Madrigals Magic Key to Spanish (144 page)

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Authors: Margarita Madrigal

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BOOK: Madrigals Magic Key to Spanish
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Pronounce the following words aloud. They have a certain ring to them that makes them pleasant to pronounce. Learn these words as you would learn a poem. Pronounce them vigorously and you will see that it is enjoyable to say them.

tráigamelo,
bring it to me
(
bring me it
)

hágamelo,
do it for me
(
do me it
)

dígamelo,
tell me
(
tell me it
)

cómpremelo,
buy it for me
(
buy me it
)

mándemelo,
sent it to me
(
send me it
)

enséñemelo,
show it to me
(
show me it
)

démelo,
give it to me
(
give me it
)

PLURAL COMMAND

If you give a command to more than one person, add the letter “n” to the singular command.

INFINITIVE
SINGULAR COMMAND
PLURAL COMMAND
comprar
compre
c
o
mpren
tomar
tome
t
o
men
hablar
hable
h
a
blen
traer
traiga
tr
a
igan
venir
venga
v
e
ngan
SENTENCE-FORMING
EXERCISES

Combine the words below in different ways to form as many sentences as you can. Be sure to use words from each of the columns in every sentence you form.

A

1
2
Compre (
Buy
)
unas aspirinas, por favor
Compren (pl.)
jabón (
soap
)
 
unas toallas (
some towels
)
 
una docena de huevos (
a dozen eggs
)
 
media docena de naranjas (
a half dozen oranges
)
 
azúcar (
sugar
)
 
sal (
salt
)
 
pimienta (
pepper
)

B

1
2
Siéntese (
Sit down, sit
)
en el sofá, por favor
No se siente (
Don’t sit down, don’t sit
)
en el sillón (
on the armchair
)
 
en la silla (
on the chair
)
 
en la hamaca (
on the hammock
)
 
junto a mí (
next to me
)
 
en la primera fila (
on the first row
)

C

1
2
Venga (
Come
)
a la clase
Vengan (pl.)
a mi casa
No venga (
Don’t come
)
al despacho
No vengan (pl.)
al club
Vaya (
Go
)
a la playa
Vayan (pl.)
a la tienda, por favor
No vaya (
Don’t go
)
al correo, por favor
No vayan (pl.)
a vernos (
to see us
)
 
pronto (
soon, right away
)
EXERCISE IN TRANSLATION I

Translate the following sentences into Spanish. Write out each sentence in Spanish, using the columns above as a guide. Check your sentences with the translations below this exercise.

  1. Buy some aspirin, please.
  2. Buy some towels.
  3. Buy a dozen eggs.
  4. Buy a half dozen oranges, please.
  5. Buy (some) sugar.
  6. Buy (pl.) some towels.
  7. Sit down, please.
  8. Sit on the sofa, please.
  9. Sit on the armchair.
  10. Sit next to me.
  11. Sit in the first row.
  12. Come to the class tomorrow.
  13. Come to the office.
  14. Come (pl.) to the club.
  15. Don’t come to the office.
  16. Go to the beach.
  17. Come (pl.) to see us soon.
  18. Go (pl.) to the store.
  19. Come to the office right away.
  20. Don’t go to the post office.

Check your sentences with the translations below.

  1. Compre unas aspirinas, por favor.
  2. Compre unas toallas.
  3. Compre una docena de huevos.
  4. Compre media docena de naranjas, por favor.
  5. Compre azúcar.
  6. Compren unas toallas.
  7. Siéntese, por favor.
  8. Siéntese en el sofá, por favor.
  9. Siéntese en el sillón.
  10. Siéntese junto a mí.
  11. Siéntese en la primera fila.
  12. Venga a la clase mañana.
  13. Venga al despacho.
  14. Vengan al club.
  15. No venga al despacho.
  16. Vaya a la playa.
  17. Vengan a vernos pronto.
  18. Vayan a la tienda.
  19. Venga al despacho pronto.
  20. No vaya al correo.
SENTENCE-FORMING EXERCISES

Combine the words below in different ways to form as many sentences as you can. Be sure to use words from each of the columns in every sentence you form.

A

1
2
Tráigame (
Bring me
)
un vaso de agua
No me traiga (
Don’t bring me
)
los libros
Tráigale (
Bring him, her
)
el boleto
No le traiga (
Don’t bring him, her
)
un regalo (
a present
)
 
unos helados (
some ice cream
)
Llévele (
Take him, her
)
unas toallas (
some towels
)
 
unas flores
 
unas revistas

B

1
2
Déme (
Give me
)
el dinero (
the money
)
No me dé (
Don’t give me
)
cincuenta centavos (
fifty cents
)
Déle (
Give him, her
)
la caja (
the box
)
No le dé (
Don’t give him, her
)
los guantes (
the gloves
)
 
lo que quiera (
what he, she wants
)
 
dulces
 
el paquete (
the package
)
EXERCISE IN TRANSLATION II

Translate the following sentences into Spanish. Write out each sentence in Spanish, using the columns above as a guide. Check your sentences with the translations below this exercise.

  1. Bring me a glass of water, please.
  2. Bring me the ticket, please.
  3. Bring me some towels, please.
  4. Bring him some ice cream.
  5. Take her some flowers.
  6. Take him some magazines.
  7. Take her a present.
  8. Don’t bring me the books.
  9. Don’t bring him the tickets.
  10. Give me the money, please.
  11. Give him fifty cents.
  12. Don’t give him (any) candy.
  13. Give him the package.
  14. Give him what he wants.
  15. Give her what she wants.

Check you sentences with the translations below.

  1. Tráigame un vaso de agua, por favor.
  2. Tráigame el boleto, por favor.
  3. Tráigame unas toallas, por favor.
  4. Tráigale unos helados.
  5. Llévele unas flores.
  6. Llévele unas revistas.
  7. Llévele un regalo.
  8. No me traiga los libros.
  9. No le traiga los boletos.
  10. Déme el dinero, por favor.
  11. Déle cincuenta centavos.
  12. No le dé dulces.
  13. Déle el paquete.
  14. Déle lo que quiere.
  15. Déle lo que quiere.

SPELLING CHANGES IN THE
COMMAND
 (
orthographic changes)

Verbs that end in “gar” in the infinitive, end in “gue” in the command. This change is made in order to retain the hard sound of the “g.” The “gue” is pronounced “gue” as in “guest.”

INFINITIVE
COMMAND
pagar,
to pay
p
a
gue
llegar,
to arrive
ll
e
gue
investigar,
to investigate
invest
i
gue
castigar,
to punish
cast
i
gue
entregar,
to deliver
entr
e
gue
apagar,
to put out
(the light)
ap
a
gue
*
jugar,
to play
(a game)
ju
e
gue

*
Notice that “jugar” is radical changing. The “u” changes to “ue.”

Verbs that end in “car” in the infinitive end in “que” in the command. This change is made in order to retain the hard “k” sound.

The “que” is pronounced “ke” as in “kept.”

INFINITIVE
COMMAND
sacar,
to take out
s
a
que
tocar,
to play
(an instrument)
t
o
que
criticar,
to criticize
crit
i
que
practicar,
to practice
pract
i
que
marcar,
to mark
m
a
rque
explicar,
to explain
expl
i
que
indicar,
to indicate, to point out
ind
i
que
lubricar,
to lubricate
lubr
i
que

CER verbs

You have learned that the command is like the first person singular present except for the final letter. This is true of “cer” verbs, which end in “zco” in the first person present.

INFINITIVE
PRESENT
COMMAND
conocer,
to know
conozco,
I know
conozca
obedecer,
to obey
obedezco,
I obey
obedezca
ofrecer,
to offer
ofrezco,
I offer
ofrezca
establecer,
to establish
establezco,
I establish
establezca

The command form is called the “imperative” in English.

Spanish grammarians call it the “subjunctive used as imperative.” I prefer to use the word “command” because it conveys the meaning clearly and because it is easy to remember.

COMMON USES OF THE COMMAND

Levántese.
Get up.
Tráigamelo.
Bring it to me
.
Siéntese.
Sit down
.
Apúrese.
Hurry up
(from “apurarse,”
to hurry
).
Párese.
Stand up
(from “pararse,”
to stand up
).
Dése prisa.
Hurry up
(
give yourself haste
).
Pase.
Come in
(
Pass
).
Limpie la casa.
Clean the house.
Pase adelante.
Come in
(
Pass forward
).
Présteme.
Lend me
(from “prestar,”
to lend
).
Hágalo.
Do it
.
Échemelo.
Toss it to me
(from “echar,”
to throw, to toss
).
Venga acá.
Come here.
Cállese.
Hush up, shut up
(from “callarse,”
to hush
).
Levántelo.
Lift it.
Conteste el teléfono.
Answer the phone.
Váyase.
Go away.
Enséñemelo.
Show it to me.
Suélteme.
Let go of me
.
Préstemelo.
Lend it to me.
Suéltelo.
Let go of it, him.
Hable despacio.
Speak slowly.
Déjeme.
Leave me, let me
(from “dejar,”
to leave, to let
)
Mire.
Look
(from “mirar,”
to look at
).
Póngalo en la mesa.
Put it on the table.
Mire, que bonito.
Look, how pretty.
Ponga la mesa.
Set the table.
Permítame presentar.
Allow me to present.
Póngaselo.
Put it on.
Tome asiento.
Take a seat.
Démelo.
Give it to me.
Quédese otro ratito.
Stay a little while longer.
Escríbame.
Write to me.
No se moleste.
Don’t bother, don’t trouble yourself.
Prométame.
Promise me.
Mándeme.
Send me.
Enséñemelo.
Show it to me.
Oiga.
Listen.
Quédese.
Stay.
Dígamelo.
Tell me
(it).
Dispénseme.
Pardon me.
Dígame.
Tell me.
Apague la luz.
Turn out the light.
Permítame.
Allow me.
Cierre la ventana.
Close the window.
 
Tómelo.
Take it
(medicine, food, vehicle).
 
Cuídese.
Take care of yourself.
 
Salude a Carlos.
Say hello to Charles.
 

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