# translations

es_text: apellido
en_text: surname
source_context: U1_4A
notes:
1. Meaning
It is a noun that means "last name" or "surname."
2. Grammar Breakdown
Part of Speech: Noun.
Gender: Masculine.
Number: Singular.
Because it is a masculine singular noun, it pairs with masculine articles and pronouns:
With a definite article ("the"): el apellido (the last name)
With an indefinite article ("a"): un apellido (a last name)
With a possessive pronoun ("my"): mi apellido (my last name)
Plural Form:
To make it plural, simply add an -s to the end because it ends in a vowel:
los apellidos (the last names)


es_text: argentina
en_text: Argentinian
source_context: U1_3A
notes:
This is proper noun
Demonym (Nationality):
A male from Argentina is argentino.
A female from Argentina is argentina.


es_text: Tú pronuncias
en_text: You pronounce
source_context: U0_5A
notes:
Here is a quick profile of this verb:
The Base (Infinitive): Pronunciar (meaning "to pronounce").
The Verb Group: It belongs to the -ar group, which is the first and largest conjugation group in Spanish.
The Stem: If you chop off the -ar ending, you get the stem pronunci-.


es_text: Viajar en autobús
en_text: To travel by train
source_context: U0_6
notes:
The Grammar Breakdown
En is a preposition. In English, we have distinct words for location based on whether something is inside or on top of something else (in vs. on). Spanish simplifies this by using en for both scenarios. Context tells you which one it means.
Here are the three primary ways you will see it used:
A. Meaning "In" or "Inside" (Location)
When you are talking about being inside a country, city, room, or building.
Vivo en Australia. (I live in Australia.)
El libro está en la mochila. (The book is in the backpack.)
B. Meaning "On" or "On top of" (Surface Location)
When something is resting on a surface.
El ordenador está en la mesa. (The computer is on the table.)
Está en la página 35. (It is on page 35.) 
C. Meaning "By" (Modes of Transportation)
When you talk about how you travel, Spanish uses en where English uses "by."
Viajar en tren. (To travel by train.)
Viajar en autobús. (To travel by bus.)


es_text: No, quiero ese.
en_text: No, I want that one.
source_context: U0_4C
notes:
The Spanish "Distance" Trick
Spanish is unique because it has three different ways to say "this" or "that" depending on how close the object is to you and the person you are talking to:
Este = This one (Right here near me).
Ese = That one (Over there near you, or just a short distance away).
Aquel = That one way over there (Far away from both of us).
So, when you use ese, you are usually pointing to something that is within arm's reach of the person you are talking to, or just slightly out of your own personal space.


es_text: Lo siento por el error
en_text: I'm sorry for the mistake
source_context: U0_6 U5_2B
notes:
A. "Lo siento" (I'm sorry)
While we use it as a fixed phrase for "I'm sorry," the literal grammatical translation is actually "I feel it."
lo: This is a direct object pronoun meaning "it." It represents the situation or the mistake you are apologizing for.
siento: This is the verb sentir (to feel), conjugated in the present tense first-person singular (Yo / I form). Sentir is a stem-changing verb where the e changes to ie in the present tense (which is why sentir becomes siento).
Grammar Note: Because the pronoun lo (it) must come before a conjugated verb in Spanish, the word order looks backward to an English speaker ("It I feel").
B. "Londres" (London)
This is simply the proper Spanish noun for the city of London.
In Spanish grammar, many major world cities have their own historical, translated names (e.g., London becomes Londres, England becomes Inglaterra, and Scotland becomes Escocia).
How it compares to "Lo siento"
If you ever want to say "I am sorry for [something]," you generally add the word por after lo siento. For example:
Lo siento por el error. (I'm sorry for the mistake.)
But when you are speaking directly to a person—or humorously apologizing to a whole city—you just use a comma, exactly like you did: "Lo siento, Londres."


es_text: No, quiero otra
en_text: No, I want another one, a different one
source_context: U0_2A
notes:
Masculine Singular
In grammar terms, otro can act as either a demonstrative adjective (describing a noun) or a pronoun (standing in for a noun).
Because it is an adjective, it must match the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the noun it is connected to. Otro is the masculine, singular form.
Here are its four variations:
Form
Gender / Number
Example
English Translation
Otro
Masculine Singular
Otro ejercicio
Another / Other exercise
Otra
Feminine Singular
Otra página
Another / Other page
Otros
Masculine Plural
Otros verbos
Other verbs
Otras
Feminine Plural
Otras frases
Other phrases

The Golden Rule: Drop "Un"
One of the most common mistakes English speakers make is trying to translate "another" literally by saying "un otro" (a + other).
In Spanish grammar, you never put an article (un/una) before otro/otra. The word otro inherently means "another" all by itself.
Incorrect: Quiero un otro libro.
Correct: Quiero otro libro. (I want another book.)
A Handy Classroom Phrase
If you want to ask your teacher for a different example or a new task during your lesson, you can use it like this:
"¿Podemos hacer otro ejercicio?" (Can we do another exercise?)


es_text: la página
en_text: the page
source_context: U0_6
notes:
2. The Grammar Breakdown
This phrase consists of a definite article and a noun.
A. Gender and Number
Página is a feminine, singular noun. Because it ends in -a, it follows the classic rule and requires the feminine singular article la ("the") to match it.
B. Matching Adjectives
Any adjective you use to describe the page must also twist to its feminine, singular form to match:
La página completa. (The complete page.)
La página nueva. (The new page.)
La otra página. (The other / another page.)
C. Triggering Verbs (Third-Person Singular)
If "the page" is the subject of your sentence, it triggers the exact same third-person singular verb conjugations as él (he), ella (she), or la actividad.
La página tiene muchos verbos. (The page has many verbs — using tener).
La página está abierta. (The page is open — using estar).
3. Useful Classroom Phrases
You will use this word constantly when navigating a workbook or course materials. Here is how to use it naturally with some of the structural shortcuts you've already learned:
"¿Qué página es?" (¿keh PAH-hee-nah ehss?)
-> What page is it?
"Estamos en la página 10." (ehss-TAH-mohss ehn lah PAH-hee-nah ...)
$\rightarrow$ We are on page 10. (Remember that en handles both "in" and "on"!)
"¿Podríamos ir a otra página?" (¿poh-DREH-ah-mohss eer ah OH-trah PAH-hee-nah?)
->Could we go to another page? (Notice how podríamos sets up the action ir a, which points smoothly to otra página).


es_text: poder
en_text: to can
source_context: U0_6
notes:
"Poder" is one of the ultimate powerhouse verbs in Spanish. It is an auxiliary (helping) verb that means "to be able to" or, more commonly in English, "can" or "may."
Here is everything you need to master its pronunciation, grammar, and tricky conjugation patterns.
1. How to Pronounce It
To say it naturally, divide it into two clean syllables:
poh-DEHR
po- $\rightarrow$ poh: Keep the "o" short and crisp, like the start of pocket.
-der $\rightarrow$ DEHR: This is the stressed syllable, so give it the most volume. The e sounds like the "e" in met or get. The R at the very end is a single, quick tap of the tongue against the roof of the mouth—not a heavy American "R" or a rolled "RR."
2. The Grammar Breakdown (How it works)
Poder is the base (infinitive) form of the verb. It belongs to the -er verb group.
Its primary grammatical job is to team up with another verb to show ability or permission. The golden rule for using poder in a sentence is a beautiful shortcut:
[Conjugated form of Poder] + [Base/Infinitive of the second verb]
You only have to change (conjugate) poder to match the person speaking. The second action stays exactly as its pure base form. For example:
Puedo estudiar. (I can study.)
Podemos hacer otro ejercicio. (We can do another exercise.)
3. The Conjugation Secret: It's a "Stem-Changer"
When it comes to conjugating poder in the present tense, it has a classic Spanish twist: it is a stem-changing verb (often called a "boot verb").
The stem of the verb is pod-. For most people, the vowel o changes to ue when you conjugate it. However, this change does not happen for the Nosotros (we) form.
Here is how it breaks down for each person:
Subject
Conjugated Form
Pronunciation
English Meaning
Yo (I)
Puedo
PWEH-doh
I can / am able to
Tú (You, informal)
Puedes
PWEH-dehss
You can
Él / Ella / Usted (He/She/You formal)
Puede
PWEH-deh
He/She/You can
Nosotros (We)
Podemos (No change!)
poh-DEH-mohss
We can
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes (They/You all)
Pueden
PWEH-dehn
They/You all can

Why is it called a "boot verb"? If you draw a line around the forms that change ($Yo$, $Tú$, $Él$, $Ellos$), they shape a boot on a conjugation chart, leaving Nosotros safely on the outside with its original o.
High-Utility Classroom Phrases
Because puede and puedo are so flexible, you can use them to take total control of your next Spanish lesson:
"¿Puedo hablar en inglés?" (PWEH-doh ah-BLAR ehn een-GLEHSS?)
$\rightarrow$ Can I speak in English? (Great for when you are stuck!)
"¿Puedes repetir, por favor?" (PWEH-dehss reh-peh-TEER, pohr fah-VOHR?)
$\rightarrow$ Can you repeat, please?
"¿Podemos ir a otra página?" (poh-DEH-mohss eer ah OH-trah PAH-hee-nah?)
$\rightarrow$ Can we go to another page?


es_text: más ejercicios
en_text: more exercises
source_context: U3_M
notes:
Phonetic Breakdown
mahss eh-hehr-SEE-syohss
Let’s look at each word syllable by syllable:
más $\rightarrow$ mahss
The a is short and open, like the "ah" sound in "father." The accent mark just means you hit this word with a little more volume.
ejercicios $\rightarrow$ eh - hehr - SEE - syohss
e- $\rightarrow$ eh: Sounds like the "e" in the English word "met" or "egg."
-jer- $\rightarrow$ hehr: The Spanish j sounds like a strong English H (like in "home").
-ci- $\rightarrow$ SEE: The letter c followed by an i sounds like an S. This is the stressed syllable, so give it the most emphasis.
-cios $\rightarrow$ syohss: The o is a short, crisp "oh" sound (don't let it drag out into a "w" sound at the end).
Three Tips for Natural Delivery
Keep the "R" Light: The r in ejercicios is a single, quick tap of the tongue against the roof of the mouth. It shouldn't be a heavy, rolling "R," nor should it be a deep American "R." Think of it more like the quick "d" sound in the middle of the English word "butter."
Watch the "J": Remember that in Spanish, J is never pronounced like the "J" in juice. It's always an H sound.
Connect the Flow: In natural speech, native speakers will glide right through the words, making the s at the end of más link smoothly into the e of ejercicios. It ends up sounding almost like one continuous line: "mahss-eh-hehr-SEE-syohss."
Give it a few tries out loud—it’s a great phrase to practice that Spanish J and C combination!


es_text: porque
en_text: because
source_context: U2_9B
notes:
Porque (Because)
Because it is a single, flat word, the natural rules of Spanish pronunciation take over. For words ending in a vowel, the stress naturally falls on the second-to-last syllable.
The Rhythm: LOUD-short
Sounds like: POR-keh
The voice hits the first part of the word and then trails off softly on the end.


es_text: ¿por qué?
en_text: why?
source_context: U2_9
notes:
Because it is two separate words, both words get a bit of weight, but the heavy emphasis lands squarely on the final syllable.
The Rhythm: short-LOUD
Sounds like: por-KAY?
When you say it, your voice punches that last syllable, often lifting slightly in pitch because it's a question.


es_text: en
en_text: in or on
source_context: U0_6
notes:
En is a preposition. In English, we have distinct words for location based on whether something is inside or on top of something else (in vs. on). Spanish simplifies this by using en for both scenarios. Context tells you which one it means.
Here are the three primary ways you will see it used:


es_text: lo siento Londres
en_text: I'm sorry London
source_context: U0_6 U5_2B
notes:
A. "Lo siento" (I'm sorry)
While we use it as a fixed phrase for "I'm sorry," the literal grammatical translation is actually "I feel it."
lo: This is a direct object pronoun meaning "it." It represents the situation or the mistake you are apologizing for.
siento: This is the verb sentir (to feel), conjugated in the present tense first-person singular (Yo / I form). Sentir is a stem-changing verb where the e changes to ie in the present tense (which is why sentir becomes siento).
Grammar Note: Because the pronoun lo (it) must come before a conjugated verb in Spanish, the word order looks backward to an English speaker ("It I feel").
B. "Londres" (London)
This is simply the proper Spanish noun for the city of London.
In Spanish grammar, many major world cities have their own historical, translated names (e.g., London becomes Londres, England becomes Inglaterra, and Scotland becomes Escocia).


es_text: ¿Podríamos hacer otro ejercicio?
en_text: Could we do another exercise?
source_context: U0_6
notes:
"Podríamos" is a specific, highly useful form of the verb poder (to be able to / can). While podemos means "we can," podríamos shifts the tone slightly to mean "we could" or "we might be able to."
It is the perfect word for making polite suggestions or discussing possibilities in a group or classroom setting.
1. How to Pronounce It
Because this word has an accent mark on the í, you must punch that syllable with the most volume. Break it down into four distinct parts:
poh-DREH-ah-mohss
po- $\rightarrow$ poh: Short and crisp (like the start of pocket).
-drí- $\rightarrow$ DREH: This is the stressed syllable. The R is a single, quick flick of the tongue against the roof of your mouth, immediately sliding into a sharp English "ee" sound.
-a- $\rightarrow$ ah: A very quick, open "ah" sound (like in father).
-mos $\rightarrow$ mohss: Short and flat. Don't let it drag out.
When you put it together, make sure the "DRÍ-a" section doesn't turn into a single blended sound—it is two fast syllables: poh-DREH-ah-mohss.
2. The Grammar Breakdown & Conjugation
Podríamos is the Nosotros (we) form of poder conjugated in the Conditional Tense.
The conditional tense in Spanish is incredibly regular and friendly. Unlike the present tense (where poder is a "boot verb" that changes its stem), the conditional tense doesn't care about boots. It uses a modified base stem and applies the exact same endings to almost every verb.
The Conjugation Pattern for "Could"
To form the conditional for poder, the verb drops its e to become the stem podr-. Then, you simply attach the conditional endings (-ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -ían).
Here is the full conjugation chart for "could":
Subject
Conjugated Form
Pronunciation
English Meaning
Yo (I)
Podría
poh-DREH-ah
I could / would be able to
Tú (You)
Podrías
poh-DREH-ahss
You could
Él / Ella / Usted
Podría
poh-DREH-ah
He / She / You (formal) could
Nosotros (We)
Podríamos
poh-DREH-ah-mohss
We could
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes
Podrían
poh-DREH-ahn
They / You all could

3. How to Use It in a Sentence
Just like the base verb poder, podríamos is an auxiliary (helping) verb. The golden rule applies perfectly here too:
Podríamos + [Base/Infinitive of the next verb]
You do not need to conjugate the second verb at all. You just leave it in its raw state ending in -ar, -er, or -ir.
Great Phrases for Your Next Lesson
Using podríamos is a great way to politely direct the flow of a class or a practice session:
"¿Podríamos hacer otro ejercicio?" (¿poh-DREH-ah-mohss ah-SEHR OH-troh eh-hehr-SEE-syohss?)
$\rightarrow$ Could we do another exercise?
"Podríamos ir a otra página." (poh-DREH-ah-mohss eer ah OH-trah PAH-hee-nah.)
$\rightarrow$ We could go to another page.
"¿Podríamos hablar más despacio?" (¿poh-DREH-ah-mohss ah-BLAR mahss deh-SPAH-syoh?)
$\rightarrow$ Could we speak more slowly?


es_text: si
en_text: if
source_context: U0
notes:
1. How to Pronounce It
Both words are pronounced exactly the same way. It is one of the easiest sounds for an English speaker:
see
Sounds like: The English words "see," "sea," or the letter "C."
The Secret: Keep it very short, clean, and sharp. Don't let your voice glide or drag it out.
2. The Grammar Breakdown: Si vs. Sí
Because they sound identical, the written accent mark is used entirely to tell their grammatical functions apart:
Sí (with the accent): An adverb meaning "yes."
¿Hablas español? —Sí. (Do you speak Spanish? —Yes.)
Si (without the accent): A conjunction meaning "if" or "whether." It is used to connect conditional clauses.
Si tienes tiempo... (If you have time...)
3. How "Si" Affects Verb Conjugations
In Spanish, the word si (if) sets up a condition. Depending on how likely or realistic that condition is, it triggers different verb conjugations.
For everyday conversation and language lessons, there are two primary patterns you will use:
Pattern A: Real / Likely Situations (Present Tense)
If you are talking about something that is totally possible or standard, you use the regular Present Tense right after si.
Structure: Si + [Present Tense Verb] $\rightarrow$ [Present Tense or Future/Command]
Examples:
Si puedo, voy a la clase. (If I can, I am going to the class.)
Si tienes dudas, pregunta. (If you have doubts, ask.)
Si queremos, podríamos hacer otro ejercicio. (If we want, we could do another exercise.)
Pattern B: Hypothetical / Imaginary Situations (The Past Subjunctive)
If you are talking about an imaginary, unlikely, or contrary-to-fact situation ("If I were rich..." or "If I had more time..."), Spanish grammar requires a special conjugation right after si called the Imperfect Subjunctive (Past Subjunctive).
Structure: Si + [Imperfect Subjunctive Verb] $\rightarrow$ [Conditional Tense Verb]
Examples:
Si pudiera, iría a España. (If I could [but I can't right now], I would go to Spain.)
Si tuviera tiempo, estudiaría más. (If I had time, I would study more.)
Grammar Tip: Notice that the clause starting with si never uses the Conditional tense (podríamos / iría) directly inside it. The conditional always goes in the other half of the sentence, exactly like in English (We don't say "If I would can, I would do it"; we say "If I could, I would do it").


es_text: ir a
en_text: to go to or to be going to
source_context: U0_6
notes:
2. The Grammar Breakdown: The "Immediate Future"
The phrase ir + a has two primary grammatical functions depending on what word comes next:
A. Going to a Physical Place
If you follow ir a with a location, it simply means you are traveling there.
Voy a la clase. (I am going to the class.)
Vamos a España. (We are going to Spain.)
The "AL" Rule: If the location after a is masculine and singular (el), the a and el fuse together into al.
Voy a + el gimnasio $\rightarrow$ Voy al gimnasio. (I am going to the gym.)
B. The Future Shortcut (Ir + a + Infinitive)
If you follow ir a with another verb in its raw base form (infinitive), it creates the phrasal future tense.
[Conjugated form of ir] + a + [Base/Infinitive of the action]
Just like with poder, you only conjugate the verb ir. The second verb stays completely unchanged!
Voy a estudiar. (I am going to study.)
Vamos a hacer otro ejercicio. (We are going to do another exercise.)
3. The Conjugation of "Ir" (Present Tense)
Ir is a highly irregular verb. In the present tense, its spelling changes completely, trading the letter "I" for the letter "V."
Here is the full present-tense conjugation chart for setting up your future sentences:
Subject
Conjugated Form
Pronunciation
English Meaning
Yo (I)
Voy
boy
I go / am going
Tú (You)
Vas
bahss
You go / are going
Él / Ella / Usted
Va
bah
He / She / You (formal) go / are going
Nosotros (We)
Vamos
BAH-mohss
We go / are going
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes
Van
bahn
They / You all go / are going


es_text: el
en_text: the
source_context: U0_6
notes:
2. The Grammar Breakdown: El vs. Él
The written accent mark on él is used purely to distinguish its grammatical function from el.
A. El (Without the accent) = "The"
This is a definite article. It must always sit right before a masculine, singular noun.
El ejercicio. (The exercise.)
El viaje. (The trip / the journey.)
El verbo. (The verb.)
The "AL" Shortcut: If you put the preposition a (to) right before el, they mandatory-fuse into a single word: al.
Voy a + el gimnasio $\rightarrow$ Voy al gimnasio. (I am going to the gym.)
B. Él (With the accent) = "He"
This is a subject pronoun. It takes the place of a man's name when he is the one performing an action.
Él habla español. (He speaks Spanish.)
Él puede hacerlo. (He can do it.)
3. How "Él" Dictates Verb Conjugations
When you are conjugating any Spanish verb, él lives in the third-person singular category. It always shares its exact verb endings with ella (she) and usted (the formal "you").
When you look at a verb chart, él will always use the form in the middle row on the left side. Here is how it triggers endings across the three regular verb groups in the present tense:
Regular Verb Conjugation Patterns for "Él"
-AR Verbs $\rightarrow$ Drop the -ar and add -a
Base verb: Estudiar (to study) $\rightarrow$ Él estudia (He studies)
-ER Verbs $\rightarrow$ Drop the -er and add -e
Base verb: Aprender (to learn) $\rightarrow$ Él aprende (He learns)
-IR Verbs $\rightarrow$ Drop the -ir and add -e
Base verb: Escribir (to write) $\rightarrow$ Él escribe (He writes)
Irregular Verbs You Use Daily with "Él"
Because él is so common, it's highly useful to know how it pairs with the major irregular verbs:
Él es $\rightarrow$ He is (essential/permanent traits)
Él está $\rightarrow$ He is (location/temporary states)
Él va $\rightarrow$ He goes / He is going
Él tiene $\rightarrow$ He has
Él puede $\rightarrow$ He can / He is able to


es_text: Él puede
en_text: He can or He is able to
source_context: U0_6
notes:
2. The Grammar Breakdown: El vs. Él
The written accent mark on él is used purely to distinguish its grammatical function from el.
A. El (Without the accent) = "The"
This is a definite article. It must always sit right before a masculine, singular noun.
El ejercicio. (The exercise.)
El viaje. (The trip / the journey.)
El verbo. (The verb.)
The "AL" Shortcut: If you put the preposition a (to) right before el, they mandatory-fuse into a single word: al.
Voy a + el gimnasio $\rightarrow$ Voy al gimnasio. (I am going to the gym.)
B. Él (With the accent) = "He"
This is a subject pronoun. It takes the place of a man's name when he is the one performing an action.
Él habla español. (He speaks Spanish.)
Él puede hacerlo. (He can do it.)
3. How "Él" Dictates Verb Conjugations
When you are conjugating any Spanish verb, él lives in the third-person singular category. It always shares its exact verb endings with ella (she) and usted (the formal "you").
When you look at a verb chart, él will always use the form in the middle row on the left side. Here is how it triggers endings across the three regular verb groups in the present tense:
Regular Verb Conjugation Patterns for "Él"
-AR Verbs $\rightarrow$ Drop the -ar and add -a
Base verb: Estudiar (to study) $\rightarrow$ Él estudia (He studies)
-ER Verbs $\rightarrow$ Drop the -er and add -e
Base verb: Aprender (to learn) $\rightarrow$ Él aprende (He learns)
-IR Verbs $\rightarrow$ Drop the -ir and add -e
Base verb: Escribir (to write) $\rightarrow$ Él escribe (He writes)
Irregular Verbs You Use Daily with "Él"
Because él is so common, it's highly useful to know how it pairs with the major irregular verbs:
Él es -> He is (essential/permanent traits)
Él está -> He is (location/temporary states)
Él va -> He goes / He is going
Él tiene -> He has
Él puede -> He can / He is able to


es_text: la actividad
en_text: the activity
source_context: U0_6
notes:
2. The Grammar Breakdown
This phrase consists of a definite article and a noun.
A. The Article: "La"
Because actividad is a feminine noun, it requires the feminine singular definite article la ("the") to match it.
B. The Noun Trick: Words Ending in "-dad"
Actividad is a feminine, singular noun. In Spanish, there is a golden rule for vocabulary that saves a massive amount of memorization:
Almost every Spanish noun that ends in the suffix "-dad" is feminine, and it almost always translates to an English word ending in "-ty".
Think of -dad as the exact twin to the English -ty. For example:
La actividad $\rightarrow$ The activity
La universidad $\rightarrow$ The university
La capacidad $\rightarrow$ The capacity / ability
La reciprocidad $\rightarrow$ The reciprocity
3. How "La Actividad" Controls Other Words
Even though it isn't a verb, la actividad dictates how the adjectives and verbs around it must behave:
Matching Adjectives (Gender & Number)
Any adjective you use to describe the activity must also be feminine and singular to match.
La actividad completa. (The complete activity.)
La actividad nueva. (The new activity.)
Triggering Verbs (Third-Person Singular)
If "the activity" is the subject doing an action in a sentence, it triggers the exact same third-person singular verb conjugations as él (he), ella (she), or usted (you, formal).
La actividad es difícil. (The activity is difficult — using ser).
La actividad empieza ahora. (The activity starts now — using empezar).
Plural Form
If you want to talk about multiple activities, both the article and the noun must become plural. For nouns ending in -dad, you simply add -es:
Las actividades (lahss ahk-tee-bee-DAH-dehss) $\rightarrow$ The activities.


es_text: Esto
en_text: this
source_context: U0_6
notes:
It is a neuter pronoun
2. The Grammar Breakdown: The Neuter Superpower
In Spanish, almost everything is strictly masculine or feminine. However, esto is one of the rare neuter words in the language.
Because it is neutral, it is used exclusively as a pronoun to represent abstract ideas, situations, concepts, or an object that you don't know the name or gender of yet.
The Golden Rule: It Never Sits Before a Noun
You can never use esto directly before a noun. If you want to say "this book" or "this page," you must use the gender-specific adjectives (este or esta):
Este libro (This book — masculine)
Esta página (This page — feminine)
You use esto when you are referring to a whole situation, an unnamed object, or a general concept:
¿Qué es esto? (What is this? — pointing to an unknown object or a messy situation).
Esto es importante. (This is important — referring to a concept or a piece of information).
3. How "Esto" Triggers Verb Conjugations
Whenever esto acts as the subject of a sentence ("This is...", "This helps..."), it always triggers the third-person singular verb conjugation. This is the exact same row on a verb chart used for él (he), ella (she), la página, or la actividad.
Here is how it pairs with common verbs you use to describe situations or tasks:
Common Verb Pairings
With "Ser" (To be — essential traits):
Esto es fácil. (This is easy.)
Esto es nuevo. (This is new.)
With "Estar" (To be — location/states):
Esto está bien. (This is fine / This is okay.)
With "Poder" (Can / To be able to):
Esto puede ayudar. (This can help.)
With "Significar" (To mean):
¿Qué significa esto? (What does this mean?)
A Handy Phrase for Your Studies
If you are looking at a complex grammar concept or a specific sentence layout and want to check if you can use it, you can ask your teacher:
"¿Puedo decir esto?" (¿PWEH-doh deh-SEER ESS-toh?)
-> Can I say this?


es_text: Pensar
en_text: To think
source_context: U0_6
notes:
I2. The Grammar Breakdown: The Past Continuous
This phrase uses a grammatical structure called the Past Continuous (or Past Progressive). It describes an action that was ongoing or in progress at a specific point in the past.
It is constructed using a two-word formula:
[Imperfect Past Tense of ESTAR] + [The Gerund (-ing form) of the main verb]
A. The First Word: Estaba
This is the verb estar (to be) conjugated into the Imperfect Past Tense. The imperfect tense is used in Spanish to describe ongoing past actions, background settings, or habits without a sharp beginning or end.
B. The Second Word: Pensando
This is the gerund (the "-ing" form) of the base verb pensar (to think). To make a gerund for any regular -ar verb, you simply drop the -ar and add -ando:
Pensar (To think) $\rightarrow$ Pensando (Thinking)
Hablar (To speak) $\rightarrow$ Hablando (Speaking)
Estudiar (To study) ->Estudiando (Studying)
The Golden Rule: The gerund (pensando) never changes. Whether you, we, or they were thinking, pensando stays exactly the same. Only the first word (estar) twists to match the person.
3. How to Conjugate the Whole Phrase
To change who was doing the thinking, you only need to alter the conjugation of estar in the imperfect tense.
Here is the full conjugation chart for the phrase:
Subject
Conjugated Form
Pronunciation
English Meaning
Yo (I)
Estaba pensando
ehss-TAH-bah...
I was thinking
Tú (You)
Estabas pensando
ehss-TAH-bahss...
You were thinking
Él / Ella / Usted
Estaba pensando
ehss-TAH-bah...
He/She/You (formal) were thinking
Nosotros (We)
Estábamos pensando
ehss-TAH-bah-mohss...
We were thinking
Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes
Estaban pensando
ehss-TAH-bahn...
They/You all were thinking

Grammar Note: Notice that the Yo form and the Él/Ella form use the exact same word: estaba. Context usually makes it clear who is speaking, but you can always add the pronoun ("Yo estaba pensando...") if you want to be explicitly clear.
Also, notice that the Nosotros form (estábamos) gains an accent mark on the first á, which shifts the stress forward: ehss-TAH-bah-mohss.
High-Utility Examples for Your Studies
You can use this phrase to smoothly transition into a suggestion, a question, or a correction in class:
Estaba pensando en esto.
->I was thinking about this. (Note: Spanish uses en after pensar to mean "thinking about" something).
Estaba pensando... ¿podríamos hacer otro ejercicio?
$\rightarrow$ I was thinking... could we do another exercise?
Estábamos pensando en ir a otra página.
->We were thinking about going to another page.


es_text: la silla
en_text: the chair
source_context: U0_6
notes:
2. The Grammar Breakdown
This phrase consists of a definite article and a noun.
A. Gender and Number
Silla is a feminine, singular noun. Because it ends in the letter -a, it follows the classic gender rule and pairs with the feminine singular definite article la ("the").
B. Matching Adjectives
Any descriptive word or adjective you use with the chair must also twist into its feminine, singular form to match. Notice how the demonstrative words you looked at earlier adapt perfectly to it:
Esta silla. (This chair.)
Esa silla. (That chair.)
Otra silla. (Another chair.)
La silla nueva. (The new chair.)
C. Triggering Verbs (Third-Person Singular)
If "the chair" is the subject of your sentence, it triggers the exact same third-person singular verb conjugations as él (he), ella (she), or esto (this).
La silla es cómoda. (The chair is comfortable — using ser for an inherent trait).
La silla está en la clase. (The chair is in the classroom — using estar for location).
3. Plural Form
If you need to talk about more than one chair, both the article and the noun must become plural. Because silla ends in a vowel, you simply add an -s:
Las sillas (lahss SEE-yahss) ->The chairs
Necesitamos otras sillas. (We need other chairs.)
Esas sillas son viejas. (Those chairs are old.)


es_text: Este proyector
en_text: This projector
source_context: U0_6
notes:
2. The Grammar Breakdown
This phrase consists of a definite article and a noun.
A. Gender and Number
Proyector is a masculine, singular noun. In Spanish, most nouns that end in a consonant—especially those ending in -or (like doctor, pastor, or proyector)—are masculine. Therefore, it requires the masculine singular definite article el ("the").
B. Matching Adjectives
Any descriptive or demonstrative word you use with the projector must twist into its masculine, singular form to match it perfectly:
Este proyector. (This projector.)
Ese proyector. (That projector.)
Otro proyector. (Another projector.)
El proyector nuevo. (The new projector.)
C. Triggering Verbs (Third-Person Singular)
If "the projector" is the subject of your sentence, it triggers the exact same third-person singular verb conjugations as él (he), la página, or esto (this).
El proyector es moderno. (The projector is modern — using ser for an inherent trait).
El proyector no funciona. (The projector doesn't work — using funcionar).
3. Plural Form: "The Projectors"
If you need to talk about more than one projector, both the article and the noun must become plural. Because proyector ends in a consonant, you make it plural by adding -es:
Los proyectores (lohss proh-yehk-TOH-rehss) $\rightarrow$ The projectors
Notice that when you add the extra syllable to make it plural, the vocal stress stays on the same part of the root word, shifting the balance to: proh-yehk-TOH-rehss.
Estos proyectores son nuevos. (These projectors are new.)


