Spanish Study Guide - 3B (2)

 Vocabulary

  • Los vecinos - Neighbors

  • La acera - Sidewalk

  • El césped - Lawn

  • La señal (de alto) - Sign (stop sign)

  • La dirección prohibida - Forbidden address

  • La dirección (de mi casa) - Address (of my house)

  • Norte - North

  • Noroeste - Northwest

  • Noreste - Northeast

  • Oeste - West

  • Este - East

  • Suroeste - Southwest

  • Sureste - Southeast

  • Sur - South

  • La bocacalle - Side street

  • La calle sin salida - Cul de sac

  • La cancha de fútbol - Soccer field

  • La cancha de básquet - Basketball court

  • El letrero - Sign

  • El parquímetro - Parking meter

  • La zona de juegos - Playground

  • El baúl - Trunk

  • El motor - Motor

  • El capó - Hood (car)

  • La rueda - Wheel

  • La llanta - Tire 

  • El limpiaparabrisas - Windshield wiper

  • El parabrisas - Windshield

  • El faro - Lights (car)

  • La placa - Plate

  • El parachoques - Bumper

  • El volante - Steering wheel

  • El claxon - Horn

  • El freno - Brake

  • El cinturón de seguridad - Seat belt

  • El asiento delantero/trasero - Front/back seat

  • El cristal - Window

  • El espejo retrovisor - Rearview mirror

  • La guantera - Glove compartment

  • La llanta de repuesto - Spare tire



Grammar - Saber and Conocer

  • Saber and conocer both have the same meaning, “to know”, but are both used in extremely different contexts


saber

conocer

conozco

sabes

conoces

sabe

conoce

sabemos

conocemos

sabéis 

conocéis 

saben

conocen


  • Saber is used to talk about facts that someone may or may not know. If you put an infinitive after saber it indicates that someone knows how to do something

    • ¿Sabes dónde se puede comprar flores? - Do you know where one can buy flowers?

      • Notice how the infinitive after indicates whether someone knows a place where someone can “buy flowers”

    • dar direcciones en español. - I know how to give directions in Spanish

      • Using the verb dar the person states that they know how to do something

  • Conocer is used to discuss whether someone is acquainted with people, places or things. If you are using it to discuss or refer to people, you need to put an a after the conjugated conocer

    • ¿Conoces a tus vecinos? - Do you know your neighbors?

      • Notice how they are asking using conocer if someone is familiar with or acquainted with their neighbors, not saber

    • Conozco una florería cerca de la estación del metro. - I know (am familiar with) a flower shop near the subway station.

      • Once again, you talk about how you are familiar, or acquainted with someone or something

  • There are other verbs which need the c to zc spelling change for their yo form as well: conducir to conduzco (to drive, or conduct); and ofrecer to ofrezco (to offer)



 Grammar - Negative Commands

  • For a negative Ud. and Uds. command, or a negative nosotros command, the formation is the same but you add no before the verb. 

    • However, there is one exception for this, ir, which changes in the nosotros form: Vamos to No vayamos

      • Maneje Ud. derecho (drive straight ahead) - No maneje Ud. derecho (don’t drive straight ahead)

      • Duerman Uds. temprano (Go to sleep early) - No duerman Uds. muy tarde (Don’t go to sleep too late)

      • ¡Comamos! (Let’s eat!) - No comamos todavía (Let’s not eat yet)

  • The negative command is different from the affirmative. You create it by putting -s at the end of a formal Ud. command and putting no before the verb

    • Alberto, maneja (Alberto, drive) - Alberto, no manejas (Alberto, don’t drive)

    • Camina hasta la esquina (Walk to the corner) - No camines hasta la esquina (Don’t walk to the corner)

  • Instead of attaching object and reflexive pronouns to the end of an affirmative command, they must precede the verb for negative commands

    • Tíralo al cesto de papeles - No lo tires al cesto de papeles

    • Pídalas Ud. - No las pida Ud. 

    • Sentémonos allí - No nos sentemos allí

  • The indirect object pronoun always precedes the direct object pronoun when used together with the same verb

  • This no longer affects the verb, as there is nothing attached to it to ruin its pronunciation, so you do not add an accent mark. 

    • Prepárenmales Uds. - No me las preparen Uds.

    • Cómanselos Uds. - No selos coman Uds. 


Culture

Magic Neighborhoods

The magic of a place is what makes it attractive, enjoyable and unforgettable. What do we see, hear and play in every place we visit? What can we do to discover the magic of each site? In the Historical Center of the Mexican capital we can enjoy a great cultural richness but much of the Mexican culture is also found in the neighborhoods. We can say that in these remote areas of the center is the essence of the Mexican people. Walking through the typical streets of the neighborhoods you can see mansions, fountains and churches with many years of history. You can also enjoy traditions such as the Tamal Fair in Ixtacalco or the Day of the Dead in Mixquic. In order to keep these traditions alive, Mexico's Secretariat of Tourism initiated the program "Barrios Magicos" in 2011. These are 21 neighborhoods in Mexico City that allow us to enjoy warm restaurants, small museums and squares for children. Thanks to this interaction between tourists and magical neighborhoods, the rest of the world can have another perspective on Mexican culture and contrar the hidden treasures of Mexico.



Practise

One of the popular activities of Mexicans is to visit the Magic Quarter of Xochimilco and take a boat ride along its water canals. The Aztecs made these channels to transport food in canoes. Today, all who arrive in Xochimilco can sail there to have fun and interact with nature (nature). In Laguna del Toro and Laguna de Caltongo there are piers from where boats leave that go along the canals with history.


Magical Points in Coyoacan

Colors and art are also part of the magic of a place. Can you imagine being born, living and dying in a place full of art? And do you imagine interacting all your life with that city to convey that magic to others? Like the other magical neighborhoods, Coyocan has beautiful squares, churches, bridges and historic houses, such as the Casa del Sol, where part of the Mexican Constitution was written. But perhaps the most magical thing about Coyoacan is that it was an important part of the life of famous artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. Like the other magical neighborhoods, Coyocan has beautiful squares, churches, bridges and historic houses, such as the Casa del Sol, where part of the Mexican Constitution was written. But perhaps the most magical thing about Coyoacan is that it was an important part of the life of famous artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. At Frida's request before her death, her home, from 1958, is a museum where all the personal objects of the painter are, such as decorative elements, religious objects, clothes and furniture. In this magical neighborhood there is also the Anahuacalli, Museum of Diego Rivera, where the painter wanted to share with the people more than 50,000 pre-columbian pieces of his private collection. Frida and Diego's desire was to donate their works to the Mexican people; thus there was an interaction between the people and the places where they were. Thanks to your desire, today we can visit a magical neighborhood full of art and history. 


Practise

Every November 22, in the Magic Quarter of Garibaldi, Musician's Day is celebrated. Thousands of Mexicans gather (gather) in the square to listen to different groups of mariachis playing music and singing traditional songs.



San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel de Allende is a Mexican city located in the state of Guanajuato, northwest of Mexico City. It is a colonial city with little traffic, cobbled streets and many cultural moments. In 2008 UNESCO recognized it as a World Heritage Site for its history and architecture. In San Miguel de Allende, there are many sites of tourist interest: 

  • Visit the Parish of San Miguel Arcangel. Originally, the church was built at the end of the 17th century with a conventional design. In 1880 Zeferino Gutierrez Munoz completely transformed it and is now the most photographed church in Mexico.

  • If you like art objects, don't go to a large warehouse, go to the Handicraft Market. Wool and brass handicrafts are the specialties of the area. Or visit the many art galleries.

  • During the day, walk around the main square and its garden. It is the heart of the city. There you can buy flowers and handicrafts. It is a perfect place to rest. Return to the square at night, and listen to the mariachis.

  • Visit the Casa de Ignacio Allende Museum to learn more about Ignacio Allende, a hero of Mexico's independence.

  • And finally, stop at one of the many cafes and enjoy some churros with hot chocolate!



Practise 

Los Locos Parade is an event that takes place once a year in San Miguel de Allende. People dress up as famous people in the cinema or television, or in politics, and parade through the city. As they walk through the streets, they give sweets to the spectators. 


Products

The mojigangas are an icon of the life of San Miguel de Allende. They are puppets or giant puppets. The head and bust are paper mache. They wear a dress that covers the bust. A person under the dress holds the bust and head. The person's legs are the legs of the mojiganga. Mojigangas are present in celebrations, popular parties, weddings and even many people use them as decoration objects. 


San Miguel Allende and its Artists

San Miguel de Allende is probably the most famous artistic community in Mexico. Hundreds of Mexican artists and people from all over the world enjoy their art schools, galleries, and art and design exhibits. Artists come to this city for its natural light, which highlights the colors of colonial buildings and bougainvillea. They go for their views, which inspire painters, cartoonists and sculptors. And, of course, they also go for their eclectic and cultural atmosphere. Art lives in every block of the city. If you really want to know San Miguel... meet its artists


Products

In 2004, an old textile factory in San Miguel de Allende was converted into a cultural center of art and design called La Aurora. There you can find galleries of contemporary art, antiques, crafts and even restaurants. The main attraction is the "gallery-studios", where you can watch artists from different countries work.



The Art Corner

Roberto Lopez Fuentevilla is a well known Mexican artist in Mexico and internationally. He was born in Mexico City but has lived in San Miguel de Allende for several years, where he has a gallery. This work next door is a view of the city from above. You can see the center, the church San Miguel Archangel, the horizon in the distance and in the foreground (up close) the abundant bougainvilleas. How does this painting exemplify everything you have learned about San Miguel de Allende?


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