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You don´t have to be fluent to speak Spanish.
You have to speak Spanish to be fluent.
Word Meanings Which Are Dependent Upon Tense or Verb or Reflexivity.
There are quite a few words in Spanish which change meaning, depending on how they are used, what tense
certain verbs are used in, what verbs are used with certain nouns or adjectives, and whether or not the verb is
used reflexively. This leads to a great many mistakes on the part of beginning speakers, so let´s see if we can
clarify this issue somewhat.
NOTE: The following word lists are by no means exhaustive. Always check your dictionary definitions for
more than one meaning, depending on form of use.
- The following verbs change meaning, depending upon the tense that is used. In the imperfecta, for
example, they have one meaning, and in the preterito they have another meaning:
Imperfecta Preterito
Quería I loved, wanted Quise I tried *
Conocía I knew Conocí I met or was introduced
Sabía I knew Supe I found out
Tenía I had Tuve I received
Negative Imperfecta Negative Preterito
No Quería I didn´t want, didn´t love No Quise I refused
No Podía I couldnt No Pude I didn´t succeed in doing
- The following verbs change meaning, depending upon whether or not they are used reflexively, that is
with a so-called reflexive pronoun:
Non-Reflexive Reflexive
Burlar to mock Burlarse to make fun of
Detener to detain Detenerse to stop
Dirigir to direct Dirigirse to address oneself to
Dormir to sleep Dormirse to fall asleep, to go to sleep
Acordar to agree to (do something) Acordarse to remember
Decidir to decide Decidirse to make up (one´s) mind
Encontrar to meet someone Encontrarse to be situated, located *
Llamar to call Llamarse to call oneself, to be named
Ocupar to occupy Ocuparse to be busy with (something, someone)
Negar to deny Negarse to refuse
Parecer to seem Parecerse to resemble (someone)
Poner to put, to place Ponerse to put on, be become
- The verbs Ser and Estar cause the meaning of certain words to change, as we have seen in Chapter IV
of The Language Heretics Super Crash Course in Spanish Conversation & Culture.
Ser Estar
Abierto Frank, forthright Open
Aburrido Boring Bored
Alegre Happy or pleasant nature Good mood
Bajo Short In a low position
Borracho A drunk (alcoholic) Drunk (for the moment)
Callado Close-mouthed Silent
Cierto True Certain
Despierto Alert Awake
Divertido Entertaining, fun, amusing Entertained, amused
Listo Clever Ready
Loco Crazy (by nature) Crazy, frantic, as in "going crazy over..."
Malo Bad (person, animal or thing) Ill, not well
Seguro Safe, Secure, Reliable Positive, sure (like a "sure thing")
Verde Green Not ripe (yet)
Vivo Lively Living, alive
Guapa/Guapo Naturally Good-Looking Looks nice (right now - dressed up, etc.)
- Last, but certainly not least, we have the word "Ocaso". This word means "maybe" or "perhaps" ehn
followed by a verb in the subjunctive. However, when it is followed by a verb in the indicative (e.g.,
present tense), it is used as a means of adding sarcasm to a statement or rhetorical question.
The important thing to remember is that in all these cases is that you should, when you check a word in the
dictionary, especially a verb, look to see if it is used reflexively: then, check for meaning changes depending
on tense: finally, with adjectives, check to see if they change their meanings according to the verb or the form
of the verb they are used with. Check idiomatic uses, too.
I am always reminded of the American chap I met at a resort in Jamaica who didn´t speak any Spanish and who
made a point of introducing me to a couple from Colombia, because they didn´t speak English.
During the course of my conversation with them, the American overheard me use the word "tantos," meaning
"so many." He had, apparently watched one too many Lone Ranger programs on the telly, had looked the word
for the Lone Ranger´s pal, "Tonto," determined that "tonto" meant fool, and, finally, reached the erroneous
conclusion that I was talking about him and that I had called him a fool. Need I say that he didn´t act too kindly
toward me for the rest of his time at the resort, all because he misinterpreted the only Spanish word he thought
he knew?
Remember, what you hear and interpret may not always be what was meant by what was said, or even what
was said. Don´t jump to any bad conclusions, until you check your dictionary. Even then, if you weren´t sure to
begin with, ask someone who knows.
Until next time.
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Copyright 2005 L. A. Adams
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The Language Heretic´s Super Crash Course in Spanish Conversation & Culture
GET BY in Spanish in One to Three Weeks
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