Spanish Workbook For Dummies E-Book

Gail Stein

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Fremdsprachen
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Seitenzahl: 545

Beschreibung

¿Habla español? Improve your Spanish with Dummies Spanish Workbook For Dummies is full of clear explanations and hundreds of practice activities for beginning Spanish learners. You'll learn how to express yourself, ask questions, talk about the past, and construct simple sentences--en español. As you work through the book, complete practice exercises, get lots of writing opportunities, and have tons of fun. Then check your work, with answers and explanations at the end of every chapter. Plus, you'll have access to handy verb charts, a thematic vocabulary list, and mini-dictionaries, right inside this very book. * Learn the fundamentals of Spanish with integrated grammar that advances as you go * Work through practice exercises and activities as you read through each chapter * Improve and activate your Spanish with explanations of each workbook answer * Avoid common mistakes made by Spanish learners and get ready to travel, chat with friends, or interact with colleagues This friendly Dummies workbook is perfect for beginners of all ages. If you're looking to get started with Spanish, step right in--we've got the practice, practice, practice you need to succeed.

Leseprobe

Spanish Workbook For Dummies®

Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2023 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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ISBN: 978-1-119-91025-1 (pbk); 978-1-119-91026-8 (ebk); 978-1-119-91027-5 (ebk)

Spanish Workbook For Dummies®

To view this book's Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “Spanish Workbook For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the Search box.

Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

About This Book

Foolish Assumptions

Icons Used in This Book

Beyond the Book

Where to Go from Here

Part 1: Getting Started with the Basics

Chapter 1: Getting a Jump Start in Spanish

Expressing Greetings and Salutations

Referring to Others Using Subject Pronouns

Focusing on Numbers

Making Dates

Telling Time

Answers to “Getting a Jump Start” Practice Questions

Chapter 2: Selecting the Proper Part of Speech

Identifying and Using Parts of Speech

Using a Bilingual Dictionary

Recognizing Cognates

Answers to “Selecting the Proper Part of Speech” Practice Questions

Part 2: The Here and Now

Chapter 3: Sorting Out Word Gender

Marking Gender with Definite Articles

Marking Gender with Indefinite Articles

Being Demonstrative with Demonstrative Adjectives

Identifying the Gender of Singular Spanish Nouns

Adding to Your Knowledge with Noun Plurals

What's Mine Is Mine: Expressing Possession

Answers to “Sorting Out Word Gender” Practice Questions

Chapter 4: Coloring Your Sentences with Adjectives

Describing People and Things with Adjectives

Using Ser and Estar in Descriptions

Answers to “Coloring Your Sentences with Adjectives” Practice Questions

Chapter 5: Expressing Yourself in the Present

Using and Omitting Spanish Subject Pronouns

Expressing the Present

Progressing with the Present Progressive

Answers to “Expressing Yourself in the Present” Practice Questions

Chapter 6: Expressing Yourself with Subjunctive Feeling

Forming the Present Subjunctive

Spanning the Uses of the Present Subjunctive

Answers to “Expressing Yourself with Subjunctive Feeling” Practice Questions

Chapter 7: Enriching Your Sentences with Adverbs and Comparisons

Describing Verbs with Adverbs

Making Comparisons

Answers to “Enriching Your Sentences with Adverbs and Comparisons” Practice Questions

Part 3: Giving and Obtaining Information

Chapter 8: Getting Answers with the Right Questions

Inquiring in Spanish

Asking Yes/No Questions

Answering Questions with Yes and No

Asking for Information

Answering Information Questions

Answers to “Getting Answers with the Right Questions” Practice Questions

Chapter 9: Being Clear and Concise with Object Pronouns

Dealing Directly with Direct Object Pronouns

Using Indirect Object Pronouns

Selecting a Direct or an Indirect Object Pronoun

Placing Object Pronouns Correctly

Doing Double Duty with Double Object Pronouns

Getting by with Gustar

Answers to “Being Clear and Concise with Object Pronouns” Practice Questions

Chapter 10: Reflecting on Reflexive Pronouns and Verbs

Recognizing and Using Reflexive Verbs

Properly Placing Reflexive Pronouns

Answers to “Reflecting on Reflexive Pronouns and Verbs” Practice Questions

Chapter 11: Getting Attention with Commands

The Imperative Mood

Forming Formal Commands

Issuing Informal Commands

Using Object Pronouns in Commands

Answers to “Getting Attention with Commands” Practice Questions

Chapter 12: Preparing to Connect with Prepositions

Using Common Spanish Prepositions

Distinguishing One Preposition from Another

Focusing on Prepositions Used with Infinitives

Using Prepositional Pronouns

Answers to “Preparing to Connect with Prepositions” Practice Questions

Part 4: Reminiscing about the Past and Seeing into the Future

Chapter 13: Leaving It Completely in the Past

Forming the Preterit

Using the Preterit

Answers to “Leaving It Completely in the Past”

Chapter 14: Looking Back with the Imperfect

Perfecting the Imperfect

Comparing the Preterit and the Imperfect

Finding Clues to the Preterit and the Imperfect

Answers to “Looking Back with the Imperfect” Practice Questions

Chapter 15: Seeing into the Future

Forming and Expressing the Future

Using the Future Tense to Foretell, Predict, and Wonder

Answers to “Seeing into the Future” Practice Questions

Part 5: The Part of Tens

Chapter 16: Ten Most Common Mistakes in Spanish

Confusing Gender Differences

Insisting on Word-for-Word Translations

Forgetting the Personal “A”

Using the Indefinite Article with an Unqualified Profession

Being Confused about Time

Avoiding Double Negatives

Misusing Gustar

Forgetting about Idioms with Tener

Using the Incorrect Past Tense (Preterit or the Imperfect)

Ignoring the Subjunctive

Chapter 17: Ten Important Verb Distinctions

Ser versus Estar

Saber versus Conocer

Deber versus Tener Que

Preguntar versus Pedir

Jugar versus Tocar

Gastar versus Pasar

Dejar versus Salir

Volver versus Devolver

Tomar versus Llevar

Poder versus Saber

Part 6: Appendixes

Appendix A: Verb Charts

Regular Verbs

Stem-Changing Verbs

Spelling-Change Verbs

Irregular Verbs

Appendix B: Thematic Vocabulary

EDUCATION

PERSONAL INFORMATION

EARNING A LIVING

LEISURE ACTIVITIES

THE FAMILY

MEALS, FOODS, BEVERAGES, AND QUANTITIES

APPAREL

HEALTH

HOUSE AND HOME

TRAVEL

THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE COMMUNITY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT

THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION

MUSIC

Appendix C: English-Spanish Dictionary

Appendix D: Spanish-English Dictionary

Index

About the Author

Connect with Dummies

End User License Agreement

List of Tables

Chapter 1

Table 1-1 Spanish Subject Pronouns

Chapter 2

Table 2-1 Useful Abbreviations

Chapter 3

Table 3-1 Demonstrative Adjectives

Table 3-2 Possessive Adjectives

Chapter 5

Table 5-1 Regular -ar Verb Conjugation in the Present

Table 5-2 Regular -er Verb Conjugation in the Present

Table 5-3 Regular-ir Verb Conjugation in the Present

Table 5-4 Spelling Changes in the Present Tense

Table 5-5 Verbs with Spelling and Stem Changes in the Present

Table 5-6 Irregular Verbs in All Forms Except Nosotros and Vosotros

Table 5-7 Irregular Verbs in All or Most of Their Forms

Chapter 6

Table 6-1 The Present Subjunctive Endings of Regular Verbs

Table 6-2 Subjunctive Stems Derived from the Present-Tense Yo Form

Table 6-3 Present Subjunctive of Verbs with Spelling Changes

Table 6-4 Verbs with Stem Changes in the Present Subjunctive

Table 6-5 Certain -ir Verbs with Stem Changes

Table 6-6 Stem and Spelling Changes in the Present Subjunctive

Table 6-7 (Very) Irregular Verbs in the Subjunctive

Chapter 7

Table 7-1 Forming Various Types of Adverbs

Table 7-2 Frequently Used Adverbs and Adverbial Phrases

Chapter 9

Table 9-1 Spanish Direct Object Pronouns

Table 9-2 Spanish Indirect Object Pronouns

Chapter 10

Table 10-1 Properly Using Reflexive Pronouns

Table 10-2 Common Reflexive Verbs

Table 10-3 Spanish Verbs with Different Reflexive Meanings

Chapter 11

Table 11-1 Verbs with Irregular Yo Forms

Table 11-2 Verbs with Spelling and Stem Changes

Table 11-3 Irregular Verbs

Table 11-4 Irregular Verbs

Table 11-5 Verbs with Spelling and Stem Changes

Table 11-6 Negative Vosotros Commands

Chapter 12

Table 12-1 Common Spanish Prepositions

Table 12-2 Spanish Verbs Requiring A

Table 12-3 Spanish Verbs Requiring De

Table 12-4 Spanish Verbs Requiring En

Table 12-5 Spanish Verbs Requiring Con

Table 12-6 Verbs That Require No Preposition

Table 12-7 Prepositional Pronouns

Chapter 13

Table 13-1 The Preterit for Verbs Ending in -car, -gar, and -zar

Table 13-2 The Preterit for Verbs That Change -i to -y

Table 13-3 The Preterit for -ir Infinitive Verbs with a Stem Change in Present T...

Table 13-4 The Preterit of Irregular Verbs with -i in the Preterit Stem

Table 13-5 The Preterit of Irregular Verbs with -u in the Preterit Stem

Table 13-6 The Preterit of Irregular Verbs with -uv in the Preterit Stem

Table 13-7 The Preterit of Irregular Verbs with -j in the Preterit Stem

Table 13-8 The Preterit of Dar and Ver

Guide

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Table of Contents

Begin Reading

Index

About the Author

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Introduction

You've picked up this book because your goal is to learn and communicate in Spanish. That's fantastic! Knowledge of a foreign language will open up a world of opportunities for you. So here you are, eager to jump in and acquire a new skill. Whether you're planning a trip, engaging in business with Spanish speakers, or just a lover of languages, Spanish Workbook For Dummies will help you achieve your goals quickly, painlessly and effortlessly. Turn the page and enter a world that will provide you with endless opportunities, intriguing experiences, and exciting challenges. Embark on a journey that will open the door to a different culture, a unique lifestyle, and a distinctive outlook on life. Immerse yourself in all things Spanish-related and perfect your foreign language skills. Therein lies the main goal of this book.

Spanish Workbook For Dummies not only presents you with all the grammar you need to know to communicate on a beginning level but also provides you with clear examples and interesting and meaningful theme-based exercises that will help you hone your skills. I give you the opportunity to put what you've learned to work and to express your thoughts and ideas fluidly. If you can finish the exercises in a flash, you know you've mastered the material well. Some exercises, of course, present more of a challenge and require additional attention and focus. That's to be expected. Just keep in mind that after you finish all the chapters, you'll be a full-fledged beginning graduate! Feel free to give yourself a pat on the back!

About This Book

This book is for anyone who wants to have a basic, working knowledge of Spanish. It's a reference book and a workbook for people who strive to communicate and improve their proficiency in a language that is popular worldwide. If you want to get “up to speed” with language structures so you can understand, speak, read, and write in Spanish, this book is for you.

Each chapter in this book covers a different topic that affords you the opportunity to practice your skills by completing exercises designed to increase your vocabulary and develop your grammar skills. I reinforce nuances of style, usage, and grammar rules every step of the way so that you understand and practice how native speakers and writers use the language. I also include plenty of examples to guide you through the rules and exercises and to expose you to colloquial, everyday, correct Spanish that native speakers expect to hear from someone using Spanish.

Each section covers a different topic. Rest assured that basic elementary Spanish is fully covered. Each chapter includes exercises that allow you to practice and master what you've learned. More specifically, I make sure that each chapter contains the following:

An introduction to the material being presented

An explanation of how the grammar works

Sample questions and answers that show you how to complete the exercises

Exercises that help you perfect your skills

An answer key with detailed explanations for each exercise

Before you move on, I must reiterate an important point: This is a workbook! Don't be afraid to write in it. Use your favorite colored highlighter or your trusty red pen to underline the points you want to remember. Complete an exercise, commit to your answers, then flip to the end of the chapter where the answer key will provide you not only with the correct answers but also a detailed explanation of how to get to that answer.

One final thought — don't feel compelled to follow this book strictly from beginning to end. Feel free to skip around to whatever section interests you the most. Don't be shy about consulting the Thematic Vocabulary lists located at the end of the book. They will certainly be extremely useful in helping you quickly build your vocabulary skills.

Foolish Assumptions

When writing this book, I made the following assumptions about you. If they apply, you've come to the right place:

You have limited experience with and knowledge of the fundamentals of Spanish grammar. You're looking for the opportunity to use what you already know and intend to move forward to new areas of knowledge.

You want to perfect your Spanish because you're planning a trip, conducting business, or are a foreign-language student.

You want to speak and write Spanish colloquially, like a native does, and you want to use Spanish in practical, everyday situations.

You want a book that's complete but isn't so advanced that you get lost in the rules. I try to explain the rules as clearly as possible without using too many grammatical terms. I've left out advanced grammar because you simply don't need it to be understood in everyday situations. Keep it clean and simple and you'll do just fine, and others will appreciate your honest attempts at communicating in another language.

Icons Used in This Book

Icons are those cute little drawings on the left side of the page that call out for your attention. They signal a particularly valuable piece of information, a rule that you should consider if you want to avoid making an unnecessary error, or a list of exercises that you can complete. Here's a list of the icons in this book:

Remember icons call your attention to important information about the language — something you shouldn't neglect or something that's out of the ordinary. Don't ignore these paragraphs.

Tip icons are there to show you explicitly how to execute a task. Tips present time-saving tidbits that make communication quick and effective. If you want to know the proper way to do things, check out the Tip icons first.

Warning icons alert you to irregularities within the language that can lead you astray and cause you to make mistakes that identify you as a non-native speaker.

The Practice icons flag exercises, which is where you need to go to put the grammar rules you read about into action. Language theory is grand, but if you can't apply it properly, it really isn't worth very much. The practice exercises are your golden opportunity to perfect your Spanish skills.

Beyond the Book

In addition to the material in this book or ebook, be sure to look for the free Cheat Sheet for additional quick reference notes pertaining to the most useful Spanish grammar topics. To get this Cheat Sheet, simply go to www.dummies.com and search for “Spanish Workbook” in the Search box.

Where to Go from Here

One great thing about this book (and all For Dummies books) is that you don't have to follow it chapter by chapter from the very beginning to the (not-so) bitter end. You can start where you like and jump all over the place if that is your pleasure. Each chapter stands on its own and doesn't require that you complete any of the other chapters in the book. This saves you a lot of time if you've mastered certain topics but feel a bit insecure or hesitant about others.

So go ahead and jump right in. Get your feet wet. If you're not sure exactly where to begin, take a good look at the table of contents and select the topic that seems to best fit your abilities and needs. If you're concerned and are new to the Spanish language, you can start at the very beginning and slowly work your way through the book. If you feel confident and self-assured, skip right to the practice exercises and see how well you do. Because each lesson is an entity unto itself, you can hop around from the middle to the front to the back without missing a beat.

An important thing to keep in mind is that this isn't a race, and it isn't a contest. Work at a pace that best suits your needs. Don't hesitate to read a chapter a second or third or even a fourth time several days later. You may even want to repeat some exercises. This is a book that you can easily adapt to your learning abilities. Remember, too, that you need to have a positive, confident attitude. Yes, you'll make mistakes. Everyone does — as a matter of fact, many native Spanish speakers do all the time. Your main goal should be to do the best you can; if you do trip up, it isn't the end of the world. If you can make yourself understood, you've won the greatest part of the battle.

Part 1

Getting Started with the Basics

IN THIS PART …

Build vocabulary with cognates

Get introduced to basic grammar principles

Deal with numbers

Use bilingual dictionaries effectively