Spanish Basics: quick revision, 14 bites

Hace vs. Está for Weather

Weather phrases: use 'hace' or 'está'.

In Spanish, to talk about weather, you use **hace** + noun (e.g., **hace sol** = it's sunny) or **está** + adjective (e.g., **está soleado** = it is sunny). The choice depends on whether you're using a noun or an adjective.

Takeaway. Use 'hace' with nouns and 'está' with adjectives for weather.

Nature Vocabulary

Essential nature words in Spanish.

Takeaway. Memorize these basic nature terms to describe landscapes.

Forming the Present Continuous

Action in progress: estar + gerund.

The present continuous expresses an action happening right now. Form it with the verb **estar** (conjugated) + the **gerund** of the main verb.

Takeaway. Use 'estar' + gerund to say what's happening now.

Gerund Formation Rules

Change -ar/-er/-ir to -ando/-iendo.

Takeaway. Gerund: -ar→-ando, -er/-ir→-iendo.

Irregular Gerunds

Some gerunds change spelling.

Takeaway. Memorize these irregular gerunds; they don't follow the standard pattern.

Numbers 100 to 900

Counting hundreds in Spanish.

Takeaway. Hundreds have unique forms; note 'quinientos' and 'setecientos'.

Large Numbers

Thousands and millions in Spanish.

Takeaway. Use 'mil' for thousands and 'un millón' for one million.

Number Formatting

Commas and periods are swapped.

In Spanish, decimals use a comma and thousands use a period. For example, **5.495,00** in Spanish equals **5,495.00** in English.

Takeaway. In Spanish: comma for decimals, period for thousands.

Country-Related Vocabulary

Words for talking about countries.

Takeaway. These terms help discuss countries and governments.

More Country Vocabulary

Government and border terms.

Takeaway. Learn these to discuss politics and borders.

Phone Numbers

Asking and giving phone numbers.

To ask for a phone number: **¿Cuál es tu número de teléfono?** Answer by saying the digits in groups, e.g., **noventa y ocho, setenta y tres, cincuenta y cuatro, diez, once** for 98-73-54-10-11.

Takeaway. Phone numbers are said in groups, often with 'y' between tens and units.

Population Numbers

Describing city population.

To ask about population: **¿Cuántos habitantes tiene tu ciudad?** Answer: **La población de mi ciudad es de quinientos cuarenta y tres mil novecientos sesenta y uno** (543,961).

Takeaway. Use large numbers to talk about population.

Weather in Context

Weather phrases in daily conversation.

When describing weather, you might say **Hoy hace buen tiempo** (Today the weather is good) or **Está lloviendo** (It is raining). These phrases are used in everyday Spanish.

Takeaway. Use weather phrases to start conversations or describe your day.

Memory Trick for Gerunds

Remember -ando and -iendo.

Think: **-ar** verbs take **-ando** (like 'ando' walking), and **-er/-ir** take **-iendo** (like 'iendo' going). This helps recall the gerund endings.

Takeaway. Associate -ando with -ar and -iendo with -er/-ir.