SPANISH-LANGUAGE CORNER 1

All those who try to master a foreign language and delve into it have a fantastic advantage: they already speak one, their mother tongue. I am not being facetious at all. It is a value-added benefit, especially when they try to learn and compare two languages like English and Spanish that have, believe it or not, so much in common. To speak one language is good, however two is always better than one. Let us try to compare the two languages of our culture in order to help those spirited and courageous people who are trying to study the language of Cervantes from the viewpoint of the language of Shakespeare. With both languages at our command we can truly go places in the world today. HOW TO SAY “SHALL” IN SPANISH as an invitation or request. Shall we dance? Shall I open the window? Shall we go? Shall I take you home? Spanish uses the Present indicative in the first person singular or the first person plural: ¿Bailamos? ¿Abro la ventana? ¿Vamos? ¿Te llevo a casa? Shall we dance? Shall I open the window? Shall we go? Shall I take you home? Notice that we will never use yo or nosotros. Also notice that we are dealing with questions. Always in the interrogative. ¿Vamos al cine? Shall we go to the movies? ¿Te traigo un café? Shall I bring you a cup of coffee? ¿Qué hacemos? What shall we do? ¿Nos damos un beso y hacemos las paces? ¿Shall we kiss and make up? Often you will hear: Qué te parece si… or: y si… as a substitute for the simple present indicative: ¿Qué te parece si vamos al cine? ¿Y si vamos al cine? ¿Vamos al cine? Which could also be translated as How about...? In the idiomatic expression: I will walk you home then, shall I? the translation would very well be: Te acompaño a casa, ¿te parece? Or even ¿Y si te acompaño a casa?