Spanish places descriptive adjectives after nouns, creating specific word order patterns when translated directly to English:
- Example:
- Standard English: "I bought a red car."
- Spanish Pattern: "I bought a car red." / "I bought a car very beautiful."
- Example:
- Standard English: "She lives in a big house."
- Spanish Pattern: "She lives in a house big."
¶ Verb Tense and Aspect Patterns
Spanish has different tense structures that create specific patterns in English:
- Example:
- Standard English: "I have been living here for five years."
- Spanish Pattern: "I am living here for five years." (present continuous for duration)
- Example:
- Standard English: "I just finished eating."
- Spanish Pattern: "I finish eating just now." (different perfect tense usage)
¶ Article Usage with Proper Nouns
Spanish uses definite articles with certain proper nouns, creating overuse patterns:
- Example:
- Standard English: "Maria is coming."
- Spanish Pattern: "The Maria is coming."
- Example:
- Standard English: "I'm going to school."
- Spanish Pattern: "I'm going to the school." (when referring to the building specifically)
Spanish prepositions don't map directly to English, creating consistent error patterns:
- Example:
- Standard English: "I'm thinking about you."
- Spanish Pattern: "I'm thinking in you." (pensar en)
- Example:
- Standard English: "I depend on my family."
- Spanish Pattern: "I depend from my family." (depender de)
- Example:
- Standard English: "I dreamed about flying."
- Spanish Pattern: "I dreamed with flying." (soñar con)
¶ False Friends and Direct Cognates
Spanish speakers often use English words that look similar to Spanish but have different meanings:
- Example:
- Spanish Speaker: "I am very excited for the party." (emocionado = excited, but also emotional)
- Meaning: "I am very happy/enthusiastic about the party."
- Example:
- Spanish Speaker: "Actually, I prefer coffee." (actualmente = currently)
- Meaning: "Currently, I prefer coffee."
- Example:
- Spanish Speaker: "That's very particular." (particular = private/personal)
- Meaning: "That's very personal."
Spanish speakers may translate common expressions literally:
- Example:
- Spanish Expression: "¿Cómo te llamas?" (How do you call yourself?)
- English Pattern: "How do you call yourself?" instead of "What's your name?"
- Example:
- Spanish Expression: "Tengo hambre" (I have hunger)
- English Pattern: "I have hunger" instead of "I am hungry"
- Example:
- Spanish Expression: "Hacer caso" (to make case)
- English Pattern: "Make me case" instead of "Pay attention to me"
Spanish uses present continuous differently, leading to overuse in English:
- Example:
- Standard English: "I know the answer."
- Spanish Pattern: "I am knowing the answer."
- Example:
- Standard English: "She wants to come."
- Spanish Pattern: "She is wanting to come."
Spanish question structure influences English word order:
- Example:
- Standard English: "What time is it?"
- Spanish Pattern: "What time it is?" (¿Qué hora es?)
- Example:
- Standard English: "Where do you live?"
- Spanish Pattern: "Where you live?" (¿Dónde vives?)
Spanish possessive structure creates different patterns:
- Example:
- Standard English: "My friend's car"
- Spanish Pattern: "The car of my friend" (el carro de mi amigo)
- Example:
- Standard English: "The book's cover"
- Spanish Pattern: "The cover of the book"
- More indigenous language influence on word order: "Come here you" (ven acá tú)
- Different diminutive usage: "Come little bit closer" (ven poquito más cerca)
- "Órale" and similar expressions may slip in: "Órale, that's expensive!"
- More English code-switching mid-sentence: "I was walking por la calle when..."
- Different rhythm and stress patterns affect English pronunciation
- "Ay, no" and similar interjections: "Ay, no, that's not right"
- Tendency to drop final consonants affects English: "I need to go to the par" (park)
- Argentinian: More formal address patterns carry over: "Could you pass to me the salt?"
- Colombian: Different preposition patterns: "I am in agreement with you"
- Venezuelan: Specific phrase structures: "How do you have the name?" (¿Cómo tienes el nombre?)
Many bilingual speakers naturally code-switch, especially:
- Family terms: "I'm visiting mi abuela this weekend"
- Emotional expressions: "¡Ay, Dios mío! I forgot my keys"
- Cultural concepts: "We're having a quinceañera for my daughter"
- When English lacks exact equivalent: "She has much confianza" (trust/confidence)
Situation: A Mexican character describing their day.
- Dialogue: "This morning I wake up very early because I have to go to the work. My car, it was making noises very strange, so I take the bus. Actually, I prefer the bus because is more cheap."
Situation: A Puerto Rican character giving directions.
- Dialogue: "Ay, you go straight hasta you see the church big with the tower white. Then you turn to the right, and la casa of my friend is there, the one with the garden beautiful."
Situation: A Colombian character asking for help.
- Dialogue: "Excuse me, you can help me? I am looking for the post office, but I don't know where it is. Someone tell me is near from here, but I am not finding it."