Getting to where you want to go in Spanish.
I suppose that now we all have google maps we no longer need to ask anyone for directions. However speaking to people in the street is an interesting thing to do. It is actually a good indication of how friendly the people are.
The problem with asking for directions in Spanish.
One of the more complicated things in Spanish is the imperative.
In English we just use the infinitive to make the imperative.
For example: Turn left, Turn right, Go straight on etc.
In Spanish we have the dual problem that there is the formal imperative and the informal imperative.
Here are some examples.
Imperatives in Spanish
| ENGLISH |
SPANISH |
FORMAL |
INFORMAL |
| Turn |
Girar |
Gire |
Gira |
| Continue |
Continuar |
Continúe |
Continúa |
| Follow |
Seguir |
Sigue |
Siga |
| Take |
Tomar |
Tome |
Toma |
| walk |
Caminar |
Camine |
Camina |
| Cross |
Cruzar |
Cruze |
Cruza |
In Spain when you are speaking to people in the street they could either speak to you as Usted (formal) or Tú (informal)
In other Spanish speaking countries the use of the formal or informal can change.
The trouble with this for a language learner is that you have to learn more vocabulary.
However, nobody but a fool would be very critical of a foreigner who make mistakes with this when speaking Spanish.
In the examples in this lesson you will see informal and formal examples.