We are getting deeper now into our Spanish studies and need to tackle some more complex grammar. S
ome people freeze at the mere mention of the word ‘Grammar’, but rest assured we will explain Spanish Grammar Terminology clearly and simply!
What is ‘Grammar’ anyway? Basically, Grammar is the structure and system of a language. B
y understanding Spanish Grammar Terminology and rules you learn the correct order and form of words in sentences, so eliminating all sorts of common errors that plague Spanish students forevermore if left unaddressed.
Do you really need to know Spanish Grammar?
Some people argue that you don’t need to learn grammar to learn a language. T
hey often point to the example of children who learn their mother tongue perfectly without ever needing a textbook, dictionary, or lesson in grammar.
This kind of learning relies, however, on total immersion, a completely open mind, and years of patience. Children do also take lessons in grammar in order that they speak, write, listen, and read their mother tongue to a high level.
Spanish students do not have to undertake ultra-detailed expeditions into the depths of Spanish Grammar, but they should gain a firm grasp of the basics and understand the meaning of the most important Spanish Grammar Terminology.
We have already discussed some important Spanish Grammar Terminology already during the course.
We have learned that ‘Verbs’ describe actions (e.g. Jugar: To play, Leer: To read, Dormir: To sleep), ‘Nouns’ describe people, places or things (e.g. La television: Television, El té: tea, La comida: Food, La playa: Beach), ‘Adjectives’ describe Nouns (e.g. Rápido: fast, Lento: slow, Barato: cheap, Caro: expensive), and Adverbs describe Verbs (e.g. Usualmente: Usually, A veces: Sometimes, Siempre: Always, Constantemente: Constantly, A menudo: Often).
We should also be aware of Prepositions, Pronouns, Conjunctions, and Articles.
Spanish Prepositions
Prepositions tell you when or where something is in relation to something else (e.g. De: Of/From/About, En: In/On/At, A: To/At, Por: Because of/By/For, Para: For/To, Con: With, Entre: Between/Among, Desde: From/Since).
Spanish Pronouns
Pronouns are words used to replace nouns in a sentence (e.g. Yo: I, Tú: You, Mí: Me), Ti: You, Mío: Mine, Tuyo: Yours, Algo: Something, Nada: Nothing, Alguien: Someone, and Nadie: Nobody).
Spanish Conjunctions
Conjunctions are words that link other words, phrases, or clauses together in a sentence (e.g. Y: And, Pero: But, Entonces: Then, O: Or. Aunque: Though/Even though, Sin embargo: However/Nevertheless, Porque: Because).
Spanish Articles
Articles define nouns Some Articles define specific nouns and are known as Definite Articles (El, La, Los, Las) and others define non-specific nouns and are called Indefinite Articles (Un, Una, Unos, and Unas).
Keep it simple!
There is a tendency for language students to take one of two routes. They either get bogged down in the bowels of grammar thoroughly confused and exhausted or they immediately run for the hills and put on the blinkers.
There is a third route and it is by far the best one: clarify the main Spanish Grammar Terminology and learn a simplified version of what each means in relation to the structure of the language.
Then continue with your studies. Little by little you will become more and more familiar with the grammar and when you are ready you will delve deeper.
