Problematic Grammar for Learners of Spanish: A Student Survey

(Version 1A of Survey)

 

Please answer the questions below and read the instructions carefully before you answer.

Name:

E-mail:

a)   What is your native language?

b)   What other languages do you speak?

c)  What Spanish course(s) are you currently taking? If you are not currently taking a Spanish course, what was the last one you took?

Instructions

You will be asked to indicate whether a given Spanish grammar structure (accompanied by an example) has repeatedly caused you problems over time or whether it has ceased to be a problem as you have progressed in your learning of the language.

Indicate your response by clicking on the choice that best represents your perceptions with regard to the particular structure.

Along with each item, we are asking for your comments – that is, experiences you have had with the forms and especially suggestions about strategies that you used to learn them initially, as well as strategies you may continue to use in order to produce them successfully in speaking or in writing (see the definition and example on page 1).

Please also answer the question at the end of the survey.

Note: Different colors are used to highlight the grammar structure in question. The grammar forms themselves are bolded in blue and those in plain blue modify the grammar forms in terms of gender, number, or meaning.

 

 

Grammatical Structure

[Please Choose One]

1.

Uses of ser and estar to contrast between inherent or general characteristics and variable conditions

Miguel vive en Venezuela. Es un muchacho activo y simpático pero hoy está perezoso y enojado.

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

2.

Verb haber

Hay muchos turistas este año en Venezuela. Entre ellos hay una artista famosa.

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

3.

Descriptive adjectives (gender & number agreement)

Miguel y Laura son muy aventureros. Miguel es un poco tímido; Laura en cambio es extrovertida. Son novios hace dos años.

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

4.

Possessive pronouns (gender & number agreement)

Miguel y Laura hablan sobre sus padres.

Miguel:  Hablando de nuestros padres, es bueno tener a los míos vivos aunque estén divorciados. Es triste que los tuyos estén muertos.

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

5.

Reflexive constructions / Reflexive pronouns

Todos los días Miguel se levanta a las 7:00 AM. Se baña los dientes y se viste       rápidamente para ir al trabajo.

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

6.

Expressing what you have/need/should/ought to do (tener que, necesitar, deber, and preferir + infinitive)

Laura también necesita ir al trabajo temprano. Debe tomar dos autobuses y por esto prefiere salir de su casa a las 6:30 AM.

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

7.

Preterit    

Ayer Miguel tuvo un día muy ocupado en el trabajo. Primero, él y sus compañeros asistieron a una reunión general. Después copió unos archivos para su jefe. Más tarde escribió unos reportes y finalmente leyó los mensajes de su correo electrónico.

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

8.

Question words ¿Cómo? ¿Dónde? ¿Qué?

Hoy Miguel está en una reunión con su jefe. El jefe le dice que pronto debe ir a trabajar a otra oficina. Miguel está confundido y hace muchas preguntas.

Miguel:  ¿Cómo es la nueva oficina? ¿Dónde voy a estacionar mi carro? ¿Qué tipo de trabajo voy a hacer?

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

9.

Personal a / Object marker a

Miguel está muy emocionado y llama a Laura. La llama para contarle la noticia. Laura felicita a Miguel. Laura lo felicita mucho.

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

10.

Comparisons of superiority and inferiority with verbs and adverbs

Miguel trabaja más que sus colegas y también hace los informes más detalladamente que ellos.

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

11.

Superlatives with verbs and adverbs

Miguel es el que causa menos problemas. Es el empleado que trabaja más dedicadamente.

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

12.

Imperfect

Laura y Miguel están comiendo una cena deliciosa. Laura recuerda lo que ella hacía en su primer trabajo.

Laura:   Era mesera. Atendía los clientes y tomaba las órdenes. También limpiaba las mesas a veces.

 

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

13.

Comparisons of equality with verbs and nouns

Miguel está feliz por su nuevo trabajo pero también está nervioso. Laura lo tranquiliza.

Laura:   Vas a triunfar tanto como tu jefe. Vas a ganar tantos premios y vas a   tener tantas medallas como él.

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

14.

Por vs. Para

Laura y Miguel están planeando su boda para el próximo verano. Laura piensa en las invitaciones para la fiesta.

Laura:   Debemos pasar por la casa de mi amigo Gabriel. Él puede hacer las invitaciones para la ceremonia y la fiesta. No cobrará mucho dinero por este trabajo.

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

15.

Affirmative and negative informal (tú) commands

Miguel:  Llama a Gabriel y haz averiguaciones sobre el precio de las invitaciones.
No llames a nadie más. No hagas las invitaciones tú; deja al experto hacer su trabajo.

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

16.

Present perfect and past participle

Laura:   Hasta ahora hemos hablado de las invitaciones pero no hemos conversado sobre los invitados ni hemos decidido qué vamos a comer en la fiesta.

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

17.

Past subjunctive

Laura:   Si tuviéramos muchos amigos, ganáramos mucho dinero y pudiéramos contratar a Martha Stewart, nuestra fiesta sería ideal. Pero debemos pensar en la realidad.

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

18.

Future

Miguel:  Planearemos una fiesta especial pero modesta. Mi madre y mi abuela prepararán el pastel, Gabriel hará las invitaciones y serviremos buena comida pero sin incluir mariscos.

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

19.

Indicative with expressions of certainty vs. subjunctive with expressions of uncertainty/doubt and after people or objects that don't exist

Note: Orange is used to indicate a phrase in the indicative and green for a phrase in the subjunctive.

Miguel:  Es seguro que necesitamos contratar a alguien pero dudo que una persona sea capaz de hacer todas las cosas. No existe una persona que pueda planear todo.

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

20.

Subjunctive with expressions of will or wish and with expressions of request

Miguel:  También quiero que tengamos músicos en la fiesta. Te pido que pienses en el tipo de música que prefieres.

Continue to make errors even as I progress.
Errors clear up as I progress.
Can't say.

Comments:

 

21. Please describe for us any strategies you are aware of using in order to keep the various Spanish verb tenses straight. Do you have special strategies for distinguishing among them? If so, what are they?

 

 

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