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Señor Jordan

01 Personal A

¡Hola alumnos cibernéticos!

So it turns out that there are many aspects about the Spanish language that can be confusing to learners because in English, nothing like this exists. One such thing that can confuse non-native speakers is the Personal A. In this video below I explain the Personal A and show how to use it.

Leave any questions, comments or suggestions below. 🙂

Vocabulario:


sustantivos (nouns)

  • alguien – someone
  • bistec con papas – steak with potatoes
  • el autor – author
  • el caníbal – cannibal
  • el gato – cat
  • el novio – boyfriend
  • el papá – dad
  • el periódico – newspaper
  • el presidente – the president
  • el señor – man; gentleman
  • fotos – photos
  • la amiga – female friend
  • las chicas – girls
  • los hombres – men
  • la música rock – rock music
  • la novia – girlfriend
  • la pizza – pizza
  • la ropa – clothing; clothes
  • las hamburguesas – hamburgers
  • las muchachas – girls
  • las personas – people
  • la radio – radio
  • la televisión – tv
  • los chicos – boys
  • los estudiantes – students
  • los libros – books
  • los niños – kids;children; boys
  • los platos – plates; dishes
  • mamá¡ – mom
  • matemáticas – math
  • nadie – no one
  • quien – who
  • una secretaria – secretary

verbos (verbs)

  • comer – to eat
  • ++come – he/she eats
  • ++comemos – we eat
  • ++ comen – They eat
  • comprar – to buy
  • ++compran – they buy
  • buscar – to look for
  • ++busca – he/she looks for
  • conocer – to know
  • ++ conoce – he/she knows
  • cocinar – to cook
  • ++ cocinan – they cook
  • encontrar – to find
  • escuchar – to listen (to)
  • ++escucha – he/she listens (t0)
  • escribir – to write
  • ++escribe – he/she writes
  • esperar – to hope; to wait for
  • ++esperan – they hope; they wait for
  • estudiar – study
  • ++estudian – they study
  • lavar – to wash
  • ++lavamos – we wash
  • leer – to read
  • ++ lee – he/she reads
  • mirar – to watch; to look at
  • ++miran – they watch; they look at
  • ++mira – he/she watches; he/she looks at
  • morder – to bite
  • ++muerde – he/she bites
  • necesitar – needs
  • ++necesita – he/she needs
  • poder – can; to be able
  • ++pueden – they can
  • sacar – to take
  • ++saca – he/she takes
  • telefonear – to call on the telephone / to telephone
  • ++telefonea – he/she calls on the phone/telephones
  • tener – to have
  • ++tengo – I have
  • ++tiene – he/she has
  • ver – to see
  • ++ veo – I see
  • ++vemos – we see

otro (other)

  • de – of
  • famoso – famous
  • gordo – fat
  • mi/mis – my
  • mucho – a lot
  • su/sus – his / her / your(formal) / their

14 Responses

  1. I was just thinking about a way to teach this concept to my students. But, you did a great job explaining it.
    Thank you for your videos. My students like when I bring you into our classroom!

  2. Hola Señor Jordan! Gracias por todos!

    Since I started studying Spanish through your blog for 10 months now, I learned a lot from you! Now at least I can understand some articles I read in Yahoo or Wikipedia. But I know I still have many things to learn. Continue inspiring us and the rest of the people all over the world! Viva el español! Greetings from the Pearl of the Orient Seas, Las Islas Filipinas!

    Jeff 🙂

  4. Jordan,
    You and Prof. Jason, are indeed the best teachers around. If anyone is thinking to buy one of those fancy and expensive programs on disk, forget it. This two will teach you in 8 minute session, in which other won’t do in 1 hour.

    I like these videos so much that, (with your prior permission), even downloaded many of these videos onto my Blackberry (MP4), and refer to them whenever I have a chance.

    thank you for putting so much time to make these videos. they are very valuable.

  5. Sr. Jordan,

    I haven’t looked a tyour site for a while… decided to take a peek again as a refresher
    & see your updated site as well. I can relate to the comment from “meir”, above regarding “expensive programs…”, especially since I’ve also experienced many of these other programs. Yours is still among the very best 3-4 or so, and I’ve looked at scores!
    Muchos Gracias!

    Jim (the retired guy!)

  6. thank you so much for all your hard work – i am a homeschool mom and your videos help me teach along w/ the curriculum, however, you explain it so i can understand it.
    i just wanted to let you know you are appreciated and thank you for taking the time to explain it in an easy way so we can all get it!
    ty,
    sue

  7. Hola,

    Thanks so much for doing these videos! I am in a Spanish 1 class at college, and these videos have helped me understand the more difficult concepts. Please keep up the great work!

    Gracias,
    Ariel

  8. Sr. Jordan,
    Once again you make things so clear. I new about the personal a, but I did not know that it was only used after a verb if it was an action upon the person. Gracias, gracias, gracias

  10. The personal a is only really used with animals that we personify. That’s why pets tend have personal a‘s used with them. I don’t quite understand your question. I would assume if you don’t know an animal, it’s just another animal. Unless you personify it.

    -Sr. J

  11. I recall you saying what the personal a is used for early on then near the end saying it is not used for a specific person. I don’t recall you saying about not using it for animals you know at the end.

  12. oops sorry you say at the end it is not needed when the person is not known . I thought maybe there was a reason you did not mention animals. I don”t take anything for granted. Too many exceptions to rules.

  13. Hola:
    Necesito saber si tienes algún video relacionado con la preposición de:
    de, de la, de las, de los, del
    MuCHAS GRACIAS
    MISS. ORTIZ

  14. since ive started learning Spanish i love it at first it was kinda hard but as the days i spend on it i understand more

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