Spanish II - Sentence and Question Structure - Quick Guides | World Languages

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Study GuideSpanish II–Sentence and Question Structure1. Interrogative Pronouns (Question Words)Big grammar terms likeinterrogative pronounscan sound intimidating, but don’t worry—they aresimplyquestion words.A question word is apronounbecause it stands in for the noun that would answer the question. Forexample, in the questionWho is coming?, the wordwhoreplaces the name of the person.1.1Accent Marks on Question WordsOne very important detail:all Spanish question words have accent marks.A helpful learning trick is to:•Say the word out loud•Clap on the syllable with the accentThis helps you:•Stress the correct syllable•Remember that the word needs an accent mark when written1.2Common Spanish Question WordsHere are the most important question words you’ll use in Spanish:•¿Quién?–who•¿Quiénes?–who (plural, when you expect more than one person)•¿Qué?–what•¿Cuál?–which, what•¿Cuáles?–which ones, what (used with plural nouns)•¿Cómo?–how•¿Dónde?–where•¿Cuándo?–when

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Study GuideQuantity Question WordsThese change depending on gender and number:•¿Cuánto?–how much (masculine, singular)•¿Cuánta?–how much (feminine, singular)•¿Cuántos?–how many (masculine, plural)•¿Cuántas?–how many (feminine, plural)“Why” QuestionsSpanish hastwo different ways to say “why”:•¿Por qué?–why (because of what / reason)•¿Para qué?–why (for what purpose)1.3The Three Spanish Ways to Say “What”English uses one word—what—but Spanish usesthree different wordsdepending on the situation.These words arenot interchangeable, but the rules are simple once you understand them.“What” Rule 1: Qué + NounAlways usequédirectlyin front of a noun.Examples:•¿Qué coche condujiste tú?•What car did you drive?•¿Qué programas prefieren ellos?•What programs do they prefer?If “what” is immediately followed by a noun,qué is the correct choice.

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Study Guide“What” Rule 2: Qué vs. Cuál with “Ser”This rule applies when “what” appearsbefore a form of the verbser(to be).Use qué for definitions or explanationsAsk yourself:Am I asking “What does it mean?” or “What is it in general?”Example:•¿Qué es dirección?•What is “address”?•(You are asking for an explanation or definition.)Possible answer:•La dirección es el número, la calle, la ciudad, el estado y el código postal.•(An explanation of what an address is.)1.4Use cuál for specific answersAsk yourself:Am I asking for one specific thing?Example:•¿Cuál es tu dirección?•What is your address?•(You want the actual address, not a definition.)Possible answer:•322 4th St., Carrollton, OH 44615.1.5A Clear Comparison ExampleThese two questions look similar, but they ask forvery different answers.Question 1:•¿Qué es la fecha?•What is the date?

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Study GuideAnswer:•La fecha es el día, mes y año.•(A definition.)Question 2:•¿Cuál es la fecha?•What is the date?Answer:•La fecha es el 5 de junio del 2002.•(A specific date.)The difference is not the translation—it’swhat kind of answer the question expects.“What” Rule 3: Cómo Does NOT Mean “What”In English, if you don’t hear something, you say:•“What?”In Spanish, the correct response is:•¿Cómo?This means“How?”but is used to ask someone to repeat what they said.Important:•Cómo can only mean “What?” in this situation•It shouldnotbe used to mean “what” in general questionsSummaryWhen choosing a Spanish question word, always think about:•What kind of answer you expect•Whether you want adefinition, aspecific answer, or arepetitionOnce you focus on meaning instead of translation, question words become much easier—and muchmore accurate—to use.

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Study Guide2. Creating and Answering QuestionsYes or No Questions: The Easiest to FormIn English, we need ahelping verblikedo,does, ordidto ask yes-or-no questions.Example:•Erin dates Mario.•Does Erin date Mario?Notice what happens:•The helping verbdoesis added.•The verb form changes.Spanish works differently.Spanish does NOT use helping verbsto form questions.Instead, Spanish simplyswitches the subject and the verb.2.1How to Turn an English Question into Spanish (3 Simple Steps)Whenever you seedoordoesin an English question, follow this process:Step 1: Remove “do” or “does”•Do I need this job?•→I need this job.Step 2: Translate the sentence into Spanish•Yo necesito este trabajo.Step 3: Switch the verb and the subject, and add question marks•¿Necesito yo este trabajo?That’s it. No helping verb. No extra word.

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Study Guide2.2Questions with Question WordsNow let’s move beyond yes-or-no questions.When a Spanish question starts with aquestion word(likehow,where, orwhen), you still follow thesame basic structure.Helpful TrickPretend the question word is not there.First, create a yes-or-no question.Then, place the question word at the front.Example Base Question•Does she speak Russian?•¿Habla ella ruso?Now we can add different question words:•¿Cómo habla ella ruso?•How does she speak Russian?•¿Dónde habla ella ruso?•Where does she speak Russian?•¿Cuándo habla ella ruso?•When does she speak Russian?•¿Por qué habla ella ruso?•Why does she speak Russian?•¿Cuánto habla ella ruso?•How much does she speak Russian?The pattern stays the same:verb + subject, with the question word added at the beginning.

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