Learning English as a Spanish speaker can be a bit challenging because the two languages have different grammar rules. But don’t worry! With some simple explanations and examples, you can start to understand how English works.

1. Word Order: Subject-Verb-Object
In Spanish, the word order can change, but in English, the order is almost always the same: Subject-Verb-Object. This means that the subject comes first, then the verb, and finally the object.

For example, in Spanish, you might say, “Yo como manzanas,” which is Subject-Verb-Object (I eat apples). In English, it’s the same: I (Subject) eat (Verb) apples (Object).

But sometimes in Spanish, you can say, “Manzanas como yo,” which changes the order. In English, this change is not common, so remember to stick with Subject-Verb-Object.

2. Articles: "The" and "A/An"
In English, we use articles like "the" (definite) and "a/an" (indefinite) to talk about nouns. In Spanish, you have “el/la” for "the" and “un/una” for "a/an."

For example:

• The book (El libro)
• A book (Un libro)

In English, "the" is used when you are talking about something specific, and "a/an" is used when you are talking about something general.

3. Adjectives Before Nouns
In Spanish, adjectives usually come after the noun, like “casa grande” (big house). But in English, it’s the opposite: adjectives come before the noun. So, “casa grande” becomes big house.

Here’s another example:

• El perro negro (The black dog) becomes The black dog in English.

Remembering this rule will help your sentences sound more natural in English.

4. The Verb "To Be"
The verb "to be" is very important in English, but it’s different from the verbs "ser" and "estar" in Spanish. In English, "to be" is used for both.

For example:

• I am happy (Estoy feliz)
• She is a teacher (Ella es maestra)

Whether you would use "ser" or "estar" in Spanish, in English, you use am, is, or are based on the subject.

5. No Gender for Nouns
In Spanish, nouns have gender, like “la mesa” (feminine) or “el libro” (masculine). But in English, nouns do not have gender. Everything is just "the" or "a/an".

For example:

• La casa (The house) - In English, house is not feminine or masculine, it’s just the house.
• El carro (The car) - In English, car is also not gendered, so it’s just the car.

The Lesson:

Understanding English grammar as a Spanish speaker requires adjusting to some key differences, like word order, adjective placement, and the lack of gender for nouns. With practice and attention to these details, English grammar will become clearer, and you’ll be able to form sentences more naturally.

Reading Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the typical word order in English sentences?
2. How does the placement of adjectives differ between Spanish and English?
3. What does the article "the" correspond to in Spanish?
4. How is the verb "to be" used in English compared to "ser" and "estar" in Spanish?
5. What is one key difference between English and Spanish nouns?

Open-Ended Questions:

1. Can you think of a sentence in Spanish and translate it into English using the Subject-Verb-Object order?
2. How does the difference in adjective placement change how you think about describing things in English?
3. Why do you think English nouns don’t have gender, and how does that make the language different from Spanish?

Vocabulary and Expressions List:

1. Word Order - The arrangement of words in a sentence.
2. Subject - The person or thing doing the action.
3. Verb - The action word in a sentence.
4. Object - The person or thing affected by the action.
5. Article - Words like "the" or "a/an" used before nouns.
6. Adjective - A word that describes a noun.
7. Noun - A person, place, thing, or idea.
8. Gender - In language, refers to the classification of nouns as masculine or feminine.
9. Definite - Specific or clearly identified.
10. Indefinite - Not specific or general.