Spanish, explained word by word
Every Spanish translation comes back broken down word by word, each word colored by the job it does and explained, with a dictionary entry and alternatives. The politeness dial moves between tú and usted, from blunt orders to ceremonial courtesy.
An example breakdown
Breakdown
I'm going to the library tomorrow.
Spanish folds the subject into the verb ending and marks the destination with a preposition, not a case.
Click any word. The same dialog opens everywhere
voyVerb
- Why this word
- First person singular of ir. The ending already says who, so adding yo would be emphasis, not grammar.
- Dictionary
- ir — to go; irregular, first person singular.
Politeness in Spanish
The 10 steps of the politeness dial, as the app names them for Spanish.
- 1HarshOpenly rude tú — snapped orders, no courtesy
- 2BluntCurt tú — bare imperatives, no courtesy words
- 3FamiliarTight-circle tú — slang and nicknames allowed
- 4CasualRelaxed everyday tú
- 5FriendlyWarm tú — por favor starts appearing
- 6CourteousUsted begins — courteous standard with strangers
- 7PoliteClearly polite usted — por favor, podría
- 8RespectfulCareful usted — conditional, hedged requests
- 9FormalDistinctly formal usted — full courtesy formulae
- 10CeremonialMaximally deferential — Le agradecería enormemente…
Spanish grammar guides
Each guide explains one point with word-by-word breakdowns and ends with exercises. The guides are in English.
- Ser vs estar, explainedSer vs estar in Spanish: when to use each, the adjectives that change meaning, the rule for events, common mistakes and exercises.
- Por vs para, explainedPor vs para in Spanish: when to use each, the forward-and-backward rule and where it fails, fixed phrases, common mistakes and exercises.
- Preterite vs imperfect in Spanish, explainedPreterite vs imperfect in Spanish: when to use each past tense, the interrupted-action pattern, signal words, and verbs that change meaning.
- The Spanish subjunctive, explainedThe Spanish subjunctive explained: when to use it after que, the triggers (wishes, emotion, doubt, cuando), how to form it, mistakes and exercises.
- Saber vs conocer, explainedSaber vs conocer in Spanish: facts and skills against people and places, the pairs where both work, supe and conocí, common mistakes and exercises.
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