Spanish - Grammar

By taking the time to understand how the Spanish language works, you'll be able to speak Spanish naturally, and read and write in Spanish. We know this can be one of the more challenging parts of your course, and we’re here to help! You can browse the topics, do a search in the top right corner of this page, or start a new conversation. Don’t be shy!

Multiple meanings of the verb 'hacer'.

I've reached lesson 4 and I've already seen it to mean: to make, to do, to be, to go. Under what circumstances should it be used for each meaning?

8 replies - Last post by Rodney-J - August 12, 2017

Sino vs Sino que

Hi everyone, I’ve recently gone through lesson 12.5: Nature Conversation and the corresponding grammar lesson 12.11: Being Contrary, But, Not Only. I’m a little confused on how sino works, and I was hoping that you could clear things up for me. This is qu...

6 replies - Last post by the-hefay - August 4, 2017

on an example in 4.9 Indirect pronouns

"Lupe está hablando con nosotros." No pronoun is used in this example. Was this meant be nos instead of nosotros?

10 replies - Last post by the-hefay - August 3, 2017

Cristiano tiene decidido que seguirá en el Real Madrid

Interesting news for soccer fans but not my point... I can't remember seeing this construction before so I was wondering exactly how the following two phrases differ: - Cristiano ha decidido... - Cristiano tiene decidido...

3 replies - Last post by the-hefay - July 12, 2017

Incorrect dialogue in Lesson 11.6 - CyberSpace (Premium)

Hi all -  I was going over some older lessons that I had done poorly on, and found this sentence: "Practicas tú estas palabras." I had missed it the first time around, and even though I know it is incorrect, I still asked all of my skype partners, from...

9 replies - Last post by KellyMJara - June 11, 2017

Confused on the conjugation of "ofrecer"

In Lesson 4.4, the following sentence is presented: ¿Qué se le ofrece?  The translation is: What can I offer you? Why is the verb ofrecer conjugated in the third person here, when I am the one doing the offering? Why isn't it ofrezco? I'm probably too m...

11 replies - Last post by jolietil - June 1, 2017

Other resources for learning what RS doesn't teach?

I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of grammar in Rocket Spanish. Parroting and memorizing phrases is not going to help me build my own sentences when no explanations are given as to why certain words or conjugations are used!  Conjugation...

6 replies - Last post by jolietil - June 1, 2017

Indirect Commands

In lesson 16.8 on Indirect Commands, the following text is provided: USO 2 If you want to tell someone that a specific person (ex. Mario) should do something - that is, indirectly commanding a specified subject, use the following pattern: Que + [present ...

5 replies - Last post by the-hefay - May 26, 2017

¿Puede mover sus dedos?

This is a phrase from the Travelogue course. Shouldn't this be: - ¿Puede moverse los dedos? I do see examples of this on the web but I thought that you don't refer to body parts in the possessive in Spanish: my teeth, my leg, ...

4 replies - Last post by Steven-W15 - April 28, 2017

...si cada uno de nosotros hiciéramos un poco...

This phrase comes from the Travelogue course lesson 11.4. I don't think this is correct. Am I wrong? I think it should be: - ...si cada uno de nosotros hiciera un poco... since the subject is "cada uno".

2 replies - Last post by Steven-W15 - April 25, 2017

Gramática: Una maldición necesaria.

Bueno, el lunes comenzé clases de gramática.  Solo son por dos semanas para repasar.  Es interesante lo cual he olvidado y también lo cual me he acordado.  Ciertamente es una buena ayuda a mi pero no significa que me gusta la gramática.  :)

2 replies - Last post by the-hefay - April 1, 2017

Le vs. se vs. neither one...

Hola a todos.  I was studying some phrases tonight from the rocket Spanish grammar book, and have a couple questions.  1) Are le and se interchangeable? I mean, I know se exists because sometimes it's easier to say than le; in English, we do that with "a...

4 replies - Last post by the-hefay - March 30, 2017

Direct and Indirect Objects

In lesson 2.1, the following phrase is mentioned: ¿En qué le puedo ayudar? My understanding is that an indirect object cannot exist in a sentence without a direct object. In the example sentence, I am struggling to understand why the indirect object pro...

30 replies - Last post by KelllaurBailar - March 27, 2017

letter sounds

the alphabet recordings give a two syllable sound-ehche for example, but the sample word exercise seems not to follow the sounds as they are individually presented.  What is happening-why the disconnect between letter sounds such as W dohblevah, and how i...

2 replies - Last post by jolietil - March 22, 2017

Preterite or Imperfect Past?

Ok, perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself, since I've only been learning Spanish for three weeks but I recent watched a "Light Speed Spanish" YouTube video, where Gordon explains four ways to say "was" (https://youtu.be/DU8SXfKF-O4). The way he explains it ...

9 replies - Last post by the-hefay - March 10, 2017

Bueno, el hecho de que sea una mujer que le gusta salir...

- Well, the fact that I’m an outdoorsy woman... As a reflex, I stick an "a" in there: ...de que sea una mujer a que le gusta salir... Is the phrase correct as is? Do we vote on it? ¿Solicitamos el Real Academia Española? It seems I remember a similar cas...

5 replies - Last post by the-hefay - March 7, 2017

Take and Take

Is it better to say "tomar una foto" or "sacar una foto". Don't they both mean to take?

5 replies - Last post by stepchook - March 5, 2017

Ha sido un gusto

In lession 1.4 it translates ha sido un gusto as it was a pleasure. Surely, however, this is the indicative perfect conjugation of the verb ser? As such, it should be translated as It has been a pleasure. I would've thought that the correct Spanish tran...

3 replies - Last post by stepchook - February 26, 2017

En que trabajas.

This seems to be saying "That your job." Why don't you say, "What is your job?" as "Que es trabajas?"   Kim

7 replies - Last post by stepchook - February 24, 2017

al <verb in the infinitive>

- Ay, Miguel; estoy de acuerdo en que al estar en un sabático, necesitamos ser cuidadosos al ahorrar dinero - Oh, Miguel; I agree that being on a sabbatical, we need to be very careful saving money This sentence has two examples of this construction and...

6 replies - Last post by Steven-W15 - February 23, 2017

Conjugation of PODAR

Hi Everyone, I'm studying lesson 1.4 and I'm a little confused by the conjugation of the word "podar". In the lesson, it says: "¿Puedo sacar su foto?". This is obviously translated as "Can I take your photo?". It also says "¿Puede sacar mi foto?". This ...

6 replies - Last post by stepchook - February 22, 2017

Para mientras o Por mientras

From the Spanish Travelogue lesson 10.5 At the Doctors - Necesito algo para el dolor para mientras. I need something for the pain in the meantime. - ¿Puede darle algo para el dolor por mientras? Can you give him something for the pain in the meantime? I ...

2 replies - Last post by Steven-W15 - January 28, 2017

Using Definite Articles

After studying Spanish for as long as I have, I can't believe I still have such a basic question, but so be it... Spanish uses definite articles much more than we do in English, such as this phrase from lesson 15.4: “Y mi palabra es la ley.” "And my wor...

3 replies - Last post by Steven-W15 - January 6, 2017

Bending of verbs

Hello! I have two questions I'd like to address: NUMERO UNO "Porque tenemos que llegar al aeropuerto a las seis". Why is it llegar and not llegamos in this sentence? "Dónde está la puerta de salida". Why salida in this one? http://www.spanishdict.com/con...

14 replies - Last post by KelllaurBailar - January 4, 2017

Use of que in "Tenemos que salir temprano"

I just cannot understand the seemingly random use of the word "que." Take this example, "Tenemos que salir temprano."  We have to leave early. There is no word "that, which, or who" in that sentence, there is no preposition, no connector. Why put the word...

2 replies - Last post by the-hefay - December 17, 2016

"Ll" pronunciation issue

Hi all! This has been driving me a bit nuts with every Spanish program I use.   In the beginning, when being instructed on how to pronounce the double L (llaves, llorar, cepillo, pollo, ect.) I have been taught that it is pronounced like the English "y" ...

12 replies - Last post by the-hefay - December 15, 2016

hizo vs. hacía

Lesson 10.8 has this statement: References to age and time in the past are almost ALWAYS in the imperfect. Followed by this example: Hizo sol todo el fin de semana. ​Shouldn't it be "hacía" in this instance?

1 reply - Last post by KellyMJara - December 15, 2016

The use of "te" as "it" - very confusing!

Hi all -  I have run into a few sentences in the conversations that just do not make sense to me - here are two examples that have come up twice: ¿Cómo te va en el trabajo? - - How is it going at work? ¿Cómo te va con la fiesta? - - How is it going with...

2 replies - Last post by KellyMJara - December 15, 2016

Interesting Set of Verbs and Tense Endings

Just wanted to throw this link out there for beginners looking for some good Spanish verbos to practice doing multiple tenses with...http://www.learnspanishtoday.com/learning_module/verbs_ar.htm . Some nice -ar verbs I've never heard of. I have a feeling ...

3 replies - Last post by KellyMJara - November 2, 2016

The use of "te" as "it" - very confusing!

Hi all -  I have run into a few sentences in the conversations that just do not make sense to me - here are two examples that have come up twice: ¿Cómo te va en el trabajo? - - How is it going at work? ¿Cómo te va con la fiesta? - - How is it going with...

5 replies - Last post by KellyMJara - November 2, 2016

a mi o yo

This sentence is in Lesson 9.6 Me gustaría ir yo al jardín botánico. Shouldn't it read: ​Me gustaría ir al jardín botánico. or A mi me gustaría ir al jardín botánico. ​With "yo" wouldn't it mean I would please me to go... ​rather than what I perceive th...

7 replies - Last post by the-hefay - October 5, 2016

Singing English Songs in Spanish

Hey everyone,        I'm used to picking apart Latin music and trying to translate it into English. But I thought I would try the reverse a while back. I'm not sure if anyone has tried this already, but lately I have been singing English songs in Spanish....

2 replies - Last post by KelllaurBailar - September 21, 2016

Present Tense Spanish Verb meanings

I'm so sorry if this is a waste of time, but I'm a little desperate for an answer. In my studies, I came across a translation for "Busco" to mean "I am looking." I was told by someone that it only means "I look." My questions are: Does it actually mean "I...

6 replies - Last post by the-hefay - September 14, 2016

What is the difference between qué and que? Is there one?

This has been bugging me for awhile, I have tried to get a straight answer in many different places, and so far, no luck.  I know how important accents are for so many words, if you miss the accent,  you wind up with an entirely different word. This does...

5 replies - Last post by KellyMJara - September 8, 2016

What is the difference between qué and que? Is there one?

This has been bugging me for awhile, I have tried to get a straight answer in many different places, and so far, no luck.  I know how important accents are for so many words, if you miss the accent,  you wind up with an entirely different word. This does...

0 replies - Last post by KellyMJara - September 7, 2016

is either correct?

"I was just in the kitchen."    Justo estuve en la cocina. or can you also say,              estuve Justo  en la cocina?

8 replies - Last post by Dan-H24 - August 11, 2016

Yo qué sé

I came across this phrase in a book I was reading. The Google translation:  - I do not know From the context, I got the gist of it but translating word for word independent of context, I would not have understood this phrase. - ¡Yo qué sé! - Don't ask me...

2 replies - Last post by Steven-W15 - July 21, 2016

Yo qué sé

I came across this phrase in a book I was reading. The Google translation:  - I do not know From the context, I got the gist of it but translating word for word independent of context, I would not have understood this phrase. - ¡Yo qué sé! - Don't ask me...

0 replies - Last post by Steven-W15 - July 20, 2016

hablas y hablo

It seems in the lesson 1 hablas and hablo were used interchangably. How do you know when to use them in the correct context.

2 replies - Last post by jl-cooper - July 2, 2016

luego de que + subjunctive or indicative ?

In Lesson 15.2 (the Piñata) there is the comment:   Luego de que me vendaran (subjunctive), me alejaron de los demás y me dieron vueltas, para desorientarme. After they blindfolded me, they took me away from the group and spun me around to disorient me. ...

2 replies - Last post by Steven-W15 - June 3, 2016

does not have a title

In lesson 6.2     The word turismo,   Is it pronounced , sounding the r or the d.  I am learning a lot of words  sounding the r's like d,s.   Not good if i am wrong.

2 replies - Last post by Robert-C7 - May 22, 2016

Intensive work on verbs

I would like to supplement my lessons in Rocket Spanish with some daily work with verbs, more than is offered in the course. Is there a separate section in Rocket Spanish for verbs and verb tenses? If not is there a website, program, or other resource tha...

8 replies - Last post by janway-- - May 17, 2016

hubiera vs. hubiese

Whenever I have used "hubiera" speaking with people from Spain, they invariably repeat (or correct) my phrase using "hubiese". Not so with those from Latin America. Is this a regional thing between Spain and the Americas?  

4 replies - Last post by Steven-W15 - April 10, 2016

Mariachis

- Cuando llegan a un lugar, tocan trompetas y guitarras, y se transforman en un evento público. - When they arrive somewhere, they play trumpets and guitars, and they transform into a public event. 15.4) The phrase sounds awkward to me in English as they...

1 reply - Last post by Dan-H24 - April 6, 2016

I lost my keys

In the audio lesson on the preterite tense, an example was given of "Perdí mis llaves" for "I lost my keys". However, in Jean Yates' book "Correct your Spanish Blunders", it is stated that this should be "Se me perdieron las llaves" because it is an accid...

5 replies - Last post by Steven-W15 - April 6, 2016

Personal A needed here?

One of the extra vocabulary phrases in Lesson 11.1 is:   Traté de citar Pablo Neruda. I tried to quote Pablo Neruda. Shouldn't it be "a Pablo Neruda"? Or am I missing something. Dan

5 replies - Last post by Dan-H24 - April 1, 2016

¡Si es que no me llevaron antes al harem del emperador!

Any ideas as to why it's llevaron and not llevaran?

4 replies - Last post by Steven-W15 - March 3, 2016

Help with the following: "Ellos les encantó"

I have an indirect/direct object question. The sentence, "Ellos les encantó" is bothering me.  Someone was talking about how their boys loved the musical, Mary Poppins. It was described as translating to "It pleased them" or "It was pleasing to them."  ...

5 replies - Last post by the-hefay - March 1, 2016

traer or llevar

In lesson 3.3 the verb traer is used. It makes more sense to me (as an English person) to use llevar. Does this make sense to you?

2 replies - Last post by Dan-H24 - February 11, 2016

indefinite words

In lesson 7.6 Indefinite words. cualquier / cualquiera    translation { cualquier - whichever}   {cualquiera- whatever}  In the por ejemplo section  it says cual bebida te gusta. No me importa. cualquiera esta bien para me. It shows cualquiera translated ...

3 replies - Last post by marieg-rocket languages - January 26, 2016

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