PRONOUN REFRESHER WITH EXPLANATION • Subject pronouns (pronombres usados como sujetos) singular plural
yo I tú you (familiar) usted you (formal) él he ella she
nosotros, nosotras vosotros, vosotras ustedes ellos ellas
we you (familiar, Spain) you they (masc.) they (fem.)
Subject pronouns are used as the subject of a verb (the verb may be implied); they are also used as the predicate complement after the verb ser.
Yo prefiero coca-‐cola.
I prefer Coca-‐cola.
¿Es ella?
Is it her? [Is it she?]
¿Quién lo hizo? -‐ Yo.
Who did it? I did. [implied verb]
In English the subject pronoun “it” is used very frequently. If “it” is indefinite —that is, if it doesn't refer back to anything at all— it is NOT expressed in Spanish. YOU CANNOT USE LO AS THE SUBJECT OF A VERB since it is not a subject pronoun. Es obvio que está nevando. ¿Los libros? Están allá.
It's obvious that it is snowing. [“It” in both cases is indefinite, and not expressed in Spanish.]
The books? They're over there. [“They” is usually omitted in Spanish in this case.]
• Prepositional object pronouns singular
plural
mí
me
nosotros, nosotras
us
ti
you
vosotros, vosotras
you (familiar, Spain)
usted
you (fam.)
ustedes
you
él
him (formal)
ellos
them
ella
her
ellas
them (all female)
These pronouns are used as objects of prepositions. They are identical to the subject pronouns except for mí, ti and sí. Examples: ¿Es para él o para ella? Is it for him or for her? No saldrán sin nosotros. They won't leave without us. A mí me gusta el chocolate. I like chocolate.
GREETINGS AND FAREWELLS Greetings like “good morning” or “good afternoon” are incredibly important in Spanish. As Latin American culture is more formal, going through the ritual of greeting another person is an important way of showing respect. In fact, in some parts of Latin America, you are expected to greet every person individually, even if they’re in a group. That means that if you’re walking along the road in a village and pass a group of five people, you’ll have to say, “Good morning,” five times! Buenos dias
Good morning
Buenas tardes
Good afternoon
Buenas noches
Good evening / Good night
Adios
Good bye
Hola
Hello
After greeting someone, here are some suitable follow ups that you’ll want to ask: Como estas?
How are you?
Como te va?
How’s it going?
Que tal?
What’s up?
Que pasa?
What’s happening?
Que haces de nuevo?
What’s new?
What would you say if someone asks you one of the questions above?
Bien gracias / Muy bien
Well thanks / Very well
Como siempre
As always
Un poco cansado / a
A little tired
Estoy enfermo / a
I’m sick
Mas o menos
Okay, So-‐so
Mal
Bad
Todo bien
All good
Nada
Nothing