Pronombres/ Pronouns

1. Pronombres personales/ Personal pronouns

2. Diferencias con el inglés/ Differences with English

3. Posesivo/ Possessive

4. Demostrativo/ Demonstrative

PRONOMBRES PERSONALES/ Personal pronouns

Personal pronouns can be used as subjects of a sentence. They replace a noun.

Singular	Plural
yo/ I	nosotros (mas.), nosotras (fem.)/ we
tú (informal), usted (formal)/ you	vosotros (mas.),vosotras (fem.), ustedes/ you
él/ he, ella/ she	ellos, ellas/ they

LESSONS: Types of Businesses I & Types of Businesses Ia

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Tú is the singular informal form of you. It is used to address family members, children, and friends.

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Ud. is the abbreviation of usted and is the singular formal form of you. It is preferable to use Ud. in all other instances.

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Vosotros is the familiar plural form of you that is only used in Spain. In all other Latin American countries, ustedes is used. NOTE: That ustedes is used for both informal and polite plural.

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Nosotros, vosotros, ellos are used to refer to a male group or a group of mixed gender. However, nosotras, vosotras and ellas refer to only a group of females.

LESSONS: Types of Businesses II & Types of Businesses IIa

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DIFERENCIAS CON EL INGLÉS/ Differences with English

1. In Spanish, verb endings indicate the subject. Therefore, subject pronouns are often omitted.

EXAMPLES:

• Abrimos a las ocho./ We open at eight.
• Cierran primero./ They close first.

 

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2. In order to emphasize the subject, a pronoun is used. When used, it precedes the verb.

EXAMPLE:

• Yo soy el mejor./ I am the best.

 

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3. A pronoun is used in order to avoid confusion when verb forms present ambiguity.

yo/ I Ud./ you él/ he ella/ she

hacía ejercicios./ was or were exercising.

 

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4. Pronouns are always used when there are 2 verbs and 2 subjects.

EXAMPLE:

• Yo soy feliz, y él no lo es./ I am happy, but he is not.

 

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5. The pronoun it is rarely used.

EXAMPLES:

• Es posible alcanzar esa meta./ It is possible to reach that goal.
• Está lloviendo./ It's raining.

 

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6. In a question, subject pronouns can precede or follow the verb.

¿Ud. es el presidente?	Are you the president?
¿Es Ud. el presidente?

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7. Unlike English, personal pronouns are used in the following constructions:

• Como ella, él, ellos, ellas/ like her, him, them
• Entre tú y yo/ between you and me
• Excepto ella, él, ellos, ellas / except her, him, them
• Incluso/ incluyendo ella, él, ellos, ellas / including her, him, them
• Según ella, él, ellos, ellas / according to her, him, them

 

LESSONS: Types of Businesses III & Types of Businesses IIIa

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