Basic differences between Spanish and Englishthat cause great confusion among new English

language learners

1. Dropped subject pronouns. Spanish verb endings change depending on the noun or pronoun they refer to. When the subject of a sentence can be identified based on the verb ending, it is unnecessary to include a subject pronoun at the beginning of the sentence. Hence many Spanish speakers fail to include a subject pronoun when speaking English. Spanish sentence Correct English

translationIncorrect English translation

Hablo inglés. I speak English. Speak English. Estamos cansados. We are tired. Are tired.

This error is especially common when two consecutive sentences refer to the same subject. Spanish sentence Correct English

translation Incorrect English translation

Laura está enferma. Está en casa.

Laura is sick. She is at home.

Laura is sick. Is at home.

2. Omitting It. The subject pronoun it is “understood” or assumed in Spanish. Thus Spanish-speakers often omit it. Spanish sentence Correct English

translation Incorrect English translation

Mi carro es nuevo. Está roto.

My car is new. It is broken.

My car is new. Is broken.

3. The the problem. There are four words for the in Spanish: lo (for singular, masculine nouns) la (for singular feminine nouns) los (for plural masculine nouns) las (for plural feminine nouns)

Many students don’t know that each of these words means the.

4. The you confusion Spanish sentence Correct English translation You are from Peru. Tú eres de Perú. You are from Peru. Usted es de Perú. You are from Peru. Ustedes son de Perú

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5. Confusion with do and does. Do and Does, when used to ask a question, do not exist in Spanish. In Spanish, to change a statement to a question, you usually either invert the subject and verb or simply raise your voice at the end of the sentence. For this reason, questions that include do and does require lots of practice! Spanish sentence Correct English

translation Incorrect English translation

¿Tienes un carro? Do you have a car? You have a car?

6. Incorrect negative sentences. In most cases, Spanish speakers make sentences negative by placing no before the verb. Thus, they often do this in English as well. Spanish sentence Correct English

translation Incorrect English translation

No puedo venir a clase mañana.

I can’t come to class tomorrow.

I no can come to class tomorrow.

No estoy cansado. I am not tired. I no am tired. No me gusta el brócoli. I don’t like broccoli. I no like broccoli.

7. Confusion about in, on, and at. In, on and at can all translate to en in Spanish.

Spanish phrase Correct English translation

Incorrect English translation

en el parque in the park en el piso on the floor in the flooren la tienda at the store in the store

8. Adding “s” to adjectives. In Spanish, adjectives agree with the subject in number and gender. Thus, Spanish speakers often put an “s” on adjectives that refer to plural nouns. Spanish sentence Correct English

translation Incorrect English translation

Los carros son blancos. The cars are white. The cars are whites.

9. Incorrect adjective placement. In Spanish, adjectives usually follow nouns. Spanish sentence Correct English

translation Incorrect English translation

El carro blanco es mío. The white car is mine. The car white is mine.

10. Incorrect use of possessive nouns. Possessive nouns don’t exist in Spanish. Spanish phrase Correct English Incorrect English

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translation translationEl carro de David David’s car The car of David

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11. Using to have instead of to be. When speaking in Spanish about your age, you use the verb tener, to have. Spanish sentence Correct English

translation Incorrect English translation

Tengo 22 años. I am 22 years old. I have 22 years old.

Other instances in which you use tener in Spanish but to be in English include:Spanish sentence Correct English

translation Incorrect English translation

Tengo hambre. I am hungry. (I have hunger.)

I have hungry.

Tengo sed. I am thirsty. (I have thirst.)

I have thirsty.

Tengo sueño. I am sleepy. (I have sleep.)

I have sleepy.

12. Differences in capitalization: In Spanish, days of the week, months of the year, and foreign languages aren’t capitalized.

13. Punctuation: What’s that? For whatever reason, many students from Latin America use serial commas between sentences or don’t use punctuation at all. Teachers need to emphasize that punctuation is not optional.

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