edumaterial's parts within the level. The European framework does not subdivide them.
- 1Try
- 2Learn
- 3Practise
- 4Check
“Se vende”: the passive that Spanish actually usesSaying things without naming who does them: “se vende piso”, “se venden pisos” —agreeing…“Llevo dos horas esperando”: two verbs working togetherThe everyday combinations: “acabar de” (just), “llevar” + gerund (have been), “ponerse…“Llegó Ana”: the subject after the verbPutting the subject after the verb where Spanish prefers it: with verbs of happening…“Lo que quiero”: the neuter “lo”Using “lo” with an adjective (“lo bueno”, “lo difícil”) and “lo que” for “what”: “lo que…“Depender de”, “soñar con”, “pensar en”The preposition each verb demands, which almost never matches the English one: “depender…At the beginning or provisionally“Al principio” locates something at the beginning of a period or process. “En principio”…
Another oneKeep practising: SpanishThe rule, in three lines
Aunque takes the indicative when the fact is given and known —aunque llueve, salgo, and it IS raining— and the subjunctive when it is a possibility or when you are setting it aside: aunque llueva, salgo, whether it rains or not. The same goes for a pesar de que and por mucho que.
The usual slip. Using the indicative always, and losing a distinction that English marks with two different conjunctions.
Why it catches you out. English says “although it's raining” for one and “even if it rains” for the other: two conjunctions. Spanish uses ONE conjunction and changes the verb instead — so what your language puts in the connector, this one puts in the mood.