The first step in mastering basic Spanish grammar is to understand the rules of articles, nouns and adjectives. In Spanish, nouns are masculine or feminine, often denoted by the last letter of the word: "o" for masculine, "a" for feminine. For example, a cat is "gato," a masculine noun because it ends in "o." Because it is masculine, it will have a masculine article to match: "el" or, for the plural form, "los." Feminine nouns, such as house or "casa," are preceded by the feminine article "la" or, for the plural form, "las." Adjectives follow the noun and match its gender, so "the black cat" becomes "el gato negro" and "the red house" becomes "la casa roja."
The key function of practical Spanish is to get the idea communicated. To do so, one must master verb forms. As in English, verbs change depending upon the subject of the sentence. Unlike English, verbs change with every shift in subject. Hence, the verb "to talk"--"hablar"--is conjugated differently depending upon if the subject is I, you, he, she, it or the formal you, we, they or the plural formal you. The verb conjugation for hablar is "yo hablo" (I talk), "tu hablas" (you talk), "el/ella/Ud. habla" (he, she, it or formal you talks); "nosotros hablamos" (we talk); "ellos/ellas/Uds. hablan" (plural he, she, it, or formal you talk). These forms change depending upon the tense of the sentence, but most beginners can get by swimmingly using the present tense and the first person conjugation for simple statements and the third person conjugation for polite inquiries.
Beginning Spanish-speakers are often pleasantly surprised to discover the wonder of cognates. English shares some of the same Latin roots as Spanish, so many words, especially verbs, are similar. If all else fails, try attaching a Spanish ending to an English verb and see if the listener comprehends. For example, communicate becomes "communicar", paint becomes "pintar" and construct becomes "construir." Utilizing cognates can also be a good memorization technique. For example, the verb for "to write" is "escribir," derived from the word scribe.
The benefits of mastering basic Spanish grammar can be surprising. It can open up a trip to Latin America or Spain, allowing you to meet locals, bargain better at markets, order better at restaurants and participate in more activities. Many locals are delighted when tourists even attempt basic pleasantries and greetings such as "buenos dias" for good morning and "buenas tardes" for good afternoon. Learning practical Spanish also has the benefit of deepening your grammatical understanding of English, as you begin to note the parallels and contrasts between the two languages in terms of structure, irregularities, roots and syntax.
Learning practical Spanish is not a one-size-fits-all affair. Some people thrive with a phrasebook and street smarts. Others may learn best with cassettes, such as those offered by the Rosetta Stone series. Others swear by the video series, "Destinos" a Spanish-language soap opera that introduces target vocabulary. The method that seems to fit most learning styles and can accelerate learning is immersion. Schools throughout Latin America, most notably in Guatemala and Mexico, offer programs in which travelers stay with families and attend school for a few hours a day. This method combines book learning with its practical applications, reinforcing concepts for students of Spanish grammar.
