I got these right because I know the phrase "If I were you..." is translated as "Si yo fuera tú...", so I figured the same unreal condition rule that triggered the subjunctive there, would do so here. Thanks for the lesson. It's nice to be able to take knowledge from one thing and apply it to something else.
Your videos are so useful to get to an intermediate level. As a beginner you learn so much conjugations and new vocabulary, and your video's always help me turn the stuff that i learned into gramatically correct sentences and make it make sense. Thank you for that 👊 I'll be moving to spain in 4 weeks and hope to become fluent in the near future.
I was feeling so great about this!! Yeah subjonctive… i got this!! Alas no… I did them all on present! But the great thing is that I learn from my mistakes so this is imprinted in my brain!! Another great lesson!! Thank you!
You can, but that would be more of a literal translation that wouldn't be as common in Spanish. Instead, use something like this to express that: No es que + present subjunctive. Pero no es que vaya a hacer calor. It's not like it's going to be hot.
I checked at Español Avanzado because I could remember exceptions to the subjunctive following 'como si'. Rather than getting into it perhaps it’s enough to say that at least in Spain you may see/hear the indicative used but the context is not 'as if' or as though. So before someone says the indicative could follow, you may be right. This may or may not apply in Mexico so I should leave it at that.
@@QrooSpanish Sure. Here’s a couple ¿Qué hará Juan ahora? Por mí, como si se tira de un puente. What will Juan do now? As far as I'm concerned he can jump off a bridge. ¿Qué materiales debo usar? Me da igual, como si quieres usar papel higiénico. What materials should I use? You can use toilet paper for all I care. I decided to dig a little deeper. I Google searched "como si" "indicativo o subjuntivo" and you’ll see lots of discussions etc. I know you are travelling so you won’t have your reference book "A New Reference Grammar ..." I checked and found on pg 267 (3) a further confirmation . Interesting that it suggests the meaning is "even if" but at Español Avanzado it states this "Sin embargo, en la lengua hablada (en España) se usa como si +indicativo en ciertos contextos para mostrar indiferencia respecto a las posibles opciones, a menudo precedido de 'por mí'. In all the examples you can see indifference seems to be the key. Call me a grammar nerd. I’ve always liked researching. Again like I said maybe it’s not used in LaAm countries.
That's interesting. I can see the first scenario happening where the two word happen to be next to one another in a sentence but are not acting as a clause. I would never phrase this particular phrase this way: Me da igual, como si quieres usar papel higiénico. That oen was unfamiliar to me. You are always such a scholar of the language. I still say that you should start a channel. I bet people could benefit a lot form your experience and knowledge learning Spanish.
That's commonly used in Spain, it's an interesting impersonal construction. -Quiero helado. -Como si quieres tarta: te vas a comer la verdura. A rude way to bluntly express indifference towards someone is 'Por mí, como si te la aplastas con dos piedras'. --- Another usage of "como si"+indicative: 'Es como si llegas a la cumbre del Everest y te pones a mirar el móvil', 'Es como si vendes el coche para comprar la gasolina'. As the analogy intends to be shocking, subjunctive is abandoned to get the image across more vividly.
Is the 'lo' essential in '....lo supiera todo?' I've seen the same type of sentence without it, and it didn't intuitively come to mind while I was translating
It is similar to English: He knows it all. He knows everything. The LO would be the first one. In Spanish, when someone knows "it all" the LO is most often there. You can even call someone a know it all - un sabelotodo. Juan es un sabelotodo.
@@QrooSpanishThanks Paul, makes sense. I guess I intuitively use 'everything' much more than 'it all' in this type of construction, and so don't put a 'lo'. But now I know, I can make the distinction.
Another great lesson Paul, it showed me I need to work on my imperfect subjunctive conjugations, as I didn't get the one for molestar! :/ Personally, I would love to see a lesson on the difference between acordar(se) and recordar(se), as I never know which one to use. Mil gracias! ✌
I don’t recall hearing the “fuese” form used in Mexico or Central America, but I do have Colombian friends who use “fuese” (and related conjugations) preferentially over “fuera”. One older gentleman suggested I should use it more than “fuera” as it sounded more erudite. 😊 But since I learned my Spanish with Central Americans and Mexicans, I’m solidly a “fuera” girl.
When I chat with friends here in Nicaragua they tend tu use the "sé" form. Maybe it's what they teach in school. In Costa Rica, it's more common the "ra" endings. I prefer the "ra".
I asked someone about yo suelo despertar and yo acustombro a despertar. They also claimed that thé first was the mark of an educated person and thé latter a sign of a lesser refined person. She did not provide any citation to support her claim. Now that I can use both, thanks to Paul, I still feel stupid! Cristo no pueda salvar todo mundo 🌎
I been struggling with my Spanish at work, I talk like a child. So this helps a lot. I just figured out the difference between sentences with I and You followed with like necesito and necesita or quiero and quiere. Yeah
The imperfect subjunctive is used because that's what is used in English, I.e. if I were rich, if he were here etc. Not a knowall, I promise...I just realised it!
@@connorcadaver1219 You do have a good question here. I provide poetry. ¿As I remerber the sélection of ending Is dictated by use in poetic verse? Fuera and fuera con be known two ways. One use of the pronoun Yo fuera and next use of A- préfixe The A is sounded as in Ahah if one were to say Yo fuera afuera realidad. Look at this poem. I add to it in the first Stanza: Fuera es mi morada. Como si fuera esta araña la llevé afuera a lo largo de la orilla del mar para enredar su corazón en una red de mentiras. LA ARAÑA Es una araña enorme que ya no anda; una araña incolora, cuyo cuerpo, una cabeza y un abdomen, sangra. Hoy la he visto de cerca. Y con qué esfuerzo hacia todos los flancos sus pies innumerables alargaba. Y he pensado en sus ojos invisibles, los pilotos fatales de la araña. Es una araña que temblaba fija en un filo de piedra; . el abdomen a un lado, y al otro la cabeza. Con tantos pies la pobre, y aún no puede resolverse. Y, al verla atónita en tal trance, hoy me ha dado qué pena esa viajera. Es una araña enorme, a quien impide el abdomen seguir a la cabeza. Y he pensado en sus ojos y en sus pies numerosos ... ¡Y me ha dado qué pena esa viajera! Thanks for forcing me to remember.
Wait cant you just say. mi amigo gasta dinero como esta rico. This protray the same idea way easier. I think como si just complicates things for no reason, when you got a grasp of the laugauge is fine. Good job on tbe videos btw ill come back to this one after lol.
If you have time, I have a question about the use of “actuar” vs. “comportarse” in Mexico. I work in HR, so have had many discussions about employee performance with my colleagues in Mexico. Over many years of doing this, I only recall their using “comportarse” as in “Ella se comporta como si supiera…” Do you know the difference between the two? I’m guessing comportarse is used in more formal settings since I don’t recall hearing actuar used in a work setting?
Interesting question. Whenever I hear someone talking about behavior, I will hear comportarse or portarse. RAE uses the word actuar in the definition of comportarse: dle.rae.es/comportar?m=form
In Paul's citation see this: Del lat. comportāre. That tells that it comes from Latin. However, in Latin Com the ablativo case signal is seperated from the words around It. When particules like Com- are affixed it most often denotes the action of a group. So let's translate an employe's bearing is part of our work here vs how we comport ourselves is the most important task in any job. Before translation you see that the English is the same as the Spanish. Bearing is one person. To comport are more than one. Let's translate: el porte de un empleado es parte de nuestro trabajo aquí vs cómo nos comportamos es la tarea más importante en cualquier trabajo. I say something like this to Spanish speakers every day: dic quid est hoc? res publica Romana ossa et sanguis Romanorum mores militum est. responderunt mihi nescio; Dixi eis non posse uti Hispanice sine Latino et Graeco. In Spanish: ¿digame que significa este? el comportamiento de los soldados de republic de Rome es los huesos y sangre de Roma. Ellos me respondieron yo no sé. yo les dije no es posible a usar español sin latin y gréco. Now English: tell me what does this mean? the behavior of the soldiers of the republic of rome is the bones and blood of rome. They answered me I don't know. I tell them it is not possible to use Spanish without Latin and Greek. That is a long answer. Most Spanish speaker do not know why they El Real academia española bothers to list the history of any given world. The guy walking down the street in El barrio does not need to known any Thing, ni historia de gente ni los eitomolagias de las palabras sinc he is well understood and understands. I on the other hand, Yo soy Sancho Panza, I need to known every jot and titil. cvc.cervantes.es/literatura/clasicos/quijote/edicion/parte2/cap45/default.htm
Thanks Paul. Seems they are interchangeable. “He acts as if…” i use in informal English and “he behaves as if…” sounds the same to me, but probably used less in informal conversation. As for Jose’s addition, thank you for your comment. You just demonstrated why Paul’s approach to learning Spanish cuts through all the noise. He keeps it simple. Explaining things in Latin and pointing to a passage in Don Quixote won’t help me understand the practical everyday use of actuar vs comportarse in Mexico 😄
If you want to know why are there two forms of Imperfect of subjunctive in Spanish, the 'ara' and the 'ese' forms. th-cam.com/video/7H3dp4C4wec/w-d-xo.html. We can say that the 'ese' form is a survivor, and the 'ara' form is a newcomer.
I'm waiting for you to sign off with "Pura vida" instead of "Hasta luego" While You're in Costa Rica - at least the last time I was there that was all I heard. Thanks for a GREAT lesson today!
👍 But we would say 'una gran estrella'. A great man = Un gran hombre A big man = Un hombre grande Un cierto problema = Somewhat of a problem Un problema cierto = A true problem There are a few other adjectives with sort of a meaning shift depending on their position.
Recientemente vi un video que se llama "AMARA y AMASE - NO son IGUAL -DIFERENCIAS de las formas en -RA y en -SE del IMPERFECTO DE SUBJUNTIVO" y me pareció interesante, sin emargo, creo que en la práctica se usan ambos de manera intercambiable, aunque la terminación "se" es menos usada.
Eran tiempos diferentes en latín, pero se enseñan como idénticos en español. Cuando el tiempo se usa de manera impropia, siempre es 'amara', al menos en España. P.ej. en lugar de 'amare' (futuro imperfecto que nadie usa).
Wow how are your videos always about something I have a question about?! About a week ago I was trying to say someone "acts like they don't have..." and I didn't have anyone that could explain the grammar to me because I keep wanting to use "tenga" as it's present tense but was surprised every app/source tells me "tuviera". So it's that it's a rule that you HAVE to use the imperfect with como si even though it's a present action? Thanks again as always Paul.
Unfortunately, one needs to 'sculpt' each verb separately. Even if 'tener' was meant to happen in the future instead of the present, we would find a way to use the past tense: 'Él actúa como si *fuera a ganar* siempre'.
I am having a minor hiccup with this construction sometimes. With the sentence “She talks as if she knows everything.”, I automatically go with “Ella habla como si lo sepa todo.” in my head. Is that totally wrong? Does that sound strange to native speakers? Or is this a case of there being more than one way to say the same thing? Sorry, you just answered my question further along in the video.
I see you got your answer. Just for folks who might have the same question: It would be incorrect to use the present subjunctive (sepa) after como si and it would sound incorrect to "most" native speakers. I can't say all because I am sure there is someone out the that might like it...lol. This construction requires the imperfect subjunctive or pluperfect subjunctive.
Hey Paul, thanks for all you do. Love the videos. Question: in the example of “acts like he knows it all” vs “acts like he knew it all.” In English obviously the verb to know is in the present tense and past tense in those examples. In your video you still used “supiera.” Does it not change in Spanish or did I make a mistake in what I heard or saw? Thanks Paul.
In English, we can easily avoid the subjunctive in that type of sentence. We can use the present tense "acts like he knows it all" or say "acts as if he knew it all". We don't have the flexibility in Spanish. If what we are saying in English could be expressed with "as if" or "as though" Spanish is going to use como si + imperfect subjunctive.
Iba a buscar por qué hay dos formas del imperfecto de subjuntivo esta noche y por coincidencia produjiste un video sobre el asunto en las primeras horas de la mañana en Costa Rica. Te agradesco.
I knew they must be in the subjunctive, but I totally forgot that there are more than one conjugations within the subjunctive form. Thanks for the video!
Cool! ¿So, como si triggers the imperfecto de subjuntivo even with English verbs in the present: “she knows” and “nothing bothers”? Por qué? Is it the conditionality of the As If clause? Gracias!
In the English, we could have said "as if she knew it all", but we have more flexibility with this in English. We can easily avoid the subjunctive but in Spanish como si will trigger the imperfect subjunctive.
The uncertainty of it, the possibility. It could be any of those. I try not to overthink these constructions too much. I look at them more like a math formula "como si + imperfect subjunctive". I follow the KISS method. :)
I just asked my husband, who is from Nicaragua, if that other imperfect form (fuese, for example) is ever used. He says it is, but I don’t recall ever heating it. I guess I’ll need to learn these conjugations, even though I doubt I’ll ever use them, in addition to all the Vosotros conjugations that are also used in Nicaragua. 😂
@RUT812 When you refer to vosotros being used in Nicaragua, are you referring to “vosotros” plural (instead of Ustedes), or “vos” singular instead of “tú” or “Usted”? As in “Vos sos el Dios de los pobres” (LaMisa Campesina de Mejía Godoy). The only time I’ve heard the “vosotros” plural form used in Nicaragua is if reading the Reina Valera version of the Bible. 😅The singular “vos” is used as an “extra familiar” form of “you” throughout Central America, some parts of Colombia, and Argentina.
Su sitio acaba de aparecer en mi feed de TH-cam. Después de ver 2 de tus presentaciones me suscribí. Me gustaban mucho tus cosas, hasta la animada. No soy de tu país, afortunadamente, pero vivo en México a tiempo completo. Pareces un tipo inteligente. Muy elocuente y sabes lo que haces. Creo que esa animación te hace ver como el típico mercun tonto. También es muy poco favorecedor para la dama. Lo dejaría antes de que arruines tu reputación. En una nota positiva, me gustan mucho tus pantalones cortos para caminar por la mañana. Muy, muy útil.
Two constructions I recently learned in Spanish that might be a good video on are, “más vale que” (its better that), and “procura que” (make sure/ try to make)… both are great sub triggers
Those are good suggestions. I don't personally use procurar that way. For to "make sure of something" I always fall back on asegurarse. That one can be tricky because it might take either the subjunctive or indicative depending on some subtlties.
I am an "old" dude, so I grew up at a time when grammar was heavily stressed in elementary and middle school. Having been given those ways to analyze written and spoken communication made learning foreign languages comparatively easy.
I like how you played with the English here. Subjuntivo English is not used to-day in daily parlance. One has to look for an English speaker who has mastered the Subjuntivo. Most often in a movie one finds an English subjuntivo master. Tuco of the Good The Bad and thé Ugly is a master. Strutter Martin is a master. In the ajoined clip is another master. He comes to mind because you speak and write of levels of Spanish. Este clip me vino a la mente de forma inquietante cuando leí un comentario en este hilo que decía Me mudo a España... espero hablar español con fluidez. Era como si estuviera una vez más atrapado en un oscuro sueño infantil... cayendo de mi cama al pozo sin fondo que hay junto a la cama de todos los niños. Entonces me desperté y me di cuenta de que las herramientas del pequeño Bill no se hundían inútilmente en el suelo con su sangre derramada. Las herramientas de San Isadoro son eternas. Es como si fuéramos ángeles que sostuvieran la herramienta isadoriana durante el parpadeo de nuestras vidas. Debemos conseguir las herramientas y construir casas como si fuéramos a habitar en ellas para siempre. Traduit avec DeepL www.deepl.com/app/? th-cam.com/video/Mjkt4UgcTmg/w-d-xo.html
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Vive cada día como si fuera el último!
I got these right because I know the phrase "If I were you..." is translated as "Si yo fuera tú...", so I figured the same unreal condition rule that triggered the subjunctive there, would do so here. Thanks for the lesson. It's nice to be able to take knowledge from one thing and apply it to something else.
Nice job!
It is so great to learn grammar like this, with chunks that are actually useful and sometimes needed.
I'm glad you like it. Thanks for watching. :)
Your videos are so useful to get to an intermediate level. As a beginner you learn so much conjugations and new vocabulary, and your video's always help me turn the stuff that i learned into gramatically correct sentences and make it make sense. Thank you for that 👊 I'll be moving to spain in 4 weeks and hope to become fluent in the near future.
That's great to hear! Have fun in Spain. It sounds like you have an awesome adventure ahead of you.
I was feeling so great about this!! Yeah subjonctive… i got this!! Alas no… I did them all on present! But the great thing is that I learn from my mistakes so this is imprinted in my brain!! Another great lesson!! Thank you!
Estudio español demasiado como si estuviera loco :3
Muy útil. Muchas gracias señor Paul.
Gracias. Me alegra que te gustara.
Q,R. You're very good at what you do. Muchas gracias, maestro favorito.
Thanks!
Thank you for a wonderful, helpful video. This will be watched multiple times by me. See ya!
Gracias. Pedí algo asi este video. Muy útil.
Escazú es muy fancy!
I am not intermediate, but this useful for me to add to my list. I will be intermediate very soon. hasta luego..
You can do it!
As for me, the best countries to learn Spanish are: Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador and of course, Spain.
Great video! Will the imperfect subjunctive also be used if indicating the future? For example: It is not as if I will be there tomorrow.
You can, but that would be more of a literal translation that wouldn't be as common in Spanish. Instead, use something like this to express that: No es que + present subjunctive. Pero no es que vaya a hacer calor. It's not like it's going to be hot.
@@QrooSpanish Got it. Thank You!
gracias😊
Gracias por verlo. Un saludo.
I checked at Español Avanzado because I could remember exceptions to the subjunctive following 'como si'. Rather than getting into it perhaps it’s enough to say that at least in Spain you may see/hear the indicative used but the context is not 'as if' or as though. So before someone says the indicative could follow, you may be right. This may or may not apply in Mexico so I should leave it at that.
Give me some examples please.
@@QrooSpanish Sure. Here’s a couple
¿Qué hará Juan ahora? Por mí, como si se tira de un puente.
What will Juan do now? As far as I'm concerned he can jump off a bridge.
¿Qué materiales debo usar? Me da igual, como si quieres usar papel higiénico.
What materials should I use? You can use toilet paper for all I care.
I decided to dig a little deeper. I Google searched "como si" "indicativo o subjuntivo" and you’ll see lots of discussions etc. I know you are travelling so you won’t have your reference book "A New Reference Grammar ..." I checked and found on pg 267 (3) a further confirmation . Interesting that it suggests the meaning is "even if" but at Español Avanzado it states this "Sin embargo, en la lengua hablada (en España) se usa como si +indicativo en ciertos contextos para mostrar indiferencia respecto a las posibles opciones, a menudo precedido de 'por mí'. In all the examples you can see indifference seems to be the key.
Call me a grammar nerd. I’ve always liked researching. Again like I said maybe it’s not used in LaAm countries.
That's interesting. I can see the first scenario happening where the two word happen to be next to one another in a sentence but are not acting as a clause. I would never phrase this particular phrase this way: Me da igual, como si quieres usar papel higiénico. That oen was unfamiliar to me.
You are always such a scholar of the language. I still say that you should start a channel. I bet people could benefit a lot form your experience and knowledge learning Spanish.
That's commonly used in Spain, it's an interesting impersonal construction.
-Quiero helado.
-Como si quieres tarta: te vas a comer la verdura.
A rude way to bluntly express indifference towards someone is 'Por mí, como si te la aplastas con dos piedras'.
---
Another usage of "como si"+indicative: 'Es como si llegas a la cumbre del Everest y te pones a mirar el móvil', 'Es como si vendes el coche para comprar la gasolina'. As the analogy intends to be shocking, subjunctive is abandoned to get the image across more vividly.
Is the 'lo' essential in '....lo supiera todo?' I've seen the same type of sentence without it, and it didn't intuitively come to mind while I was translating
It is similar to English: He knows it all. He knows everything. The LO would be the first one. In Spanish, when someone knows "it all" the LO is most often there. You can even call someone a know it all - un sabelotodo. Juan es un sabelotodo.
@@QrooSpanishThanks Paul, makes sense. I guess I intuitively use 'everything' much more than 'it all' in this type of construction, and so don't put a 'lo'. But now I know, I can make the distinction.
Your sound keeps jumping off and off
Uh oh, I'll check it out.
Beautiful classic song which uses this: “Bésame, bésame mucho, como si fuera esa noche la última vez…”
That is a great song.
Another great lesson Paul, it showed me I need to work on my imperfect subjunctive conjugations, as I didn't get the one for molestar! :/ Personally, I would love to see a lesson on the difference between acordar(se) and recordar(se), as I never know which one to use. Mil gracias! ✌
Ojála que tuviera un profesor como tu, sería como si fuera latina real.
I don’t recall hearing the “fuese” form used in Mexico or Central America, but I do have Colombian friends who use “fuese” (and related conjugations) preferentially over “fuera”. One older gentleman suggested I should use it more than “fuera” as it sounded more erudite. 😊 But since I learned my Spanish with Central Americans and Mexicans, I’m solidly a “fuera” girl.
I've never heard fuese used in Latin America but I have seen it written in articles and books here and there.
When I chat with friends here in Nicaragua they tend tu use the "sé" form. Maybe it's what they teach in school. In Costa Rica, it's more common the "ra" endings. I prefer the "ra".
I asked someone about yo suelo despertar and yo acustombro a despertar. They also claimed that thé first was the mark of an educated person and thé latter a sign of a lesser refined person. She did not provide any citation to support her claim. Now that I can use both, thanks to Paul, I still feel stupid! Cristo no pueda salvar todo mundo 🌎
I was told to pick a side and stick to it. I chose the ..se form because it is so different to other conjugations.
Más vídeos con el subjuntivo imperfecto sería bien, gracias a tí
Mi compañero de trabajo actua como si fuera el jefe.
I been struggling with my Spanish at work, I talk like a child. So this helps a lot. I just figured out the difference between sentences with I and You followed with like necesito and necesita or quiero and quiere. Yeah
Bésame COMO SI FUERA fuera la última vez
Good example.
Imperfect subjunctive. Thanks for touching on this.
Imperfect subjunctive..perfect lesson ! Thanks Paul !
Thanks for watching!
me hablas como si yo no supiera español.
en la dominican en vacaciones la familia de mi amigo me trató comi si yo fuera familia.
Good stuff!
I think this is actually one of the easier constructions...Just learn the imperfect of the verb.
Thank you. I have had difficulty with this. So, is it not possible to say “Juan acts as if he IS rich” and use the present subjunctive?
No, it would be incorrect.
¡Trato de hablar español como si fuera una nativa, pero mi acento es fatal!😉
Deberías hacer un video hablando español. :)
Good lesson-como si-very useful phrase!!!
Thanks! 😃
The imperfect subjunctive is used because that's what is used in English, I.e. if I were rich, if he were here etc. Not a knowall, I promise...I just realised it!
important note: The -se are used a little bit more often with ser to avoid confusion with fuera (outside). You may want to do this as well
Ah, interesting. Tganks for sharing that.
¿Can I get a citation for your assertion. I do have a reason for asking. Which we can test after citation. Entonces puedá ajudarme con que cita?
I do not have a citation because I learned this when talking with a native. sorry :(
@@connorcadaver1219 You do have a good question here. I provide poetry. ¿As I remerber the sélection of ending Is dictated by use in poetic verse? Fuera and fuera con be known two ways. One use of the pronoun Yo fuera and next use of A- préfixe The A is sounded as in Ahah if one were to say Yo fuera afuera realidad. Look at this poem. I add to it in the first Stanza: Fuera es mi morada. Como si fuera esta araña la llevé afuera a lo largo de la orilla del mar para enredar su corazón en una red de mentiras. LA ARAÑA
Es una araña enorme que ya no anda;
una araña incolora, cuyo cuerpo,
una cabeza y un abdomen, sangra.
Hoy la he visto de cerca. Y con qué esfuerzo
hacia todos los flancos
sus pies innumerables alargaba.
Y he pensado en sus ojos invisibles,
los pilotos fatales de la araña.
Es una araña que temblaba fija
en un filo de piedra; .
el abdomen a un lado,
y al otro la cabeza.
Con tantos pies la pobre, y aún no puede
resolverse. Y, al verla
atónita en tal trance,
hoy me ha dado qué pena esa viajera.
Es una araña enorme, a quien impide
el abdomen seguir a la cabeza.
Y he pensado en sus ojos
y en sus pies numerosos ...
¡Y me ha dado qué pena esa viajera! Thanks for forcing me to remember.
Wait cant you just say. mi amigo gasta dinero como esta rico. This protray the same idea way easier. I think como si just complicates things for no reason, when you got a grasp of the laugauge is fine. Good job on tbe videos btw ill come back to this one after lol.
Im seeing lots of examples of como si not using the subjunctive
If you have time, I have a question about the use of “actuar” vs. “comportarse” in Mexico. I work in HR, so have had many discussions about employee performance with my colleagues in Mexico. Over many years of doing this, I only recall their using “comportarse” as in “Ella se comporta como si supiera…” Do you know the difference between the two? I’m guessing comportarse is used in more formal settings since I don’t recall hearing actuar used in a work setting?
Interesting question. Whenever I hear someone talking about behavior, I will hear comportarse or portarse. RAE uses the word actuar in the definition of comportarse: dle.rae.es/comportar?m=form
In Paul's citation see this: Del lat. comportāre. That tells that it comes from Latin. However, in Latin Com the ablativo case signal is seperated from the words around It. When particules like Com- are affixed it most often denotes the action of a group. So let's translate an employe's bearing is part of our work here vs how we comport ourselves is the most important task in any job. Before translation you see that the English is the same as the Spanish. Bearing is one person. To comport are more than one. Let's translate: el porte de un empleado es parte de nuestro trabajo aquí vs cómo nos comportamos es la tarea más importante en cualquier trabajo. I say something like this to Spanish speakers every day: dic quid est hoc? res publica Romana ossa et sanguis Romanorum mores militum est. responderunt mihi nescio; Dixi eis non posse uti Hispanice sine Latino et Graeco. In Spanish: ¿digame que significa este? el comportamiento de los soldados de republic de Rome es los huesos y sangre de Roma. Ellos me respondieron yo no sé. yo les dije no es posible a usar español sin latin y gréco. Now English: tell me what does this mean? the behavior of the soldiers of the republic of rome is the bones and blood of rome. They answered me I don't know. I tell them it is not possible to use Spanish without Latin and Greek. That is a long answer. Most Spanish speaker do not know why they El Real academia española bothers to list the history of any given world. The guy walking down the street in El barrio does not need to known any Thing, ni historia de gente ni los eitomolagias de las palabras sinc he is well understood and understands. I on the other hand, Yo soy Sancho Panza, I need to known every jot and titil. cvc.cervantes.es/literatura/clasicos/quijote/edicion/parte2/cap45/default.htm
Thanks Paul. Seems they are interchangeable. “He acts as if…” i use in informal English and “he behaves as if…” sounds the same to me, but probably used less in informal conversation.
As for Jose’s addition, thank you for your comment. You just demonstrated why Paul’s approach to learning Spanish cuts through all the noise. He keeps it simple. Explaining things in Latin and pointing to a passage in Don Quixote won’t help me understand the practical everyday use of actuar vs comportarse in Mexico 😄
@@denise-stevens When in Rome do as Romans. You are correct...mea culpa.
@@josedelnegro46 i do appreciate your perspective, Dean.
You’re in one of my favorite cities 😊
If you want to know why are there two forms of Imperfect of
subjunctive in Spanish, the 'ara' and the 'ese' forms.
th-cam.com/video/7H3dp4C4wec/w-d-xo.html.
We can say that the 'ese' form is a survivor, and the 'ara' form is a newcomer.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
😊👍
I'm waiting for you to sign off with "Pura vida" instead of "Hasta luego" While You're in Costa Rica - at least the last time I was there that was all I heard.
Thanks for a GREAT lesson today!
Haha, I debated doing that. I've certainly heard it a lot the last couple of weeks...lol.
Really appreciate you, Q'hubo Paul.
Thanks!
Carlos canta como si hubiera sido una estrella grande. Correcto?
👍 But we would say 'una gran estrella'.
A great man = Un gran hombre
A big man = Un hombre grande
Un cierto problema = Somewhat of a problem
Un problema cierto = A true problem
There are a few other adjectives with sort of a meaning shift depending on their position.
Are you going to give your impressions of Costa Rica on your other channel?
Yes, we have a ton of video.
I gave this one a like, but I didn't get any of the examples right.
It's an unusual construction.
I didn’t get the name of the online translator you referenced.
DEEPL
¡Perfecto! Muchas Gracias
¡Con mucho gusto!
You're fantastic
Aw, thank you!
...and give it a thumbs up como si loved it
Thanks!
Underrated channel
Thanks!
Recientemente vi un video que se llama "AMARA y AMASE - NO son IGUAL -DIFERENCIAS de las formas en -RA y en -SE del IMPERFECTO DE SUBJUNTIVO" y me pareció interesante, sin emargo, creo que en la práctica se usan ambos de manera intercambiable, aunque la terminación "se" es menos usada.
Buscaré el video. Según la RAE, ambas formas son válidas y generalmente intercambiables.
Eran tiempos diferentes en latín, pero se enseñan como idénticos en español. Cuando el tiempo se usa de manera impropia, siempre es 'amara', al menos en España.
P.ej. en lugar de 'amare' (futuro imperfecto que nadie usa).
Thank you so much.
You're welcome!
Wow how are your videos always about something I have a question about?! About a week ago I was trying to say someone "acts like they don't have..." and I didn't have anyone that could explain the grammar to me because I keep wanting to use "tenga" as it's present tense but was surprised every app/source tells me "tuviera". So it's that it's a rule that you HAVE to use the imperfect with como si even though it's a present action? Thanks again as always Paul.
Happy to help.
Unfortunately, one needs to 'sculpt' each verb separately. Even if 'tener' was meant to happen in the future instead of the present, we would find a way to use the past tense: 'Él actúa como si *fuera a ganar* siempre'.
I am having a minor hiccup with this construction sometimes. With the sentence “She talks as if she knows everything.”, I automatically go with “Ella habla como si lo sepa todo.” in my head. Is that totally wrong? Does that sound strange to native speakers? Or is this a case of there being more than one way to say the same thing? Sorry, you just answered my question further along in the video.
I see you got your answer. Just for folks who might have the same question: It would be incorrect to use the present subjunctive (sepa) after como si and it would sound incorrect to "most" native speakers. I can't say all because I am sure there is someone out the that might like it...lol. This construction requires the imperfect subjunctive or pluperfect subjunctive.
@@QrooSpanish muchísimas gracias
Hey Paul, thanks for all you do. Love the videos. Question: in the example of “acts like he knows it all” vs “acts like he knew it all.” In English obviously the verb to know is in the present tense and past tense in those examples. In your video you still used “supiera.” Does it not change in Spanish or did I make a mistake in what I heard or saw? Thanks Paul.
In English, we can easily avoid the subjunctive in that type of sentence. We can use the present tense "acts like he knows it all" or say "acts as if he knew it all". We don't have the flexibility in Spanish. If what we are saying in English could be expressed with "as if" or "as though" Spanish is going to use como si + imperfect subjunctive.
Thank you so much for the clarification!
I’m trying to learn when I should use como vs que. I have tired to fine something on TH-cam and by Google. But I can’t find anything
That's a great topic idea. I'll add it to my list.
Can you please let me know when you do that
I used this construction with my Spanish speaking friend, thinking he would realize how good ive gotten at spansih. He just responded with "si"
Iba a buscar por qué hay dos formas del imperfecto de subjuntivo esta noche y por coincidencia produjiste un video sobre el asunto en las primeras horas de la mañana en Costa Rica. Te agradesco.
I knew they must be in the subjunctive, but I totally forgot that there are more than one conjugations within the subjunctive form. Thanks for the video!
Cool! ¿So, como si triggers the imperfecto de subjuntivo even with English verbs in the present: “she knows” and “nothing bothers”? Por qué? Is it the conditionality of the As If clause? Gracias!
In the English, we could have said "as if she knew it all", but we have more flexibility with this in English. We can easily avoid the subjunctive but in Spanish como si will trigger the imperfect subjunctive.
@@QrooSpanish thank you. What is the grammatical aspect of “as if” that triggers the imperfect subj? The conditionality? Thanks. You do great work!
The uncertainty of it, the possibility. It could be any of those. I try not to overthink these constructions too much. I look at them more like a math formula "como si + imperfect subjunctive". I follow the KISS method. :)
Tu información apunta hacia lo real, el enfoque y la temática es muy acertado.
Thanks for another incredibly useful and informative vid. (And for taking time while you’re on the road to make it!)
You're welcome!
Thank you for this lesson Paul. Im struggling with the subjective, do you recommend any text books to help explain with examples and word lists?
I don't have any book recommendations for that topic. I do have the subjunctive trigger series on this channel. Look under playlists.
Fantastic lessons and advice - you are a quality product Paul. Ahora sí te luciste!
Thank you kindly!
So is it "As if I was....or as if I were..." i thought the latter but have seen songs with the earlier. If I was a bird...
That's an English subjunctive question. I've heard both.
I just asked my husband, who is from Nicaragua, if that other imperfect form (fuese, for example) is ever used. He says it is, but I don’t recall ever heating it. I guess I’ll need to learn these conjugations, even though I doubt I’ll ever use them, in addition to all the Vosotros conjugations that are also used in Nicaragua. 😂
I woulnt easte time with the SE endings. You'll know them if you see them in writing.
@RUT812 When you refer to vosotros being used in Nicaragua, are you referring to “vosotros” plural (instead of Ustedes), or “vos” singular instead of “tú” or “Usted”? As in “Vos sos el Dios de los pobres” (LaMisa Campesina de Mejía Godoy). The only time I’ve heard the “vosotros” plural form used in Nicaragua is if reading the Reina Valera version of the Bible. 😅The singular “vos” is used as an “extra familiar” form of “you” throughout Central America, some parts of Colombia, and Argentina.
She maybe referring to vos. El voseo is widely used through that area.
Su sitio acaba de aparecer en mi feed de TH-cam. Después de ver 2 de tus presentaciones me suscribí. Me gustaban mucho tus cosas, hasta la animada. No soy de tu país, afortunadamente, pero vivo en México a tiempo completo. Pareces un tipo inteligente. Muy elocuente y sabes lo que haces. Creo que esa animación te hace ver como el típico mercun tonto. También es muy poco favorecedor para la dama. Lo dejaría antes de que arruines tu reputación. En una nota positiva, me gustan mucho tus pantalones cortos para caminar por la mañana. Muy, muy útil.
Two constructions I recently learned in Spanish that might be a good video on are, “más vale que” (its better that), and “procura que” (make sure/ try to make)… both are great sub triggers
Those are good suggestions. I don't personally use procurar that way. For to "make sure of something" I always fall back on asegurarse. That one can be tricky because it might take either the subjunctive or indicative depending on some subtlties.
I am an "old" dude, so I grew up at a time when grammar was heavily stressed in elementary and middle school. Having been given those ways to analyze written and spoken communication made learning foreign languages comparatively easy.
It does make it easier.
I like how you played with the English here. Subjuntivo English is not used to-day in daily parlance. One has to look for an English speaker who has mastered the Subjuntivo. Most often in a movie one finds an English subjuntivo master. Tuco of the Good The Bad and thé Ugly is a master. Strutter Martin is a master. In the ajoined clip is another master. He comes to mind because you speak and write of levels of Spanish. Este clip me vino a la mente de forma inquietante cuando leí un comentario en este hilo que decía Me mudo a España... espero hablar español con fluidez. Era como si estuviera una vez más atrapado en un oscuro sueño infantil... cayendo de mi cama al pozo sin fondo que hay junto a la cama de todos los niños. Entonces me desperté y me di cuenta de que las herramientas del pequeño Bill no se hundían inútilmente en el suelo con su sangre derramada. Las herramientas de San Isadoro son eternas. Es como si fuéramos ángeles que sostuvieran la herramienta isadoriana durante el parpadeo de nuestras vidas. Debemos conseguir las herramientas y construir casas como si fuéramos a habitar en ellas para siempre.
Traduit avec DeepL www.deepl.com/app/? th-cam.com/video/Mjkt4UgcTmg/w-d-xo.html
The subjunctive is a lost art in English these days.