“Tengo 20 años”, “hace frío”
CEFR A1 · part 2
edumaterial's parts within the level. The European framework does not subdivide them.
“Me gusta”: the sentence turns roundBuilding sentences with “gustar”, “encantar”, “doler”, “interesar” and “faltar”: the…“Hay” or “está”Saying that something exists with “hay”, and saying where a known thing is with “estar”.“No tengo nada”: two negatives are rightBuilding negative sentences with “nada”, “nadie”, “nunca”, “ninguno” and “tampoco”…“Quiero”, “puedo”, “duermo”: verbs that change insideThe three patterns —“e” to “ie”, “o” to “ue”, “e” to “i”— and the shape they make: every…“Veo a María”: the “a” that English cannot seePutting “a” in front of a person who is the direct object —“busco a mi hermano”— and…“Ser” or “estar”: two verbs for one “to be”Choosing between “ser” and “estar” in everyday sentences: who you are and what you are…The rule, in three lines
Spanish does not say that you ARE twenty, cold or hungry: it says that you HAVE them. Tengo veinte años, tengo frío, tengo hambre, tengo miedo, tengo razón. And the weather is something the day DOES: hace frío, hace calor, hace sol, hace viento.
The usual slip. Translating «I am» straight across: soy veinte años, soy frío, and es frío for the weather.
Why it catches you out. English uses “to be” for every one of these, so you reach for “ser” or “estar” and all of them come out wrong. Notice the pattern instead: if the thing is INSIDE you, it is “tener”; if it is the weather outside, it is “hacer”. And watch the pair “tengo frío” / “hace frío”: same word, two different verbs.