LEARN ENGLISH AND LEARN SPANISH LANGUAGE DIFFERENCES

Grammar Differences Probably the biggest difference between the two languages is the fact that in Spanish we distinguish between masculine and feminine and singular and plural in articles, nouns and adjectives and in English we do not.

Example

In English the adjective usually goes before the noun that is describing while in Spanish it normally goes after the noun.

Example

My white cat

Mi gato blanco 

Another difference between the two languages is regarding the position the object pronouns take within the sentence. Object pronouns in English always go after the verb while in Spanish they always go before the verb.

Example

I told him

Le dije

In spanish we distinguish two forms for the English personal subject pronoun "you". They are: "tú" and "usted". "Tú" is used when addressing someone in an informal context while "usted" is used when speaking to someone for the first time or to show respect. "Usted" is the courteous form of the English word "you".

Example

Tú eres joven. (You know well the person you are talking to)

Usted es joven. (You do not know well the person you are talking to)

The way verbs are conjugated in the two languages is very different.

Example

I want to buy a loaf of bread.

Quiero comprar una barra de pan.

General Differences

You will find a lot of differences in the use and omission of the definite articles in both languages. The general rule is, when you use "el, la, los and las" in Spanish, you do not use the English article "the" in English and vice versa.

Example

Peter is at school.

Peter está en el colegio.

In English when writing a question or exclamation, you only write a question or exclamation mark at the end of the sentence. While in Spanish, you have to write one question or exclamation mark at the beginning of the sentence and another one at the end.

Example

What time is it?

¿Qué hora es?

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