Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
¡Ojo!
'Un,' and 'Una,' both mean 'a' in English. And 'Unos,' and 'Unas' both mean
'some.'
Ex:
un
libro --- a book
una
cosa --- a thing
unos
libros --- some books
unas
cosas --- some things
Word order
The word order in Spanish is often different than it is in English. In general, it is also more
flexible in Spanish than in English. For example, descriptive adjectives (ones that describe
a quality of something) usually go after the noun. Instead of the
black dog
, it is the
dog
black
(
perro negro
). Adjectives that describe the quantity usually go in front of the nouns
(
Muchos libros, Tres personas
). Along with this, direct and indirect object pronouns can
go before or after the verb. In English, the word order is typically quite strict: Subject fol-
lowed by a verb and verb followed by an object if the verb has an object (I like him.) In
Spanish, the subject can be omitted if it is understood (We already mentioned how subject
pronouns can be omitted.) The subject can also go at the end of the sentence. For example:
'La casa la construyó Pedro.'
(Pedro built the house.) Notice how the subject 'Pedro' is at
the end of the sentence. The subject could either go at the beginning or at the end.
Ex:
Adjective Noun Word Order
Tengo muchos amigos buenos. (I have many good friends.)
Notice the adjective describing quantity 'muchos' goes before the noun and the de-
scriptive adjective 'buenos' goes after.
Direct/Indirect Object Pronouns
Me lo regaló mi amiga. (My friend gave it to me.)
The sentence literally says, 'Me it gave my friend.'
