SUBJUNCTIVE: 11 TIPS ON USING THIS VERBAL MODE

For students of Spanish as a second Language, the subjunctive mode is usually a headache.

But Why?

Well, there are many mainly reasons why the we understand the subjunctive is difficult to learn and to use, for example:

This mood doesn’t exist in your native language. You can’t establish a relation with anything because you lack of reference from your language. I suggest you engage “the universal language” (emotions) with Spanish language. Each emotion has a subjunctive function. Sadness, anger, happiness, at the same time and fear correspond to several functions in this way. Try to think of your experience of them as the basis of your subjunctive expression, when you speak in Spanish. Forget the base of your language to practice these aspects, because it does not work for you. "There is no emotion in the subordinate when speaking in Spanish." Send this message to your mind: it will be useful to place a good part of the subjunctive functions, as well as for the points of meaning.

The complication with the subjunctive is that you believe that all functions follow the same criteria to answer each subordinate phrase. But no. Not all communication functions serve the subjunctive, therefore, the same criteria are not followed.

The problem with the subjunctive is that the useless, the useless, the tenants and the counts of 30% of the conjugations. If it becomes a real headache.

Also, the disadvantage with the subjunctive is that in its mother tongue this mode has fewer functions than in Spanish.

Cheer up! Remember that everything is in the practice💪

SUBJUNTIVE: 

11 CLUES TO USE THIS VERBAL MODE

1.  The subjunctive is used when the subject of the main sentence would be different from the subordinate sentence.

2.  Subjunctive is used in most verbs related to likings, emotions, feelings, assessments, for example: Being fed up, liking, cheering, bothering, annoy, amaze, hate, love, please, worry, etc.

3. Remember that you use the subjunctive after impersonal expressions, so that (para qué), before (antes de), doubt that (dudar de qué), wishes, advice, requests, etc.

4.Use the subjunctive with the negative imperative:
Do not talk to neighbors ( ¡No hables con los vecinos!).

5. To express something: 
have a nice day! ( ¡ que tengas un buen día).
 I wish I was famous! ( ojala fuera famoso).

6.  You use it with probabilities:
Maybe it Will rain tomorrow ( probablemente mañana llueva).
I may possibly pass the term ( posiblemente pase el semestre). Maybe I’ll change my job next year ( Tal vez cambie de trabajo el próximo año).
Maybe I’ll go to the gym ( Quizás vaya al gimnasio).

 7.  It is used with verbs that generate an influence in us, as, for example: want, say, advise. for example:
I want you to go to the party with her (Quiero que vayas a la fiesta con ella).
I advise you to follow the rules in the class ( Te aconsejo que cumplas las reglas en la clase).
I will tell my mother to miss the appointment because of the rain
(Le digo a mi madre que falte a la cita por la lluvia).

8. Verbs related to the brain or the head: to think, to give an opinion, to believe. For example:
I do not think it's good to eat carbs at night (No creo que sea bueno comer harinas en la noche).
It does not say that it’s unhealthy (No dice que haga daño a la salud).
I don’t see that you write so bad ( No veo que escribas tan mal).

9. Verbs related to language such as: Say, affirm, exclaim.

10. Verbs where you use the senses: hearing, realizing, feeling, seeing, etc.

11.  when we use connectors with subjunctives, we have the casual ones: When, as soon as, as early as. The concessive ones: Although, despite, for more than, alas. The final ones: in spite of, in order to, because. Conditional connectors: Provided that, like, if, such as. To finish the relative represented in the form of "Que".

💖💖I hope this short post was useful 💖😎

Written by Adriana Martinez Castro.
Literary Studies Proffesional.
Especialized in Pedagogy.
Master in Writing.
Spanish as a Second Language Teacher.

LETS LEARN SPANISH WITH MUSIC!

Have you heard yourselves humming or singing a piece of a song? I bet the answer is yes!

There is a reaction from our brain. It is called Audition (or musical) “worm”. This thing is guilty of our musical taste and our music preferences. So, it doesn’t matter the language the song is, we tend to repeat and remember and may help when learning another language. In this way, the connection (or obsession) with a song, will be the first approach to a foreign language.   

Until next year the song “Despacito” (slowly) from Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee had one of the most viewed in Youtube (5.146’716.008 views) not only by Spanish speakers, but from people from different cultures and languages who, not knowing Spanish, searched for the lyrics and the translation, interesting in the meaning of the song.  Due to this, we could think “Music has the Power” because allows us to be in contact with another culture (and Languages) and help us to enhance pronunciation, and obtain linguistic skills, and improve listening.  Today’s publication is entitled to learning Spanish through songs. 

WHY MUSIC?

It’s easy, practical, and we listen to music almost all day. Human beings can learn any Language easily if they enjoy its learning, because they take it as a fun thing and not as a mandatory thing. And music is rhythmical and sometimes are catchy. They bring a lot of benefits:  

One:   We learn new words and new vocabulary when we search for those words we don’t know or don’t understand. 

     Two: We can educate our hearing. For listening many times the song we like, we will remember some words, learn new ones and look for the meaning of the ones we ignore.

   Three: Getting to know more of the Spanish speaking culture through different expressions, images, and so on.
     Four:  Get to know local slang and sayings from every Country.
     Five:  Copy pronunciation and try to make the accents as equal as possible. 

4 TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND.  

You may like hip-hop or rap, but knowing your level it’s better to start from zero. Maybe a ballad or a not so difficult-to-understand song. Maybe you don’t like this gender, but it is important that you understand the language before understanding a fast and complicated song. I invite you to follow these steps: 

 💓Choose music that make your body move. These are the ones we most like and we can listen them without a break and not getting bored. 

💓Choose songs you can sing or understand some words. As higher your level of Spanish is, you will go a longer way.

💓You will get to sing the whole song and understand it. But in the meanwhile, always have the lyrics so you can sing along and look for words you don’t know.

💓You can find songs in English that have been translated into Spanish, it’s easier to star with a known melody and you will have the time to look for words and expressions. (Some of Roxette’s, Bon jovi, Bryan Adams, Scorpions, Robie Williams,  songs have been translated to Spanish).

💓When you look for songs in “youtube” or “vimeo”, write the name of the song/artist and add lyrics. For example: David Bisbal (Spain) Lyrics. So, it will show all his songs with lyrics. You can do this with other artists. 

RECOMENDATIONS

BASIC LEVELS : The students in this group will listen to the song you chose and identify those words you don’t know from the ones you know. Then you must look for their meaning and learn them. This way you will educate your hearing to pronunciation and stress of each word. 

INTERMEDIATE LEVELS : You can explore more these elements:  1) What’s the song about? Is there a message? (a story or an argument). 2) Getting to know and study some colloquialisms  used in many songs. 3) Remember and study vocabulary and new terms. 4) Study grammatical forms, verb tenses, and so on in chosen songs. 5) Enhance your listening.

ADVANCED LEVELS: Students in this group can reinforce listening, slang, and cultural contexts.

I hope you like this blog and you find it useful ! 

                                                 

Have a nice Weekend!!😊

WRITTEN BY ADRIANA MARTINEZ