Lesson 52
Para When “To” Means “In Order To”
Whenever English "to" means "in order to," you MUST put para in Spanish. The infinitive alone isn't enough.
Negative language transfer clue: Spanish speakers with basic English might say "I am here for see you" — this tells you Spanish uses para where English uses "to" (when it means "in order to").
Resolver = to resolve (same word). Explicar = to explain. Tomar = to take. Un curso de español = a Spanish course. Nadar = to swim.
The -ing form can be a noun in Spanish too: bailar es saludable = to dance / dancing is healthy. Nadar es saludable = swimming is healthy.
-ante/-ente as adjective endings: Just like English -ing adjectives, Spanish has irritante (irritating), frustrante (frustrating), interesante (interesting). From irritar→irritante, frustrar→frustrante.
La luna = the moon. La luna menguante = the waning moon (menguar = to wane).
Days of the week come from planets: Jueves (Thursday) from Jupiter, Viernes (Friday) from Venus.
Sentences practiced
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Hemos hablado. | We have spoken. |
| Hemos hablado para resolverlo. | We've spoken in order to resolve it. |
| Hemos hablado para intentar resolverlo. | We've spoken to try to resolve it. |
| Estoy aquí para verte. | I'm here to see you. |
| Estoy hablando. | I'm speaking. |
| Estoy explicándolo. | I'm explaining it. (right now) |
| Estoy tomando un curso de español. | I'm taking a Spanish course. (right now) |
| Estaba tomando un curso de español. | I was taking a Spanish course. |
| Tomaba un curso de español. | I was taking a Spanish course. (simpler) |
| Comía. | I was eating. |
| Estaba comiendo. | I was eating. (right now emphasis) |
| Bailar es saludable. | Dancing is healthy. |
| Nadar es saludable. | Swimming is healthy. |
| Irritante. | Irritating. |
| Es irritante. | It's irritating. |
| Frustrante. | Frustrating. |
| La luna menguante. | The waning moon. |
| Un ser humano. | A human being. |
| Un ser viviente. | A living being. |