Ch 48 · Lesson 17Spanish · Chapter 48 · Lesson 17 · Grammar primer
Ustedes for everyone, and he comido or comí
Latin America has : , to friends and strangers alike. And for today's events, Spain says he where most of Latin America says .
The short version
Latin America says to friends
¿ ?
Why?Hide
Latin America has : is the plural you for everyone, with the they form of the verb. Spain keeps for friends ( ) and for strangers. For something done today, Spain says he and most of Latin America ; both are correct.
Ustedes for everyone
Latin America has . is the plural you for everyone, friends and strangers alike, always with the third-person plural verb:
| Speaking to | Spain | Latin America |
|---|---|---|
| two friends | . | . |
| two strangers | . | . |
The Canary Islands and parts of western Andalusia say to friends too. Popular speech in western Andalusia even pairs it with the verb ( ); the standard everywhere is . If you learn Latin American Spanish you can leave out of your own speech, but you still need to recognise it: Spanish films, books and songs are full of it.
¿ ?- What do you (all) want to eat? (Spain, friends)¿ ?- What do you (all) want to eat? (Latin America)
Today's past: he comido or comí?
For something that happened today, most of Spain uses the perfect. Most of Latin America, the Canary Islands and north-west Spain use the preterite:
ayer: comí, everywhere
this morning: he comido (Spain), comí (Latin America)
now
Timeline from past to now, with now marked.
| When | Spain | Latin America |
|---|---|---|
| this morning | . | . |
| just now | ¿ ? | ¿ ? |
| yesterday | . | . |
Both are correct Spanish. Latin America still uses the perfect for a whole life up to now: . - I have never been to Spain. That sentence works on both sides of the Atlantic, though also says . The full rules are on the present perfect.
Going further: Regional grammar at a glance and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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