Pancyprian Spanish flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Skimming versus scanning

Skimming means reading quickly for gist and text organisation; scanning means hunting for one specific datum such as a date or name. Match the strategy to the item type before reading the passage.

Referent of lo cual

The neuter relative lo cual refers back to the whole preceding clause or idea, not to a single noun. It typically introduces a consequence or comment, as in no llegó, lo cual nos extrañó.

Distractor with copied words

An option that repeats vocabulary from the passage is often wrong. Correct answers usually paraphrase the meaning using different words, so verify sense rather than matching surface forms.

Inference item rule

The correct inference must follow necessarily from the text alone. If an option requires outside knowledge, personal opinion, or an extra assumption, it is not supported and should be rejected.

Quantifier traps

Words like todos, algunos, casi nunca, siempre and apenas change truth value. Check the exact quantifier in the text against the option; a shift from algunos to todos makes a statement false.

Listening: final value rule

In audio, numbers, times and prices are frequently corrected mid-conversation. Record the last value stated or agreed, not the first one mentioned, since the first is often rejected.

Discourse markers in audio

Expressions such as por un lado, sin embargo, es decir and de todos modos signal contrast, reformulation or topic shift. They help you predict what comes next and locate answers.

Hedging and speaker stance

Hedges such as quizá, me temo que, la verdad es que and supongo que reveal doubt, reluctance or politeness. Tone and opinion items depend on hearing these, not just content words.

Missing an item in audio

If you miss one answer, drop it at once and rejoin the recording at the next item. Dwelling on a lost question causes you to miss the following two or three.

Ser for inherent traits

Ser expresses identity, origin, nationality, profession, inherent characteristics and the time or place of events: Es profesora, Es de Chipre, La fiesta es en mayo.

Estar for states and location

Estar expresses temporary states, emotions, location and results of change: Está cansado, Está en casa, La puerta está cerrada. Some adjectives change meaning with ser or estar.

Preterite versus imperfect

Preterite presents completed, bounded actions; imperfect gives background, description, habits and the frame around an interrupting event: Leía cuando sonó el teléfono.

Negated opinion plus subjunctive

Affirmative opinion takes the indicative (creo que viene), but negated opinion takes the subjunctive (no creo que venga). The same switch applies to parecer and pensar.

Subjunctive after value judgements

Impersonal expressions of evaluation trigger the subjunctive: es importante que, es necesario que, es mejor que, es una pena que. The subordinate verb describes a situation, not a fact asserted.

Cuando with indicative or subjunctive

Cuando plus present indicative states habitual or present facts; cuando plus subjunctive refers to future or unrealised events: Cuando llego a casa... versus Cuando llegue, te llamo.

Personal a rule

A preposition a precedes a specific human direct object: Veo a María, Busco a mi hermano. It is omitted after tener and with non-specific indefinite objects: Busco un piso.

Por versus para

Por marks cause, exchange, duration, movement through and agent; para marks purpose, destination, deadline, recipient and opinion: Gracias por todo, Este regalo es para ti.

Verb plus preposition collocations

Many Spanish verbs require a fixed preposition that English does not predict: depender de, insistir en, acordarse de, confiar en, contar con, tardar en. Learn them as whole units.

Collective noun agreement

Collective singular nouns such as la gente, el equipo, el grupo and la mayoría take a singular verb in standard usage, even when they refer to many people.

Formal letter opening and closing

Formal letters open with Estimado/a señor/a or Distinguido/a and close with Atentamente or Un cordial saludo. Informal messages use Hola plus name and close with Un abrazo or Hasta pronto.

Covering prompt content points

Each bullet in the task must appear as explicit content in your text. Markers award content separately from language, so an omission costs more than a grammar slip.

Written interaction moves

Interactive writing requires reacting and asking: include at least one direct question and one response to the interlocutor, using formulas such as ¿qué te parece? or De acuerdo, pero...

Cohesion connectors in writing

Use explicit connectors to signal structure: en primer lugar, además, sin embargo, por lo tanto, en conclusión. They make the organisation visible and raise the coherence mark.

Proofreading checklist

Before submitting, check verb tense consistency, ser/estar choice, noun-adjective agreement, accents on question words and past participles, and pronoun placement with infinitives and imperatives.

Circumlocution strategy

When a word is missing, describe it by function or category instead of switching language: es un aparato que sirve para cortar, es una persona que trabaja en un hospital.

Spanish filler expressions

Fillers such as bueno, pues, es que, o sea and a ver maintain fluency while you plan. Used sparingly they sound natural; overused they suggest limited range.

Describing an image

Anchor the description first with en la imagen hay and se ve que, then add detail and interpretation. Keep the present tense for description and use spatial language.

Opinion structure in speech

State a position, give two reasons with porque, acknowledge a counterargument with sin embargo or aunque, rebut it, and close with a summary introduced by total, que.

Tú versus usted

Use tú with peers, students and children; use usted with strangers older than you, officials and formal service encounters. The choice signals social distance and respect.

Greeting conventions in Spain

Two cheek kisses are usual between women and in mixed pairs meeting socially; handshakes suit formal or professional first meetings. A verbal greeting always accompanies the gesture.

Spanish meal times

Meals are late by northern European standards: desayuno early, comida around 14:00 to 15:00, cena around 21:00 to 22:00. Invitations may start later than the stated hour.

Spanish punctuation and number format

Questions and exclamations open with ¿ and ¡ as well as closing. Decimals use a comma (3,5), thousands a point or space, and dates follow day-month-year order.