Basic differences between Spanish and English that cause great confusion among new English language learners. By Elizabeth Weal

Basic differences between Spanish and English that cause great confusion among new English language learners 1. Dropped subject pronouns. Spanish verb endings change depending on the noun or pronoun they refer to. When the subject of a sentence can be identified based on the verb ending, it is unnecessary to include a subject pronoun at the beginning of the sentence. Hence many Spanish speakers fail to include a subject pronoun when speaking English. Spanish sentence Hablo inglés. Estamos cansados.

Correct English translation I speak English. We are tired.

Incorrect English translation Speak English. Are tired.

This error is especially common when two consecutive sentences refer to the same subject. Spanish sentence Laura está enferma. Está en casa.

Correct English translation Laura is sick. She is at home.

Incorrect English translation Laura is sick. Is at home.

2. Omitting It. It . The subject pronoun it is “understood” or assumed in Spanish. Thus Spanish-speakers often omit it. Spanish sentence Mi carro es nuevo. Está roto.

Correct English translation My car is new. It is broken.

Incorrect English translation My car is new. Is broken.

3. The the problem. There are four words for  the in Spanish: lo (for singular, masculine nouns) • •

la (for singular feminine nouns)

•

los (for plural masculine nouns)

las (for plural feminine nouns) Many students don’t know that each of these words means •

4. The you confusion Spanish sentence  You are from Peru.  You are from Peru.  You are from Peru.

the.

Correct English translation Tú eres de Perú. Usted es de Perú. Ustedes son de Perú

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5. Confusion with do and does. Do and Does, when used to ask a question, do not exist in Spanish. In Spanish, to change a statement to a question, you usually either invert the subject and verb or simply raise your voice at the end of  the sentence. For this reason, questions that include do and does require lots of  practice! Spanish sentence ¿Tienes un carro?

Correct English translation Do you have a car?

Incorrect English translation You have a car?

6. Incorrect negative sentences. In most cases, Spanish speakers make sentences negative by placing no before the verb. Thus, they often do this in English as well. Spanish sentence No puedo venir a clase mañana. No estoy cansado. No me gust gusta a el bróc brócol oli. i.

Correct English translation I can’t come to class tomorrow. I am not tired. I don’ don’tt like like broc brocco coli li..

Incorrect English translation I no can come to class tomorrow. I no am tired. I no like like broc brocco coli li..

7. Confusion about in, on, and at . In, on and at can all translate to Spanish. Spanish phrase en el parque en el piso en la tienda

Correct English translation in the park on the floor at the store

en

in

Incorrect English translation in the floor   in the store

8. Adding “ s” to adjectives. In Spanish, adjectives agree with the subject in number and gender. Thus, Spanish speakers often put an “ s” on adjectives that refer to plural nouns. Spanish sentence Los Los carro carros s son son blanco blancos. s.

Correct English translation The The cars cars are white white..

Incorrect English translation The cars cars are white whites. s.

9. Incorrect adjective placement. In Spanish, adjectives usually follow nouns . Spanish sentence El carr carro o blan blanco co es mío. mío.

Correct English translation The The whit white e car car is mine mine..

Incorrect English translation The The car car whit white e is mine mine..

10. Incorrect use of possessive nouns. Possessive nouns don’t exist in Spanish. Spanish phrase El carro de David

Correct English translation David’s car 2

Incorrect English translation The car of David

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11. Using to have instead of  to be. When speaking in Spanish about your age, you use the verb tener, to have. Spanish sentence Tengo 22 años.

Correct English translation I am 22 years old.

Other instances in which you use tener in Spanish but Spanish sentence Correct English translation Tengo hambre. I am hungry. (I have hunger.) Tengo sed. I am thirsty. (I have thirst.) Tengo sueño. I am sleepy. (I have sleep.)

Incorrect English translation I have 22 years old. to be in English include: Incorrect English translation I have hungry.

I have thirsty. I have sleepy.

12. Differences in capitalization: In Spanish, days of the week, months of the year, and foreign languages aren’t capitalized. 13. Punctuation: What’s that? For whatever reason, many students from Latin America use serial commas between sentences or don’t use punctuation at all. Teachers need to emphasize that punctuation is not optional.

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