Most Popular Spanish Language Tips-Learning The Present Subjunctive
The Present Subjunctive and the Future Tense (how to tell them apart)
Students often require extensive practice of The Present Subjunctive in order to distinguish the way it differs from the Future Tense in Spanish, since both seem to be used to describe an action in the future. This issue usually comes up in the classroom just when you thought everyone had a grip on the subject; however, in order to master this area of Spanish Language Grammar, we must also introduce aspects of the culture and the ways Grammar and Culture overlap.
The most successful approach I have used in the classroom is to compare The Present Subjunctive and The Future tense in Spanish is not necessarily to explain Grammar over and over again, but to write several sentences on the whiteboard and guide the class into deep analysis of each one. I encourage students to share their perception regarding the differences they find in each sentence.
After continuous analysis of sentences, the students realize that The Present Subjunctive Mood refers to the situation that is yet to be experienced, and they can tell The Future Tense is what we have already planned to do when we finally experience the event.
The outcome of implementing this teaching technique is amazing!. Students come up with explanations of their own and everyone is a winner. When students were encouraged to work as a team, everyone had the opportunity to participate in the learning process, including those who rarely participated in class.
Once I realize students require additional practice on how to learn the differences between The Present Subjunctive and the Future Tense in Spanish, I write two examples on the board using two different connectors that triggerThe Subjunctive Mood, as a way to get the class to gradually memorize them as they practiced.
-I will buy a house when I win the lottery-
-Yo voy a comprar una casa cuando me saque la loterÃa-
That I win the lottery is yet to be experienced while buying the house is the one thing I have planned to do when the unexperienced event occurs.
-I will help you decorate your room as long as you promise to keep it clean and organized-
-Yo lo/la voy a ayudar a decorar su cuarto siempre y cuando me prometa mantenerlo limpio y ordenado-
I know what I am going to do, which is expressed by the use of The Future Tense; however, I require some conditions to be met, and are yet to be experienced-The Present Subjunctive.
This brief and simple explanation always leads to more examples that students eagerly contribute with, and this encourages me to follow up with a more difficult part of the language; the way our culture experiences life and how this reflects upon the way we express ourselves. http://www.costaricaspanishonline.com/Spanish-Subjuntive.php
The Present Subjunctive and Costa Rican Culture
The connector aunque- although, no matter how much, even if; is used in the Present Subjunctive Mood to express our exaggerated emotional response to a given situation. Let's keep in mind I am speaking for Latin American Culture; Costa Rican culture in particular. The following sentences clearly depict an exaggerated response to a situation.
-I will tell him I'm leaving no matter how many tears I will shed from now on-
-Yo voy a decirle que me voy aunque tenga que llorar toda mi vida-
-I will not listen to you!, although I may risk losing my job-
-Yo no voy a escucharlo/la aunque arriesgue mi trabajo-
There is probably 99% chance that I will not end up losing my job or perhaps 99% chance that I will. The point is, we add tragedy and drama to the way we react. I need others to know I am willing to risk it all for the risk of being assertive; whether this is true or not, I let my emotions get to me. Also, it is an unexperienced event that comes into play once again.
This is one aspect of the Latin American culture, Costa Ricans in particular; we exaggerate the way we express our emotions, and this is where certain expressions used in order to trigger the use of The Present Subjunctive mood come in. Aunque, ranks higher than any other connector.
-Voy a comerme otra tajada de queque aunque me muera-.
-I will have one more slice of cake even if I may die-
-Ella va a comprar un carro automático aunque gaste todo su sueldo en gasolina-
-She is going to buy an automatic car even if she spends her entire salary on gas.
I am glad to share my teaching experience with everyone out there, and would gladly welcome any suggestions for future articles.
Hello from Costa Rica, I am a Spanish Language teacher with 29 years hands-on experience teaching both English and Spanish as Foreign Languages. During my teaching career I have collected a list of common questions that students ask regarding areas of the Spanish Language that seem difficult to learn. Mostly, these questions come from an overload of theory but very little application in practice. My goal when writing articles is to provide Spanish Language students with the easiest explanations possible including a few examples in order to simplify the learning process thus allowing students to perceive Spanish Language Grammar as a friendly tool for conversation skills enhancement. I would like to receive your questions regarding any area of Grammar where you have encountered an overload of information, but very few simple explanations to help you get started. You are welcome to visit our website and share your questions with us.
http://www.costaricaspanishonline.com
The Present Subjunctive and the Future Tense (how to tell them apart)
Students often require extensive practice of The Present Subjunctive in order to distinguish the way it differs from the Future Tense in Spanish, since both seem to be used to describe an action in the future. This issue usually comes up in the classroom just when you thought everyone had a grip on the subject; however, in order to master this area of Spanish Language Grammar, we must also introduce aspects of the culture and the ways Grammar and Culture overlap.
The most successful approach I have used in the classroom is to compare The Present Subjunctive and The Future tense in Spanish is not necessarily to explain Grammar over and over again, but to write several sentences on the whiteboard and guide the class into deep analysis of each one. I encourage students to share their perception regarding the differences they find in each sentence.
After continuous analysis of sentences, the students realize that The Present Subjunctive Mood refers to the situation that is yet to be experienced, and they can tell The Future Tense is what we have already planned to do when we finally experience the event.
The outcome of implementing this teaching technique is amazing!. Students come up with explanations of their own and everyone is a winner. When students were encouraged to work as a team, everyone had the opportunity to participate in the learning process, including those who rarely participated in class.
Once I realize students require additional practice on how to learn the differences between The Present Subjunctive and the Future Tense in Spanish, I write two examples on the board using two different connectors that triggerThe Subjunctive Mood, as a way to get the class to gradually memorize them as they practiced.
-I will buy a house when I win the lottery-
-Yo voy a comprar una casa cuando me saque la loterÃa-
That I win the lottery is yet to be experienced while buying the house is the one thing I have planned to do when the unexperienced event occurs.
-I will help you decorate your room as long as you promise to keep it clean and organized-
-Yo lo/la voy a ayudar a decorar su cuarto siempre y cuando me prometa mantenerlo limpio y ordenado-
I know what I am going to do, which is expressed by the use of The Future Tense; however, I require some conditions to be met, and are yet to be experienced-The Present Subjunctive.
This brief and simple explanation always leads to more examples that students eagerly contribute with, and this encourages me to follow up with a more difficult part of the language; the way our culture experiences life and how this reflects upon the way we express ourselves. http://www.costaricaspanishonline.com/Spanish-Subjuntive.php
The Present Subjunctive and Costa Rican Culture
The connector aunque- although, no matter how much, even if; is used in the Present Subjunctive Mood to express our exaggerated emotional response to a given situation. Let's keep in mind I am speaking for Latin American Culture; Costa Rican culture in particular. The following sentences clearly depict an exaggerated response to a situation.
-I will tell him I'm leaving no matter how many tears I will shed from now on-
-Yo voy a decirle que me voy aunque tenga que llorar toda mi vida-
-I will not listen to you!, although I may risk losing my job-
-Yo no voy a escucharlo/la aunque arriesgue mi trabajo-
There is probably 99% chance that I will not end up losing my job or perhaps 99% chance that I will. The point is, we add tragedy and drama to the way we react. I need others to know I am willing to risk it all for the risk of being assertive; whether this is true or not, I let my emotions get to me. Also, it is an unexperienced event that comes into play once again.
This is one aspect of the Latin American culture, Costa Ricans in particular; we exaggerate the way we express our emotions, and this is where certain expressions used in order to trigger the use of The Present Subjunctive mood come in. Aunque, ranks higher than any other connector.
-Voy a comerme otra tajada de queque aunque me muera-.
-I will have one more slice of cake even if I may die-
-Ella va a comprar un carro automático aunque gaste todo su sueldo en gasolina-
-She is going to buy an automatic car even if she spends her entire salary on gas.
I am glad to share my teaching experience with everyone out there, and would gladly welcome any suggestions for future articles.
Hello from Costa Rica, I am a Spanish Language teacher with 29 years hands-on experience teaching both English and Spanish as Foreign Languages. During my teaching career I have collected a list of common questions that students ask regarding areas of the Spanish Language that seem difficult to learn. Mostly, these questions come from an overload of theory but very little application in practice. My goal when writing articles is to provide Spanish Language students with the easiest explanations possible including a few examples in order to simplify the learning process thus allowing students to perceive Spanish Language Grammar as a friendly tool for conversation skills enhancement. I would like to receive your questions regarding any area of Grammar where you have encountered an overload of information, but very few simple explanations to help you get started. You are welcome to visit our website and share your questions with us.
http://www.costaricaspanishonline.com