with the noun it refers to.&nbsp;The opposite of bueno is malo. So, all of the following uses of bueno can replaced by malo to express bad situations.- Bueno. Malo (masculine singular)- Buena. Mala&nbsp;(feminine singular)- Buenos. Malos&nbsp;(masculine/mixed plural)- Buenas. Malas&nbsp;(feminine plural)Although the first meaning for bueno you will see in the dictionary is “good,” it can also mean “tasty,” “useful,” “beneficial” and even “hello!” <h3>2.1. Bueno vs. Buen.</h3> The initial point to understand is that bueno and buen are essentially two aspects of the same word. Their meanings are identical; however, their placement within a sentence differs. Bueno is used after a masculine singular noun, but this word also has the possibility of appearing in front of the same masculine singular nouns. In this case, bueno has to lose its final -o in order to be able to be in that position: Es un niño bueno. (He is a good child.) → Es un muy buen niño. (He is a good child.)Es un pan bueno. (It is a tasty/good bread.) → Es un buen pan. (It is a tasty/good bread.) The same case is used to express bad situations:&nbsp;mal by malo.Es un niño malo. (He is a bad child.) → Es un mal niño. (He is a bad child.)Es un pan malo. (It's bad bread.) → Es un mal pan. (It’s bad bread.) The shortened form is more commonly used. <h3>2.2. Uses of Bueno.</h3> It’s used bueno or buen in the following cases: 2.2.1. When a person or an animal displays good behavior. Los perros son muy buenos. Nunca ladran. - The dogs are very good. They never bark.Tu hijo tiene muy buen comportamiento en clase. Pero el mío se comporta muy mal.&nbsp;Your son has very good behavior in class. But mine behaves very badly. 2.2.2. When a person fulfills their duty accurately. Tú eres muy buena madre.- You are&nbsp;a very good mother.Pedro es un buen jefe. - Peter is a good boss. 2.2.3. When something proves advantageous for you. Fumar no es bueno (es malo) para la salud. - Smoking is not good (is bad) for your health.Hacer ejercicio todos los días es muy bueno. - Exercising every day is very good/beneficial. 2.2.4.When the quality of an object is high. Esta computadora es de buena calidad. - This computer is of good quality.El coche es de buena calidad - The car is of good quality 2.2.5. When someone is attractive. Juan está muy bueno. - John looks sexy.Tu vecina está muy buena. - Your neighbor looks sexy. 2.2.6. When the answer to a question is okay, sure, fine or all right. This is the only scenario in which you can freely interchange bien and bueno without raising any eyebrows. Nos vemos mañana a las ocho de la tarde en tu casa. - See you at eight p.m. in your house&nbsp;— Bueno or Bien - Okay 2.2.7. When something is tasty. Esta ensalada está muy buena. - This salad is really tasty.Este pescado no está bueno. Está crudo. - This fish is not good. It's raw. <h3>2.3.&nbsp;Expressions with Bueno.</h3> - Bueno&nbsp;— Well, so- ¿Bueno?&nbsp;— Hello? (on the phone)- ¡Bueno!&nbsp;— Enough already!- ¡Qué bueno!&nbsp;— Tasty! Awsome! Good to know!- Ser bueno en algo&nbsp;— To be good at something- Bueno para nada&nbsp;— Good for nothing- Dar por bueno&nbsp;— To give the go-ahead- En las buenas y en las malas&nbsp;— Through thick and thin- Por muy bueno que sea&nbsp;— As good as it might be- Sacar lo bueno&nbsp;— To look on the bright side And as they say, “todo lo bueno se acaba”, all good things must come to an end.I hope the article helps you use bien and bueno properly to sound like a native Spanish speaker.&nbsp;Feel free to write any questions or comments below.If you want to practice this topic deeper, or any other one, let's go to start an iTalki classroom. I am more than happy to help you. Thanks for reading.Antonio

¡Es bien! No way! Bien vs. Bueno

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“The clock was always one hour behind the original time.”