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Visual Link Spanish™ Course Testimonial --
Hello!
Thank You so much! I just received of the Visual Link Spanish Advanced Verb Course. It was very nice of you to get so to me so quick. I learned casual conversations about things I like in about three weeks.
To say Thank You is not enough, this program is so good!
Once again - Thank You
Sylvi Roivainen
The Official "Ask Dave" Section -----
Question
Hello Hola Dave !!
Could you pls tell me the difference between Trabajo and Trabaje?
Trabajar means to work, si?
Trabajo means I work, si?
Trabaje means work, es correcto esto?
I am terribly confused. I see on your website, and on Sentence Building II, that "to work" to you means al trabajo. Can this be right?
Please answer. It doesn't have to be published or printed on your weekly web site. Just answer so I can understand this better.
Thanks ever so much. I would truly appreciate an answer so that I may continue in my lessons.
TINA - going to be your best student ever...........
Answer
Hola Tina,
The word "trabajo" either means "I work" or it is also the noun "work".
The phrase "the work" is "el trabajo".
To say "to work" in Spanish, they literally say "to the work" or "al trabajo".
The word "trabaje" (with an accent over the "e") is the past tense meaning "I worked".
And finally, the word "trabajar" (ending with an "ar") means "to work".
As I mentioned a minute ago, "trabajo" means either "I work" or, just in this case (as an exception), it is the noun "work".
In comparison, the verb "to talk" is "hablar".
"Hablo" means "I talk" but isn't the noun meaning "a talk".
[Tina then emailed back wondering when verbs turn into nouns by adding an "o"]
To answer her question, it is really on a case-by-case basis. I went through the 131 most common verbs and there are
22 (below) that change into nouns:
Verbs that become nouns when adding an "o"
caminar - to walk
camino - I walk
un camino - "a path - as in a walking-type path"
descansar - to rest
descanso - I rest
un descanso - a rest
almorzar - to eat lunch
almuerzo - I eat lunch
un almuerzo - a lunch
encontrar - to find
encuentro - I find
un encuentro - a find/a finding
jugar - to play
juego - I play
un juego - a game
regresar - to return
regreso - I return
a return - un regreso
cambiar - to change
cambio - I change
un cambio - a change
desear - to desire
deseo - I desire
un deseo - a desire
dibujar - to draw
dibujo - I draw
un dibujo - a drawing
pagar - to pay
pago - I pay
un pago - a payment
vivir - to live
vivo - I live
en vivo - live (like on live TV)
comenzar - to start
comienzo - I start
un comienzo - a beginning
Verbs that become nouns when adding an "a"
entregar - to deliver
entrega - he/she delivers
una entrega - a delivery
preguntar - to ask
pregunta - he/she asks
una pregunta - a question
cenar - to eat dinner
cena - he/she eats dinner
una cena - a dinner
ayudar - to help
ayuda - he/she helps
una ayuda - a help (e.g. - He is a big help)
visitar - to visit
visita - he/she visits
una visita - a visit
practicar - to practice
practica - he/she practices
una práctica - a practice
Nouns that change meaning slightly when changed to verbs:
<
br />recibir - to receive
recibo - I receive
un recibo - a receipt
mostrar - to show
muestra - he/she shows
una muestra - a sample
recorder - to remember
recuerdo - I remember
un recuerdo - a souvenir
And... that's it.
Thanks,
Dave
Remember, if you want to be successful in Spanish and don't have the Complete Visual Link Spanish™ Course yet, click here to order it.
Culture -- The "Tacaño" Hand Gesture
The Spanish word "tacaño" means "tightwad" or "cheapskate". This is one of my favorite gestures used in the Spanish language. Maybe it's because I grew up in a financially tight home and I can easily relate to it. When I was growing up, because of income, my parents would take my five sisters and me, I didn't have any brothers, to McDonald's only two or three times a year. We usually only had enough money to get a half a hamburger each if we were lucky. We never had enough money for fries or sodas. I also walked uphill both ways to school barefoot in the snow (just kidding about the school and barefoot part).
Anyway, because of my upbringing I learned to be conservative with my money. My wife and coworkers often notice the fact that I am "tight with my money", and they occasionally tease me about it. They probably consider me to be somewhat of a "tacaño". If they knew the "tacaño" hand gesture, they would most likely use it on me.
Anyway, now let's learn how to make the official Spanish sign for "tacaño". Put your right forearm in front of you with the fist pointing up in the air (forearm vertical, the rest of your arm is horizontal). Make sure your right hand is in a fist. Then, with your left hand, slap the bottom of your elbow three times (slap up and down and not sideways). Go ahead and take a short break from the newsletter to try-out this important hand gesture.
I was told by some native speakers that this hand gesture is like having money in your fist and you are trying to knock it free by hitting your elbow. You are sort of saying, "Come on!..Don't hold on to your money so tight."
In my own defense, I do have to say that when I lived in Latin America, I saw how generous the people were and I became more generous also. I actually became a lot less of a "tacaño" than I used to be. Because of that, nobody ever made the "tacaño" gesture to me, but it was fun to watch others make it to each other and find out who the real "tightwads" were.
Now that I live in the U.S. again, I have tried to continue with the culture I learned in Latin America of being generous to people, but unfortunately I have slipped back somewhat into my conservative spending habits and am considered, by some of my family and coworkers, a little bit of a "tacaño".
To you international newsletter subscribers, do you have signs like this for people that are tight with their money?
Moral of the Story: It is fun to learn different aspects of a new culture. From gestures, to body language, to how people live, learning the cultures of other people can enrich the way we look at life and help us to appreciate the differences of others.
Sneak peek at next week: "The Dominican Point"
¡Hasta luego! ("Until later")
David S. Clark -- President / Director
Visual Link Spanish™
Fun, Interactive Spanish Courses
http://www.spanishprograms.com
dave_c@spanishprograms.com
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Responses to Past Newsletters:
Note: Any links recommended by newsletter subscribers are not necessarily endorsed by the U.S. Institute of Languages™ - use at your own risk. Formatting on responses may have been changed to fit your screen.
Response #1
Hello,
People say "Bless You" to keep the demons from entering your head to fill up the empty place the sneeze left. In the American deep south they sometimes say "Scat" to scare off the demons.
Old Christian stuff maybe.
Response #2
Hi Dave,
Here in the UK it is customary for a man to give another man in almost all settings a very firm handshake. The only time this differs is when you're attending an interview, then you are supposed to shake their hand firmly, but not too firmly, regardless of what they do.
With women, men aren't supposed to give as firm a handshake. I suppose it is something to do with not hurting them and chivalry.
Hope that offers some insight!
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