Learn the essential words for 'I', 'you', 'he', and 'she' to start building basic sentences.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
¡Hola de nuevo! In this chapter, we're going to learn about personal pronouns – the words we use to refer to ourselves and others, like 'I,' 'you,' 'he,' and 'she' in English. Understanding these is essential for building sentences and having conversations in Spanish. We'll also touch upon a fundamental aspect of Spanish grammar: subject-verb agreement.
(Optional Review): Think back to Chapter 2 when we discussed the formal ('usted') and informal ('tú') ways of asking 'what's your name?' This distinction will be important as we learn about personal pronouns!
In Spanish, the form of the verb changes depending on who is performing the action (the subject of the sentence). This is called subject-verb agreement.
For now, we will focus on a simple example with the verb ser (to be), which we will explore in more detail in the next chapter. Here are the basic forms of "ser" that correspond to the pronouns we've learned:
yo soy (I am)tú eres (you are - informal)él es (he is)ella es (she is)usted es (you are - formal)Notice how the ending of the verb "ser" changes depending on the subject pronoun. This is a key characteristic of Spanish verbs.
Master the personal pronouns and basic 'ser' forms.
Import Chapter 5 Flashcards(Requires login to import/study)
Instructions: Draw a line (mentally or on paper) to match the Spanish pronoun on the left with its English equivalent on the right.
yo ( ) you (formal, singular)
tú ( ) he
él ( ) I
ella ( ) you (informal, singular)
usted ( ) sheAnswer Key:
yo → I
tú → you (informal, singular)
él → he
ella → she
usted → you (formal, singular)Instructions: Choose the correct Spanish pronoun from the options in parentheses to complete each sentence based on the English meaning.
Answer Key:
Instructions: Match the Spanish personal pronoun on the left with the correct form of the verb "ser" (to be) on the right.
yo ( ) es
tú ( ) soy
él ( ) eres
ella ( ) es
usted ( ) esAnswer Key:
yo → soy
tú → eres
él → es
ella → es
usted → esInstructions: Fill in the blank with the appropriate Spanish personal pronoun (yo, tú, él, ella, usted) based on the context of the English sentence.
Answer Key:
Instructions: Translate the following English sentences into Spanish, focusing on using the correct personal pronoun.
Answer Key:
Instructions: Create one original Spanish sentence for each of the following personal pronouns, using the verb "ser" (soy, eres, es) and a simple adjective or noun.
Example Answers (your answers may vary):
Instructions: One person says a simple English sentence using "I," "you" (informal), "he," "she," or "you" (formal). The other person responds by saying the corresponding Spanish personal pronoun. Then switch roles.
Example Exchange:
Person A: "I am tired."
Person B: "Yo."
Person B: "You (informal) are funny."
Person A: "Tú."
Person A: "He is a doctor."
Person B: "Él."
Person B: "She is happy."
Person A: "Ella."
Person A: "You (formal) are kind."
Person B: "Usted."Instructions: One person chooses a Spanish personal pronoun (yo, tú, él, ella, usted) and a simple characteristic (e.g., alto/a - tall, simpático/a - nice, estudiante - student). The other person creates a short, grammatically correct sentence using that pronoun and characteristic with the verb "ser." Then switch roles.
Example Exchange:
Person A: "Tú." "Alto."
Person B: "Tú eres alto."
Person B: "Ella." "Estudiante."
Person A: "Ella es estudiante."
Person A: "Usted." "Amable."
Person B: "Usted es amable."Instructions: One person describes a scenario (e.g., talking to a new classmate, talking to a teacher, talking to a friend, talking about a famous person). The other person then uses the appropriate Spanish personal pronoun ("tú" or "usted," "él" or "ella") to refer to the person in that scenario.
Example Exchange:
Person A: "You are talking to your new classmate."
Person B: "Tú."
Person B: "You are talking to your Spanish teacher."
Person A: "Usted."
Person A: "We are talking about a famous male singer."
Person B: "Él."
Person B: "We are talking about a female friend."
Person A: "Ella."The distinction between 'tú' and 'usted' is very important in Spanish-speaking cultures and reflects levels of formality and respect. Knowing when to use each one is a key social skill. Generally, you use 'tú' with people you have a close relationship with, such as family and friends, and 'usted' in more formal situations or with people you don't know well or who are in a position of authority.
In some regions, particularly in Latin America, 'ustedes' is often used as the plural form of 'tú' even in informal situations, while in Spain, 'vosotros/vosotras' is more common for informal plural 'you'. (We will introduce plural pronouns in a later chapter, but it's good to be aware of this variation).
yo, tú, él, ella, usted, ser (soy, eres, es).
Understanding the meaning of each pronoun and the basic concept of subject-verb agreement with the verb "ser."
Can you identify and understand the singular personal pronouns we learned? Do you understand the difference between "tú" and "usted"? Can you use these pronouns with the correct form of "ser" in simple sentences?
In the next chapter, we will focus entirely on the verb 'ser' (to be). You will learn its different uses and how to conjugate it fully in the present tense, allowing you to describe yourself and others in more detail.