Porque, por qué, por que, porqué / Spanish grammar tips

One of the most frequent questions during our lessons is: “What ‘s the difference between por qué and porque? We found this post online and we wanted to share it with you. Check it out!

web site -> www.about.com

http://spanish.about.com/od/writtenspanish/a/porque.htm

Although porque, por qué, por que, and porqué have related meanings, they are not interchangeable. If you find them confusing as a Spanish student, you’re in good company: Native speakers often write them incorrectly as well.

Por qué typically is used in questions, meaning “why”:

• ¿Por qué celebramos el 16 de septiembre? (Why do we celebrate September 16?)
• ¿Por qué estamos aquí? (Why are we here?)
• ¿Por qué no citas tus fuentes? (Why don’t you cite your sources?)

Por qué is also sometimes used in statements that form an indirect question. In such cases, it usually is still translated as “why.”

• Dime por qué las noches son tan largas. (Tell me why the nights are so long.)
• Quiero saber por qué se usa el prefijo “www” en las páginas Web. (I want to know why the prefix “www” is used for Web pages.)

Porque typically means “because”:

• Es simple porque se basa en el concepto de igualdad.(It is simple because it is based on the concept of equality.)
• Perdónalos, porque no saben lo que hacen. (Forgive them, because they don’t know what they’re doing.)
• Voy al restaurante porque tengo hambre. (I’m going to the restaurant because I’m hungry.)
• —¿Por qué sales? —Porque estoy aburrida. (Why are you leaving? Because I’m bored.)

Por qué and porque are far more common than the following two usages. If you’re a beginner at Spanish you can probably safely stop here.

Por que occurs when que as a relative pronoun follows the preposition por. If that sounds confusing, think of por que as meaning “for which,” although it is often translated as “that” or “why.”

• Esa es la razón por que he querido salir. (That is the reason for which I wanted to leave.)
• El motivo por que llegué tarde fue el paro de buses. (The reason for which he arrived late was the bus stoppage.)

Por que also occurs when que follows a verb phrase using por. For example, the phrase for “to worry about” is preocuparse por. Here is an example where the phrase is followed by que: Se preocupa por que las soluciones sean incompatibles. (She is worried that the solutions will be incompatible.)

Finally, porqué is a masculine noun, meaning “reason”:

• No comprendo el porqué de la violencia doméstica. (I don’t understand the reason for domestic violence.)
• Están acostumbrados a tomar decisiones, no a explicar los porqués. (They are used to making decisions, not at explaining the reasons.)

This song by Paloma San Basilio, called “¿Por qué me abandonaste?” (Why did you leave me?), might hurt your ears but the chorus will help you practice… and after you listen it you will know why she was dumped!!

Ñ de ESPAÑOL ~ Spanish Tutoring in Buenos Aires

Because learing Spanish doesn´t have to be boring

¿Cuál es tu alfajor favorito? / Spanish grammar tips: qué vs. cuál

- ¿Qué es un alfajor?

- Un alfajor son dos galletitas redondas y dulces con dulce de leche en el medio (como un sandwich), cubiertas con chocolate.

- ¿Y cuál es tu alfajor favorito?

- No sé… hay muchos y todos me gustan.

- Ah, bueno, entonces ¿cuáles son tus marcas (brands) de alfajor favoritas?

- El capitán del espacio, Terrabusi de chocolate y Jorgelín Triple son los que más me gustan.

We use qué when we ask for a definition= ¿Qué es un alfajor?

We use cuál (singular) or cuáles (plural) to select an item from a group= ¿Cuál es tu alfajor favorito?

An alfajor is a sweet snack: two cookies with “dulce de leche” inside (like a sandwich) covered with chocolate. Usually, they are not homemade. You can buy them in a “kiosco” but not in a bakery.

Here, you can take a look at some of the best and worst alfajores you can find in Buenos Aires, according the web site Planeta Joy. These are our personal favourites:

* Jorgito- It is a classic: simple but very good. It brings us memories from primary school: a cheap and tasty snack to eat on the breaks.

* Terrabusi- Another classic with a more “mature” touch. The chocolate is bitter and the taste is more intense. You will notice the difference when you see the elegant packaging.

* Cachafaz- It’s the most “gourmet” option and the most expensive one too.

* Águila minitorta- It’s sweet bomb: bigger than others and filled with dulce de leche and meringue. It’s The option for those moments when you NEED a carbohydrats extra-dose.

* Capitán del espacio- Unexpectedly delicious (don’t prejudge it for its old fashioned and cheap packaging!). It’s more a myth than an actual alfajor. Since it’s made by a small family factory in Quilmes (to the south of Buenos Aires), it’s difficult to get it. Everybody has its own favorite alfajor, but “Capitán del espacio” goes beyond: it has fans.

Ñ de Español – Spanish tutoring in Buenos Aires

Learning Spanish doesn`t have to be boring

Había una vez “una vez”/ Spanish linkers

Some words in Spanish are used to say many different ideas. One of the most useful ones is “vez” and its plural “veces”. If you don´t believe us, take a look at the following list.

* VEZmeans “a little piece” of time. We use it to talk about a moment, “a” time or “one” time. We don´t use to talk about The time.

* – ¿Cuántas veces fuiste a Mar del Plata?

– Fui una sola vez

– Ah. Yo fui quince veces, porque es LA playa argentina.

In this context, we use “vez” and “veces” to talk about how many times you do, have done or did something.

*- Me gusta ir a la playa con amigos, pero de vez en cuando voy sola porque me gusta leer tranquila.

“De vez en cuando” means “once in a while”.

* – Una vez, cuando tenía 8 años, me perdí en la playa, me encontró el guardavidas y me llevó con mis papás.

In this context, “una vez” can be followed by verbs in pretérito perfecto simple to tell about a remarcable event that happened in the past.

* Había una vez en un país lejano, una princesa que vivía en una playa misteriosa…

This formula introduces fairy tales. It´s like “Once upon a time”.

* Cada vez que voy a la playa, me tengo que poner mucho protector solar para no terminar roja como un camarón.

It means that something happens 100% of the times you do something.

* Mirá qué bien que trabaja el guardavidas: cuida a la gente que nada en el mar y a la vez charla con todas las chicas lindas de la playa.

* Este año, en vez de ir a Mar del Plata, me voy a las sierras de Córdoba. Tengo ganas de cambiar el mar por la montaña.

We use “en vez de” to say “instead of”.

Ñ de Español – Spanish tutoring in Buenos Aires

Learning Spanish doesn`t have to be boring

BAFICI: Festival internacional de cine independiente de Buenos Aires

This time of the year is the best timing to be in Buenos Aires. Not only because Autum here is always sunny and cool, but because between April 6th and 17th you have the oportunity to enjoy an international film festival and one of the most exciting moments in the cultural life of this city.

In the Latinamerican and the Argentine Competition, the festival includes mostly premieres and debut films. This is an amazing oportunity to practice your Spanish with different accents from Latinamerica. But, if you are a beginner and you don’t feel confident with your listening skills, dont worry: all the movies in competition have English subtitles and you can also find lots of good films from all the world.

The festival started in 1999 and, through years, has grown to become one of the most prominent film festivals in the world. Today is placed in a privileged position on the international film agenda. For this reason, you can find in its program innovative, daring and committed new independent films .

You can check the program here and buy your tickets online here . But if you prefer go to the movie house to get your tickets, Ñ hepls you with some vocabulary and tips:

- entrada: ticket. We don ‘t use the words “boleto” or “pasaje” to refer to show tickets. Those are only used for transport tickets.

- hacer la cola (to queue): You probably know what this means. In Buenos Aires, we need to “hacer cola” for many things: in the bank, in the supermarket, waiting for the colectivo, etc.

- mirar la cola: This is a very different thing. It’s not to stare at the queue! We call “cola” the trailer of a film.

- película agotada: The adjective agotado means exhausted. (Por ejemplo: “Esta semana trabajé muchísimo. ¡Estoy agotada!) But when we are talking about a film, it means it is sold out.

- entradas numeradas: This means that you must select where do you want to sit when you buy your ticket. The seats are numbered.

- película subtítulada: It is when the film has the translation at the bottom of the screen. The noun is subtítulos.

- película doblada: It is when the film doesn ‘t have the original audio. The language of the film has been change.

- ¿De qué se trata la película?: You can use this question when you want to know the plot of the movie.

Ñ de Español – Spanish tutoring in Buenos Aires

Learning Spanish doesn`t have to be boring

Había una vez “una vez”/ Spanish linkers

Some words in Spanish are used to say many different ideas. One of the most useful ones is “vez” and its plural “veces”. If you don´t believe us, take a look at the following list.

* VEZmeans “a little piece” of time. We use it to talk about a moment, “a” time or “one” time. We don´t use to talk about The time.

* – ¿Cuántas veces fuiste a Mar del Plata?

– Fui una sola vez

– Ah. Yo fui quince veces, porque es LA playa argentina.

In this context, we use “vez” and “veces” to talk about how many times you do, have done or did something.

*- Me gusta ir a la playa con amigos, pero de vez en cuando voy sola porque me gusta leer tranquila.

“De vez en cuando” means “once in a while”.

* – Una vez, cuando tenía 8 años, me perdí en la playa, me encontró el guardavidas y me llevó con mis papás.

In this context, “una vez” can be followed by verbs in pretérito perfecto simple to tell about a remarcable event that happened in the past.

* Había una vez en un país lejano, una princesa que vivía en una playa misteriosa…

This formula introduces fairy tales. It´s like “Once upon a time”.

* Cada vez que voy a la playa, me tengo que poner mucho protector solar para no terminar roja como un camarón.

It means that something happens 100% of the times you do something.

* Mirá qué bien que trabaja el guardavidas: cuida a la gente que nada en el mar y a la vez charla con todas las chicas lindas de la playa.

* Este año, en vez de ir a Mar del Plata, me voy a las sierras de Córdoba. Tengo ganas de cambiar el mar por la montaña.

We use “en vez de” to say “instead of”.

Ñ de Español – Spanish tutoring in Buenos Aires

Learning Spanish doesn`t have to be boring

¿Cuál es tu alfajor favorito? / Spanish grammar tips: qué vs. cuál

- ¿Qué es un alfajor?

- Un alfajor son dos galletitas redondas y dulces con dulce de leche en el medio (como un sandwich), cubiertas con chocolate.

- ¿Y cuál es tu alfajor favorito?

- No sé… hay muchos y todos me gustan.

- Ah, bueno, entonces ¿cuáles son tus marcas (brands) de alfajor favoritas?

- El capitán del espacio, Terrabusi de chocolate y Jorgelín Triple son los que más me gustan.

We use qué when we ask for a definition= ¿Qué es un alfajor?

We use cuál (singular) or cuáles (plural) to select an item from a group= ¿Cuál es tu alfajor favorito?

An alfajor is a sweet snack: two cookies with “dulce de leche” inside (like a sandwich) covered with chocolate. Usually, they are not homemade. You can buy them in a “kiosco” but not in a bakery.

Here, you can take a look at some of the best and worst alfajores you can find in Buenos Aires, according the web site Planeta Joy. These are our personal favourites:

* Jorgito- It is a classic: simple but very good. It brings us memories from primary school: a cheap and tasty snack to eat on the breaks.

* Terrabusi- Another classic with a more “mature” touch. The chocolate is bitter and the taste is more intense. You will notice the difference when you see the elegant packaging.

* Cachafaz- It’s the most “gourmet” option and the most expensive one too.

* Águila minitorta- It’s sweet bomb: bigger than others and filled with dulce de leche and meringue. It’s The option for those moments when you NEED a carbohydrats extra-dose.

* Capitán del espacio- Unexpectedly delicious (don’t prejudge it for its old fashioned and cheap packaging!). It’s more a myth than an actual alfajor. Since it’s made by a small family factory in Quilmes (to the south of Buenos Aires), it’s difficult to get it. Everybody has its own favorite alfajor, but “Capitán del espacio” goes beyond: it has fans.

Ñ de Español – Spanish tutoring in Buenos Aires

Learning Spanish doesn`t have to be boring