Spanish Study Guide - 4B (2)

 Vocabulary

  • El/la trapecista - Trapeze artist

  • El/la malabarista - Juggler

  • El/la acróbata - Acrobat

  • El payaso - Clown

  • La banda - Band

  • La taquilla - Ticket office/box office

  • El boleto - Ticket

  • La fila - Line

  • La carpa - Tent

  • El/la entrenador(a) de animales - Animal trainer

  • El/la equilibrista - Tightrope walker

  • El espectáculo - Show

  • El/la ilusionista - Illusionist

  • El/la maestro a de ceremonias - Ringmaster

  • El/la mago/a - Magician

  • El pato - Duck

  • El pájaro - Bird

  • El toro - Bull

  • El cuerno - Horn

  • La pata - Leg

  • La vaca - Cow

  • El burro - Donkey

  • El establo - Stable

  • El pavo - Turkey 

  • La pluma - Feather

  • El gallo - Rooster

  • La gallina - Hen

  • El rabo - Tail

  • El ratón - Rat

  • El cerdo - Pig

  • El conejo - Rabbit

  • La oveja - Sheep

  • La cabra - Goat

  • El cordero - Lamb

  • El ganso - Goose

  • La mula - Mule

  • La ternera - Calf (baby cow)


Grammar - Special Endings: -ísimo/a and -ito/a

  • A special ending in Spanish is added to an adjective, to basically exaggerate the description. It adds value by using ‘very’, ‘most’, or ‘extremely’, to an adjective. The special ending for this is -ísimo, -ísima, ísimos, or, -ísimas (as it depends on whether the adjective is masculine/femenine, plural/singular). 

  • If you have an adjective which ends in a vowel, the correct -ísimo, -ísima, -ísimos, or, -ísimas should replace that final vowel, even if it is plural, such as -os, -as, etc, you would replace those endings as a whole with -ísimos, or, -ísimas

    • Ese es un león grande - That is a big lion

    • Ese es un león grandísimo - That is a very big lion

      • Notice how the -ísimo, replaced the final -e, in grande

    • La jaula estaba sucia - The cage was dirty

    • La jaula estaba sucísima - The cage was very dirty

  • If the adjective ends in -ble, the -ble changes to -bil in order to add the -ísimo ending

    • Ese malabarista era amable - That juggler was nice

    • Ese malabarista era amabilísimo - That juggler was very nice

  • If the adjective has an accent mark anywhere in the word, then the accent mark is gone when you add an -ísimo ending

    • Las trapecistas eran rápidas - The trapeze artists were fast

    • Las trapecistas eran rapidísimas - The trapeze artists were very fast

  • If an adjective ends in a consonant, like -l, then you just add -ísimo directly to the ending. However, if it is plural (-os, -as, -es, etc.) then again, simply replace the plural as a whole with -ísimos, or, -ísimas.

    • Era fácil jugar con los payasos - It was easy to play with the clowns

    • Era facilísimo jugar con los payasos - It was very easy to play with the clowns

    • La banda tocaba cosas difíciles - The band played difficult things

    • La banda tocaba cosas dificilísimas - The band played extremely difficult things

  • If an adjective ends in -co/-ca, -go/-ga, or -z, they require a spelling change for the consonant. The vowel would still be replaced by the correct form of -ísimo, however, only the consonant requires a spelling change

    • c - qu: comico - comiquísimo

    • g - gu: larga - larguísima

    • z - c: feliz - felicísimo

  • Diminutives are used to show affection, or say something is younger/smaller

    • To form diminutives replace the final vowel of a noun with: -ito, -ita, -itos, or -itas

    • Based on gender and number:

      • perro - perrito

    • Some words require a spelling change:

      • poco - poquito

    • Nouns ending in consonants change the endings to: -cito, -cita, -citos, -citas

      • collar - collarcito

  • In different countries another diminutives are: -illo, -illa, -uelo, -uela, -ico, -ica

  • There are many exceptions, a few common ones are: hotelito - hotel, and Danielito - Daniel


 Grammar - Adjective Placement

  • Adjectives are either masculine/femenine, singular/plural, based off of the noun they are modifying and usually placed after the noun

    • Era un león feroz - It was a fierce lion

  • The only exceptions to the rule are: demonstrative adjectives (este, ese, aquel, etc./this, that), adjectives of quantity (mucho, poco/lots, little), cardinal numbers (dos, tres/two, three), interrogative words, (que/what), and indirect adjectives (otro, other)

  • These adjectives precede (are placed ahead) of the nouns they modify

    • ¿Conoces a ese acróbata? - Do you know that acrobat?

      • As you can see, contrary to the first example, the adjective ese, is in front of the noun

    • Vimos pocos osos - We saw a few bears

    • Había seis malabaristas en el circo - Her were six jugglers in the circus

    • ¿Qué payaso preferías? - What clown did you prefer?

    • El otro payaso es mexicano - The other clown is Mexican

  • An adjective which is used to describe a permanent characteristic is usually placed in front of the noun being described

    • La blanca nieve era linda - The white snow was pretty

      • White is a permanent characteristic of snow, which is shown as placed ahead of the noun

  • Ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.) usually precede a noun, but may be placed after a noun in headings or titles

    • Este es el primer circo del año - This is the first circus of the year

      • However in a title, or heading instance:

    • Juan Carlos I (Primero) - Juan Carlos I (the First)

      • In the heading instance, I (Primero) was placed after the noun Juan Carlos, instead of before

  • Cardinal numbers (one, two, three, etc.) precede ordinal numbers if both are used in one sentence, and refer to the same noun

    • Eran los dos primeros niños en la fila - They were the first two children in the line

  • Many common adjectives can be used before or after the nouns they describe, depending on the sentence and the adjectives

  • Before a masculine singular noun, bueno becomes buen, and malo becomes mal

    • Era un buen trapecista - Era un trapecista bueno

      • With the use of buen, it is before the noun, with bueno, it is after

    • Él no era un mal acróbata - Él no era un acróbata malo

  • According to their placement in a sentence, an adjective could change meaning. Such as grande, with means great if placed before a noun, but big if placed after a noun

    • Es un gran circo - It is a great circus

    • Es un circo grande - It is a big circus

  • Here are more adjectives with changing means based on placement

    • viejo (after) - old (elderly); viejo (before) - old (have known for a long time)

    • pobre (after) - poor (without much money); poor (before) - pitiful

    • mismo (after) - himself; mismo (before) - same

    • nuevo (after) - new (never-owned); nuevo (before) - new (new to the owner, but may have been previously owned)

  • If two or more adjectives are describing the same noun, you can place them in these ways: 

    • Place all after the noun, while connecting the last two, or only two, with y (and)

    • If it follows the preceding rules, then you can place one before, or one or more after the noun

      • The shorter, more personal (subjective, opinionated, such as a character trait), like adjectives will usually precede the noun

        • Era el primer circo grande y bueno del año

        • It was the first good, big circus of the year


Grammar - Possessive Adjectives: Long Forms

  • You can show possession in Spanish by using de (of) + a noun or pronoun

  • Also, you can show possession by using the short form possessive adjectives: mi(s), tu(s), su(s), nuestro(s), vuestro(s), vuestra(s)

  • Similarly, there are long form possessive adjectives:

mío(s), mía(s)

my, (of) mine

tuyo(s), tuya(s)

your, (of) yours

suyo(s), suya(s)

your, (of) yours (Ud.), his, (of) his, her (of) hers, its

nuestro(s), nuestra(s)

our, (of) ours

vuestro(s), vuestra(s)

your, (of) yours

suyo(s), suya(s)

your, (of) yours, (Uds.), their, (of) theirs


  • The long form possessive adjectives must agree with both gender and number, instead of just number

    • Esa la vaca a - That is my cow

    • ¿Es ese el burro tuyo? - Is that your donkey?

    • Este es el gallo nuestro - This is our rooster

    • ¿Son estos los conejos suyos? - Are these your rabbits?

    • Todos esos son animales nuestros - All of those are our animals

  •  Possessive adjectives could be used immediately after a form of ser, a form which the adjective must agree with

    • ¿Son suyos? - Are they yours?

    • Sí, son nuestros - Yes, they are ours

  • As usual, if you want to clarify a sentence using suyo(s), suya(s), use a prepositional pronoun to clarify

    • ¿Son las ovejas suyas?

      • Since you don’t know who exactly suyas is going to, use this instead:

        • ¿Son las ovejas de Ud./de él/de ella/de Uds./de ellos/de ellas?

        • Are the sheep yours/his/hers/yours/theirs?

  • Possessive pronouns can be used in place of a combination of a possessive adjective + noun. These are made by putting a definite article in front of the long form of the possessive adjectives.

    • Veo tu toro y el mío también - I see your bull and mine, too

    • Mis ovejas están gordas y también lo están las tuyas - My sheep are fat and so are yours

      • Notice in these sentences how they don’t repeat the noun, but instead replace it with a definite article

    • ¿Es ese pavo el nuestro? - Is that turkey ours?

    • Nuestros gallos so n esos y los suyos son estos - Our roosters are (those ones) over there and yours are (these ones) over here

  • Lo is used as a direct object pronoun, but can also serve as an equivalent for how + adjective/adverb if used correctly. To form that equivalent, use this formula:

    • lo + adjective/adverb + que

      • ¿Sabes lo grandes que son las fincas? - Do you know how big the farms are?

      • Uds. saben lo cerca que está la finca - You know how close the farm is

  • Remember lo stays consistent, and does not change upon whether the adjective is singular or plural, masculine or femenine











Culture

The Social Circus

Do you have any talent for working in a circus? Do you know magic, are you an Acrobat or do you have the courage to put your head in the mouth of a lion? In the city of Choluteca, Honduras, many young Hondurans have a great chance: To meet, to have fun, to learn to work in a circus, and to grow as people. The government of this city participates in the global program called "Social Circus," which helps marginalized youth, that is, people who have social problems. The program uses circus arts to educate. with fun, you learn culture, share ideas and develop skills to work artistically. Each participant can be what he likes best: Juggler, trapeze player, acrobat, clown, magician, or play in a music band. They may develop one or more skills. They learn to work on the technical part, such as stage, lights or costumes, and help at the box office for ticket sales. A very important part of Social Circus is strict training.And while you learn circus activities, the main goal is to learn discipline and good behavior. Another important element of Social Circus is understanding emotions. Young people learn that feelings are a form of exchange and dialog between artists and the audience. Achieving these goals will give them many advantages in life. The Social Circus is open to all and prepares young people to be better individuals in society. 


Street Theater

Does street theater exist in your community? Street theater is a form of popular expression, where groups of actors represent street plays. With few elements, they entertain pedestrians with free shows. At the end of the work, artists usually can collaborate with the public, which puts the money in a cap. In the city of Choluteca, Honduras, is the theater company Abba Dei. A group of students at this school decided to do street theater in a very particular way: They played a news story they watched on TV every week! This group of young actors, joined with its director, aimed to represent the social problems of Honduras. In that way, people who walked the street gathered to see a show and have fun, and above all to become socially aware of what happens every day. Every week, the street theater group chose a topical theme, such as gangs and robberies. Then they prepared the work to convey the theme in a fun way with a precise message: To make people think of ways to have a better society. After this experience, the director plans to make a film and invites young people to use their time productively. The doors of the theater are open to all. It is not necessary to have theater studies: Only to have the desire to be a good example for youth. 


Practise

Every year, Hondurans perform street theater to present the oldest play in Honduras, called "The Martyrdom of San Sebastian''. This work came to Honduras with the first religious at the time of the conquest, and tells the story between the struggle of Christian and non-Christian Romans. Today, young people from different educational centers represent the fun work of all the people who gather in the street and to remember this historical fact. This work was presented in Honduras for more than 370 consecutive years. 


Revitalization of Public Spaces in Central America

On October 29, 2016, many recreational parks in Central America became crowded. But they were not turistic. They were volunteers from USAD and Glasswng International who, working with local volunteers, were involved in remodeling public spaces. Through the Hands for Work NOW movement, young volunteers in Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Costa Rica worked simultaneously to revitalize public spaces in the Central American region. In the Children's Amusement Park of San Salvador, young Salvadorans painted games, revitalized murals, and planted plants. At the same time, in Tegucigalpa, Honduran children, youth, and university students planted trees in the Cerro Juana Lainez Park area as part of an afforestation project. There were other groups revitalizing four children's areas. Also, in Justo Rufino Barrios Park, in Guatemala City, volunteers worked reforestation, repaired tables and chairs, and installed games with recycled tires. Hands on Work NOW was the largest volunteer project in the region. This great initiative invited Central American youth to help renovate public specios and schools. The goal was to involve residents in improving the spaces of their own community. Approximately 5,000 young people participated throughout the region. 


Perspectives

In many Latin American countries, including Honduras, the recreation of citizens is a constitutional right. In Honduras, only mothers and children have this right. Why do you think they don't mention men?



A Park Has New Life

Before February 26, 2018, Cerro Juana Lainez Park in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, received 50 visitors a week. When the renovated park opened that day, more than 30,000 people entered! What used to be a poorly lit, dangerous place used by criminals is now a green area, full of trees and gardens, attractions for children and space for sports of all kinds. It is a welcome change for residents. The renovation was carried out by the government, volunteer groups and private organizations. The hope of the president of Honduras is that the park, with its beautiful panorama of the capital, will be a safe and healthy place to exercise and promote fun. 


Products

The Tegucigalpa Ecology Foundation (FET) is a private non-profit organization (NGO). Its main objectives are the restoration and reforestation of green areas and the improvement of urban life in the cities of Honduras. He was an important contributor to the restoration of Cerro Juana Lainez Park. 


Perspectives

From a collection of wisdom about the parks of the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo, the phrase came out: "In the parks every day is Sunday". What does this phrase tell us about Hispanic philosophy? Do you agree? 


The Art Corner

Part of improving public spaces is reducing waste. What better way to do this than to use trash to create art? Salvadoran artist Simon Vega is fascinated by space technology: Rockets, satellites and spaceships. In contrast, their mothers come from the Earth: From the garbage of the streets and the beaches. To create his sculptures with the aeronautical theme, he uses materials such as plastic, wood and paper found in the marginal areas of San Salvador and other poor cities of Central America. What message does the artist give us when he uses materials from Central American garbage to create art that represents futuristic technology?





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