| Verbs 101: the concept of persons |
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In order to understand how verbs (action words) work one must comprehend the concept of persons. Each verb can be broken down into three singular persons and three plural persons, for a total of six. By persons, I mean the person who is performing the action. Singular persons: 1st person singular: Translates as "I" and is the person doing the talking. 2nd person singular: Translates as "you" and is the person to whom you are speaking. 3rd person singular: Translates as "he, she, it" and is the person you are talking about. The Spanish equivalents are as follows: 1st person singular: "I" in English translates as YO 2nd person singular: "You" in English translates two ways, both TU and USTED. 3rd person singular: "He" in Spanish translates as él" and she as ELLA. Spanish does not have a subject pronoun for the word IT. "IT" is assumed in the verb, such as "es lunes" meaning [It] is Monday. Plural persons: 1st person plural: Translates as "we" and are the persons doing the talking. 2nd person plural: Translates as "you all " and are the persons to whom you are speaking. 3rd person plural: Translates as "they" and are the persons you are talking about. The Spanish equivalents are as follows: 1st person plural: "We" in English translates as NOSOTROS or NOSOTRAS (9if all members of the group are feminine) 2nd person plural: "You all" in English translates two ways, both VOSOTROS (only in Spain) and USTEDES. 3rd person singular: "THEY" translates as ELLOS (all male or mixed gender group) and ELLAS (all female group). In the practice exercise, select the correct Spanish subject pronoun. |