Lección 4: Gramática 1.Verbos irregulares en la primera persona 2.Saber vs. conocer 3.La “a” personal 4.Contracciones: “al” y “del” 5.Presente de indicativo de ir, dar y estar 6.Ir a + el infinitivo

Verbos irregulares en la primera persona (1) The following verbs are irregular in the first-person singular of the present tense.

Saber vs. conocer (1) The verb to know has two Spanish equivalents, saber and conocer, which are used to express distinct types of knowledge. Saber means to know something by heart, to know how to do something (a learned skill), or to know a fact (information).

Saber vs. conocer (2) - ¿Sabes el poema“The Raven” de memoria? “Do you know the poem ‘The Raven’ by heart?” - ¿Ana sabe bailar salsa? “Does Ana know how to dance salsa?” - ¿Ud. sabe el número de teléfono de David? “Do you know David’s phone number?”

Saber vs. conocer (3) Conocer means to be familiar or acquainted with a person, a thing, or a place. - ¿Conoces a Hugo? “Do you know Hugo?” - Sí, es el primo de Alberto. “Yes, he’s Alberto’s cousin.”

Saber vs. conocer (4) - ¿Conocen Uds. todas las novelas de Cervantes? “Are you acquainted with all Cervantes’s novels?” - ¿Conoces San Salvador? “Do you know (Have you been in San Salvador?”

La “a” personal (1) The preposition “a” is used in Spanish before a direct object (recipient of the action expressed by the verb) referring to a specific person or persons. When the preposition “a” is used in this way, it is called the personal “a” and has no English equivalent.

La “a” personal (2) Ejemplos: - ¿Tú conoces a Carmen y a Héctor? “Do you know Carmen and Héctor?” - Conozco a Carmen, pero no conozco a Héctor. “I know Carmen, but I don’t know Héctor.”

La “a” personal (3) When there is a series of direct object nouns, referring to people, the personal “a” is repeated: ¿Tú conoces a Carmen y a Héctor? The personal a is not used when the direct object is a thing or place. Yo conozco Los Ángeles. I know Los Angeles.

La “a” personal (4) The personal a is seldom used following the verb tener even if the object is a person or persons. - Tengo dos hermanas. I have two sisters. The personal a is also used when referring to pets. - Yo llevo a mi perro a la veterinaria. I take my dog to the vet.

The preposition a and the article el contract to form al. Contracciones: “al” y “del” (1)

Contracciones: “al” y “del” (2) Similarly, the preposition de and the definite article el contract to form del. El libro de + el profesor El libro del profesor

Contracciones: “al” y “del” (3) A + el and de + el must always be contracted to al and del. - ¿Vienes del club? “Are you coming from the club?” - No, vengo de la biblioteca. - ¿Vamos al cine? “Shall we go to the movies?” - Sí, vamos.

Contracciones: “al” y “del” (4) None of the other combinations of preposition and definite article ( de la, de los, de las, a la, a lo, a las) is contracted. - El esposo de la profesora viene a la clase de español.

Contracciones: “al” y “del” (4)

Presente de indicativo de ir, dar y estar (1) Ir, dar, estar

Presente de indicativo de ir, dar y estar (2) - ¿Dónde está Aurora?“ Where is Aurora?” - Está en el teatro.“She is at the theater.” - ¿No da una fiesta hoy?“Isn’t she giving a party today?” - No, yo doy una fiesta.“ No, I’m giving a party.”

Presente de indicativo de ir, dar y estar (3) - ¿Adónde vas?“Where are you going (to)?” - Voy al cine. I’m going to the movies.” - ¿No estás cansada?“Aren’t you tired?” - No, no estoy cansada.No, I am not tired.”

Presente de indicativo de ir, dar y estar (4) The verb estar is used to indicate location and to describe condition at a given moment in time. Estar and ser are not interchangeable. Location: Aurora está en el club. Current condition: Estoy cansada.

Ir a + el infinitivo (1) The ir a + infinitive construction is used in Spanish to express future time, in the same way English uses the expression “to be going to + infinitive.” ir (conjugated) + a + infinitive Voy a estudiar. I am going to study.

Ir a + el infinitivo (2) - ¿Tú vas a bailar con Jorge? “Are you going to dance with Jorge?” - No, voy a bailar con Carlos. “ No, I‘m going to dance with Carlos.”

Ir a + el infinitivo (3)