edumaterial's parts within the level. The European framework does not subdivide them.
- 1Try
- 2Learn
- 3Practise
- 4Check
“Comí” or “comía”Choosing between the two past tenses: a finished action with “comí”, a background, a…“Por” or “para”Choosing between “por” and “para” for cause, purpose, destination, duration, exchange…“Lo”, “la”, “le” — and they go in frontReplacing an object with “lo”, “la”, “los”, “las”, “le” or “les”, and putting the…“Saber” or “conocer”Using “saber” for facts, information and skills, and “conocer” for being acquainted with…“Me duele la cabeza”, not “mi cabeza”Using the article instead of the possessive with parts of the body and clothes, because…“Voy a menudo”: where the adverb goesPlacing “siempre”, “nunca”, “ya”, “todavía”, “a menudo” and “casi” where Spanish puts…
Another oneKeep practising: SpanishThe rule, in three lines
Use jugar for taking part in games and sports, and tocar for producing music with an instrument. Spanish does not use one verb for both English meanings of “play”.
The usual slip. Translating “play the piano” as jugar el piano confuses musical performance with a game.
Why it catches you out. English uses “play” for both games and musical instruments. Spanish chooses a different verb for each meaning, so copying the English verb across both contexts produces the wrong choice.
Continue along this corridor
- “Comí” or “comía”Choosing between the two past tenses: a finished action with “comí”, a background, a…
- “Por” or “para”Choosing between “por” and “para” for cause, purpose, destination, duration, exchange…
- “Lo”, “la”, “le” — and they go in frontReplacing an object with “lo”, “la”, “los”, “las”, “le” or “les”, and putting the…