Spanish and English differ in that Spanish uses double or even triple negatives and the meaning stays negative. Once any one part of the sentence is in the negative the entire sentence must stay in the negative!
Read more 06 Jun 2018
Grammar Tips: German Word Order
In statements, the initial conjugated verb is always the second element. All other words appear in the following sequence: Time + Manner + Place Time: “tomorrow” or “Wednesday of next week.” Manner: how something is carried out “with my sister” or “on foot.” Place: can refer to any location “Toronto” or “in the garden.” Option A: (Time) + (verb) + […]
Read more 01 Nov 2017
Common German Idioms
Idioms can be fun and a challenge to learn in a foreign language. Here are some great ones in German!
Read more 09 Sep 2017
Grammar Terms for German Students
20 Jul 2017
Grammar Tips ~ The Subjunctive
Nothing in the Spanish language can seem quite as confusing to English speakers as the subjunctive! It’s not surprising, as this is one area of grammar in which English and Spanish are very different. The use of the subjunctive in English is very limited and can often sound arcane or old-fashioned whereas it is a fundamental part of everyday Spanish […]
Read more 11 Mar 2015
Grammar Tips: Spanish Subjunctive Part I
There are few things in the Spanish language more difficult for English speakers to get a grasp on than the subjunctive. One common fallacy is that students believe the subjunctive is a tense when in fact it is a mood. There are two moods in the Spanish-language: the indicative and subjunctive. The indicative mood is used to describe all that is concrete and habitual whereas the subjunctive describes that which is in any way hypothetical.
Read more 27 May 2014
Grammar Tips: Uses of ‘ya’ in Spanish
Ya is a tricky word in Spanish. In the dictionary, it usually translates as now or already. However, it can also have other nuanced meanings including emotions such as agreement or impatience. Tone in your delivery also plays an important role in deciphering meaning. Finally, one finds ya more in casual speech than in formal written Spanish. Below are some possible translations with example sentences.
Read more 27 Mar 2014
Grammar Tips: Spanish Prepositions
Prepositions are small words usually found in front of a noun that help establish its relation to another word in the sentence. Examples of prepositions in English include: in, under, with, for etc. Spanish has three key prepositions to do with location: a, de, en.
Read more 22 Jan 2014
Grammar Tips: Spanish Word Stress
Proper pronunciation is key to communicating in any language. Without proper pronunciation, it can become very difficult to make yourself understood. Review the guidelines below to better understand Spanish word syllabification and stress.
Read more 16 Jul 2013
Grammar Tips: Two-way Prepositions in German
Prepositions are important words in sentences as they show the relation between the words. Common prepositions in English include: with, in, for, to etc. One major difference between English and German grammar is that each preposition in the German language is associated with a specific case. Here we are looking at a specific subset of prepositions called two-way prepositions which can be used with either the accusative or dative case. The following is the complete list of nine two-way prepositions:
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