Gilda Nissenberg - Spanish Sentence Builder

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Spanish Sentence Builder

Gilda Nissenberg

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A short paragraph that communicates an idea, a letter, or a written request to grab the attention of a reader are examples of what you want to be able write in Spanish. But in order to write each of these you have to learn how to build effective sentences to communicate your ideas clearly. Writing is a skill that presents challenges to those who want to communicate effectively in a foreign language.

This book will help you build your writing skills in Spanish. You will find the elements that you need: clear explanations of how different grammatical structures in the Spanish language must be combined to create sentences and abundant examples that illustrate how to combine the structures to build the sentences. You will start with the least complex sentences and move gradually to more complex structures.

The only way to acquire and improve writing skills is to practice writing. This book includes different types of exercises for you to practice as you learn. Some exercises ask for a variation of a model; others require that you use a series of words in the appropriate order to build a sentence, choose the most appropriate answer among multiple choices, or use the required punctuation to communicate the correct message.

You will find ample opportunities to write your own original sentences in a given context. As a result, your writing skills will improve. An answer key is provided at the end of the book with the correct answers and sample sentences for all but the most personalized exercises.

Sentence writing may be challenging at times. Paying close attention to instructions, practicing regularly, and applying the rules of sentence building consistently will make you a better writer. With this book you will discover ways to build your sentences and build your confidence as a writer in Spanish.

A escribir!

Sentences and phrases are different in nature and serve different purposes to communicate ideas and thoughts.

A phrase consists of more than one word. It does not have the subject + predicate organization of a sentence.

one or more words phrase

Some phrases are formulas used frequently in social situations. Note that they do not have a subject and a verb:

Other phrases may be clichs or proverbs that apply to specific situations. They are rarely translated word for word.

Other types of phrases are classified as prepositional phrases, con su hermano (with his brother), or adverbial phrases, a travs de los aos (throughout the years), that add information to your sentences. In later units you will study these phrases and incorporate them into your writing practice.

Unlike a phrase, a sentence is defined as a grammatical unit:

subject + predicatesentence

To build this unit in Spanish you need nouns, a verb, object pronouns, adverbs, etc., elements you have previously learned. Think of these elements as the blocks that help you build a structure. A Spanish sentence includes a subject, a word or a group of words that tell you what or whom the sentence is about, and a predicate, a word or words that tell us something about the subject. A capital letter is required to start a sentence and a period indicates the end of the message.

A declarative sentence (from the Latin