Recent content by rolfdog

I fear I have been using gustar wrongly at times. As a defective verb it is only conjugated in the third person. My confusion happens when in this hypothetical conversation: Te gusta a ella? Si, me gusta. Then I ask La gusto a mi? ( Do I please her?) I know that is not...

How would one say ?I hope all went well?? 1)Espero que todo pas? bien, 2)Espero que todo parara bien. 3)Espero que todo haya pasado bien. I think I found the answer. I am aware of the rule with the imperfect subjunctive in that the starting verb needs to be in the preterite, or...

Can anyone tell me what aguanile means? Its a Marc Anthony song. Not in dictionary or RAE. Thanks Steve

Is oler only used in the third person like gustar? Can "yo huelo ajo" be said to say "I smell garlic"? Or am I saying that "I smell like garlic"? Should I have said "me huele ajo"? It might explain some bewildered looks. Steve

What does derb?z mean as in "La hora de derb?z" ? Its a slapstick comedy hour on Univisi?n. It is not in my dictionary or on RAE. Thanks in advance Steve

How does one say "should" in spanish? I have seen and heard debo (de) hablar and deber?a (de) hablar for I should speak. Substitute any infinitive for hablar. I know "should" to me implies a possible future obligation or event. So to say I should go = me debo de ir, sounds to me as I must...

Recently on a trip to Costa Rica, I saw several signs at a hotel that read: Sonrie (with a big yellow smiley face) Estas siendo grabado Smile, you're being filmed(recorded) What kind of construction is this? Present passive progressive? What other ways can this be written? Estamos...

Can anyone help me with cu?n? It seems a peculiar word and my dictionary says it means how, but as an adverb. I do not think I have ever heard it. Is it mainly used in writing? Some examples of its use would be appreciated. Steve

What is the translation for this? Its a telenovela and I can't find the definition in my dictionary or RAE. I know madrugada means early morning... between midnight and sunrise. Thanks Steve

After seeing the final round of the recent US spelling bee, I wondered how popular they are in a spanish speaking world considering that spanish is such a phonetic language. Aside from confusing an s for a z or ll for y, Its pretty much spelled as it sounds. Don't get me started on the...

Does anybody have a link to new york times quality crosswords in spanish? Along with newspaper headlines, it is another tool to gain fluency. IMO it is the epitome of fluency. I never see someone (no matter how well educated) with english as their second language, tackle a sunday crossword...

I am having trouble translating the title of the song lLa foto se me borr?. The photo was erased by me?? Thanks Steve

When does the preposition "si" (if) require the subjunctive mood? I sometimes hear and read it with the indicative mood. And If there ever were (was) a reason to use the subjuncive. it should be following "si". Steve

Hi all, I've ben reading reviews of a hotel/resort written by spanish people and the phrase se los recomiendo... keeps popping up such as "se los recomiendo es un magnifico lugar para vacacionar. saludes" I can't figure out the construction. I assume they're saying I recommend them/these...

Can someone help with chivo. I know it can mean a male goat, cheat sheet, and pimp, among other things. Can it mean a cool or neat parson such as Que chivo un chico or se hace de chivo loco?? Steve