Spanish231 Exam #5

With adjectives, adverbs, nouns, and verbs, what is used to make comparisons of inequality (more than/less than)?

Más o menos

When the focus of a comparison is a noun and the second term of the comparison is a verb or a clause, what is used to make the comparison of inequality?

Más o menos …de los/las que

What’s used to make comparisons of equality (as…as)?

• Tan…como (adj/adverb)

• Tanto/a(s)…como (singular noun or plural noun)

• [verb] … tanto como

When the noun is preceded by a definite article and de is the equivalent of in/on/of, what is it?

• A superlative

El/la/los/las + noun + más/menos + adj + de + [noun]

Example: Esta es la playa más bonita de todas

(this is the prettiest beach of all)

When the second part of the superlative construction is a verb or a clause, what do you use instead of de?

• Que (superlatrive)

El/la/los/las + noun + más/menos + adj + que + [noun]

Example: Es el hotel menos caro que he visto

(it is the least expensive hotel I’ve seen)

Comparative and Superlative form of better

Comparative: Mejor

Superlative: El/la mejor

Comparative and Superlative form of worse

Comparative: Peor

Superlative: El/la peor

Comparative and Superlative form of bigger/older

Comparative: Mayor

Superlative: El/la mayor

Comparative and Superlative form of smaller/younger

Comparative: Menor

Superlative: El/la menor

When do you use grande/pequeño(a) for big/small instead of menor/mayor?

When referring to size and not age/quality

Example: Ese edificio es el más grande de todos

(that building is the biggest one of all)

What happens to menor/mayor when they refer to age versus when they refer to quality?

When they refer to age: they follow the noun they modify (ex: María Fernanda es mi hermana menor: Maria is my younger sister)

When they refer to quality: they precede the noun

(ex: Hubo un menor número de turistas: There was a smaller number of tourists)

Algo

Something; Anything

Alguien

Someone; Someone ; Anyone

Alguieno/a(s), Algún

Some ; Any

O…O

Either…Or

Siempre

Always

También

Also; Too

Nada

Nothing ; Not anything

Nadie

No one ; Nobody ; Not anyone

Ninguno/a, Ningún

No; None ; Not any

Ni…Ni

Neither…Nor

Nunca, Jamás

Never ; Not Ever

Tampoco

Neither ; Not Either

In Spanish, double negatives are what?

Perfectly Acceptable

Ex: Dejaste algo en la mesa? (did you leave something on the table) - No, no dejé nada (No, I didn’t leave anything)

Negative Statement Pattern

No + Verb + Negative Word

Ex; No lo extraño nunca (I never miss him)

What happens if the negative word precedes the verb?

The no is omitted

Ex: A nadie le importa su opinión sobre política internacional (No one cares about his opinion on international politics)

What happens if a negative word is used once in a Spanish sentence?

All other elements must be expressed in the negative

Ex: No le digas nada a nadie (don’t say anything to anyone)

When is the personal A used before negative or indefinite words that refer to people?

When they are the direct object of a verb

Ex: No, eres tú quien no comprende a nadie (No, you’re the one who doesn’t understand anyone)

What happens to alguno and ninguno before singular, masculine noun?

They’re shortened to algún and ningún

Ex: Has sufrido algún daño en el choque? (have you suffered any harm in the accident?)

Ex2: Me había puesto el cinturón de seguridad, por lo que no sufrí ningún daño (I had fastened my seat belt, which is why I suffered no injuries)

When is the conjunction o…o used?

When thers’s a decision to be made between two options

Ex: Debo hablar o con el gerente o con la dueña (I have to speak with either the manager or the owner)

When is the conjunction ni…ni used?

To negate both options

Ex; El precio del pasaje ni ha subido ni ha bajado en los últimos días (the price of the ticket has neither risen nor fallen in the past few days)

When is the conjunction ni siquiera (not even) used?

To add emphasis

Ex: Ni siquiera se despidieron antes de salir (they didn’t even say goodbye before they left)

When is the indicative used for an adjective clause?

When the antecedent being described is known to exist

Ex: Necesito el libro que habla sobre las ruinas mayas (I need the book that talks about mayan ruins)

Ex2: Buscamos los documentos que describen el itinerario del viaje (We’re looking for the documents that describe the itinerary for the trip)

When is the subjunctive used for an adjective clause?

When the antecedent is unknown or uncertain

Ex: Necesito un libro que hable sobre las ruinas mayas (I need a book that talks about mayan ruins)

Ex2: Buscamos documentos que describan el itinerario del viaje (We’re looking for any documents that may describe the itinerary for the trip)

What happens when the antecedent of an adjective clause is a negative pronoun (nadie, ninguno/a)?

The subjunctive is used in the subordinate clause

Ex: Elena no tiene ningún pariente que viva en La Palma (Elena doesn’t have any relatives that live in La Palma)

Ex2: No hay ningún país en su itinerario que requiera una visa (There aren’t any countries on your itinerary that require a visa)

When do you not use a personal A?

With direct objects that represent hypothetical persons

Ex: Busco un guía que hable inglés (I’m looking for a guide who speaks English)

When do you use a personal A?

Before nadie, ninguno/a, and alguien, even when their existence is uncertain

Ex: Yo conozco a alguien que se queja aún más que Antonio..tú! (I know someone who complains even more than Antonio..you!)

Ex2: No conozco a nadie que se queja tanto como Antonio (I don’t know anyone who complains as much as Antonio)

When is the subjunctive commonly used in questions with adjective clauses?

When the speaker is trying to find out information about which he/she is uncertain

Ex: Me recomienda usted un hotel que esté cerca de la costa? (Can you recommend a hotel that is near the coast?)

When is the indicative commonly used in questions with adjective clauses?

When the person who responds knows the information

Ex: Sí, el hotel flamingo está justo en la playa (Yes, the flamingo hotel is right on the beach)