English

In an ordinary English statement about an action, the doer or cause is usually the subject and comes before the verb. The subject can be a person, an animal, or a thing. In a passive sentence, which presents an action from the receiving side, the doer can appear after by or remain unnamed.

Tom washed the dishes.

The sun melted the snow.

We moved the table.

Spanish

The doer or cause is usually the subject in Spanish, and the verb changes form to match it. The subject can be a person or a nonhuman cause, and it can come before or after the verb. When the doer is understood, a verb ending can identify them without a separate pronoun.

Lucía prepara la cena.

Lucía is making dinner.

El viento cerró la ventana.

The wind closed the window.

Llegamos temprano.

We arrived early.

English

With verbs such as cut or move, English usually puts the affected participant after the verb as the object, the person or thing the action is directed at. Pronouns used as objects have forms such as me, him, and them. In a sentence describing a change without a named doer, the affected participant can instead be the subject.

Mia cut the bread.

The noise woke me.

The ice melted.

Spanish

An affected participant often appears as the object, the person or thing an action is directed at, or as a short object pronoun such as lo or la. An object referring to an identifiable person normally takes a before it. In events describing a change without a named doer, the affected participant can instead be the subject.

Pablo lavó los platos.

Pablo washed the dishes.

Vi a Carmen en el mercado.

I saw Carmen at the market.

El vaso se rompió.

The glass broke.

English

English usually uses the subject to name the person or thing it makes a statement about. In an ordinary statement, the subject comes before the verb and can name a doer, someone in a state, or something affected by an action. It is not always the topic or the first phrase in the sentence.

Ella is tired.

My bag was found at the station.

After lunch, the kitchen was quiet.

Spanish

Spanish links the subject to the statement through the verb's person and singular or plural form. The subject can be someone acting, something being described, or something undergoing an event. It need not come first or be expressed separately when the verb and context identify it.

Las dos ventanas están abiertas.

Both windows are open.

Me duelen los pies.

My feet hurt.

Tengo dos hermanos.

I have two brothers.

English

With verbs such as give, English can name the recipient before the thing given or after it with to. A beneficiary, someone an action is done for, is often introduced with for; verbs such as make also allow the person before the thing made. Not every verb allows both word orders.

I sent Lily a photo.

Please give the keys to Ben.

We saved a seat for you.

Spanish

Spanish commonly expresses a recipient with a and a short pronoun such as le or les. Someone who benefits from an action can be expressed with para or with a recipient-form pronoun. Para can also identify an intended receiver without saying that anything was actually delivered.

Le envié una foto a mi hermana.

I sent my sister a photo.

Preparé una sopa para mi abuela.

I made some soup for my grandmother.

Te guardé un sitio.

I saved you a seat.

English

The person who feels, perceives, or knows something is often the English subject, before the verb. With verbs such as bother or surprise, that person can instead be the object, after the verb. The verb and its usual partners determine the pattern.

I like this song.

Anna knows the answer.

The noise bothers him.

Spanish

With verbs such as saber and ver, the person who knows or perceives is normally the subject. With gustar and doler, that person is expressed with recipient forms such as me, te, or le, often alongside a phrase beginning with a. The thing liked or the body part that hurts is then the subject and determines whether the verb is singular or plural.

Sé dónde está la panadería.

I know where the bakery is.

A Marta le gustan las naranjas.

Marta likes oranges.

Tengo frío.

I'm cold.

English

English commonly uses with to name a physical tool. It often uses by for a way of traveling or sending information, as in by train or by email. The choice depends on how the tool or means is described, so there is no single preposition for every case.

Mia opened the door with a key.

Please send the photos by email.

We got there by train.

Spanish

Spanish usually expresses a tool with con, a form of transportation with en, and a communication channel with por. The choice depends on the kind of means being used, rather than on one general tool ending.

Corté el pan con un cuchillo.

I cut the bread with a knife.

Mañana vamos en tren.

We're going by train tomorrow.

Te mando la dirección por correo electrónico.

I'll send you the address by email.

English

English normally uses a verb to express an action or event. The verb form and helper verbs can show its time and whether it is in progress. Events without a deliberate doer also use verbs, such as fall, arrive, or melt.

Ben cooks dinner every evening.

The snow is melting.

The bus arrived late.

Spanish

Spanish uses verbs for deliberate actions and for events that happen without anyone choosing them. Verb forms show person, singular or plural, and distinctions of time and how an event is presented. Some verbs also use short pronouns as part of their usual form, as in caerse.

Los niños juegan en el patio.

The children are playing in the courtyard.

Una taza se cayó de la mesa.

A cup fell off the table.

English

English often uses be to describe a state or say where something is. To introduce something as existing or being present, it commonly uses there is or there are. Other verbs, such as exist, know, and belong, can express states too.

The kitchen is warm.

My glasses are on the table.

There is some milk in the fridge.

Spanish

Spanish uses estar for the location of people and things and for many current or resulting conditions, while ser describes characteristic qualities. Haber introduces the presence or existence of something, with hay as its present form. This use of haber stays singular even when several people or things are mentioned.

Hay una farmacia en esta calle.

There's a pharmacy on this street.

La puerta está abierta.

The door is open.

Había muchas personas en la estación.

There were many people at the station.

English

English uses a form of be before a name or noun to say who or what someone or something is. A singular noun for one member of a group normally needs a/an if it names something that can be counted. To identify a particular person or thing, English can use a name or a phrase such as the new teacher.

This is Emma.

Leo is a driver.

That building is the library.

Spanish

Spanish uses ser to identify someone or something or say which group they belong to. Ser changes form to match the subject, even when the statement names a role rather than an action. Unmodified job labels usually have no article, while descriptions such as una profesora excelente normally have one.

Soy Elena.

I'm Elena.

Carmen es profesora.

Carmen is a teacher.

Esto es una tarjeta de transporte.

This is a transit card.

English

English usually names a participant with a noun, a name, or a pronoun such as she. A noun can have other words with it, as in my old bike; together these words form a noun phrase. When a participant is the subject, English normally expresses it even when the listener knows who is meant.

My new neighbor works at the library.

She has a small dog.

Your plan sounds good.

Spanish

Spanish names participants with nouns and pronouns, including people, things, places, and ideas. Articles and adjectives often change form to match the noun's group and whether it is singular or plural. A participant understood from the verb or context does not always need a separate word.

La vecina guarda las llaves en un cajón.

The neighbor keeps the keys in a drawer.

Nosotros llevamos la comida; ellos traen las bebidas.

We bring the food; they bring the drinks.

English

English uses words such as yesterday and expressions with at, on, and in to say when something happens. For gives a length of time, while since gives the starting point of a period continuing to a later point, often now. Time expressions often go at the beginning or end of a sentence.

The class starts at nine on Monday.

We waited for twenty minutes.

I've lived here since 2020.

Spanish

Spanish names times with words such as mañana, day phrases such as el viernes, and a la or a las for clock times. Durations can appear without a preposition or with durante. Desde gives a starting point, while desde hace plus a duration can say how long a situation has continued.

El taller empieza a las seis.

The workshop starts at six.

El viernes tenemos una reunión.

We have a meeting on Friday.

Vivo aquí desde hace dos años.

I've lived here for two years.

English

English has present tense and past tense verb forms; the past is often marked by -ed, but many common verbs use a different form. A present tense form can describe habits and states, while present tense be plus an -ing form often describes an action happening now. Future time is commonly expressed with will, be going to, or a present tense form supported by context.

We walked home yesterday.

Lena works at a cafe.

Maya is cooking right now.

I will call you tonight.

Our train leaves at six tomorrow.

Spanish

Spanish verb forms place events and states in the present, past, or future. There are several past forms: pretérito indefinido is common for completed events, while pretérito imperfecto often describes past situations and habits. Future events can use a future ending, ir a plus an infinitive, the dictionary form of a verb, or a present form with a future time expression.

Ahora vivo cerca del trabajo.

Now I live close to work.

El año pasado me mudé a Sevilla.

I moved to Seville last year.

El mes que viene voy a cambiar de trabajo.

I'm going to change jobs next month.