LUFCTALK

Great post MW, I suppose if you’re effectively forced down the route of learning a language, it just has to be done. As you say, you’ll never lose it either speaking it regularly.

On Duolingo, the subjects that you’ve already learnt ‘crack’, which means you have to go back and learn those words again. It forces you to practice, but it is very difficult when you are also trying to learn new words. As mentioned above, I can read sentences quite well, as I tend to ignore the odd word thrown in, so I can get a good gist of what the sentence is saying and 9/10 I know it.

When it comes to writing a sentence of my own though I find it very tricky, I tend to miss out a small word here and there (see above). Only yesterday, ‘del cafe’ appeared on Duolingo, I can’t remember in what context now, bu it was the first time I’d seen it and it threw me a bit.

Used to use Duolingo myself quite a bit and thought it was a great site. Giving me the urge to get back into now

Davycc wrote:Used to use Duolingo myself quite a bit and thought it was a great site. Giving me the urge to get back into now

Yeah, it is very good, sometimes frustrating as it doesn’t explain things very well for me which is why I also use the CD’s.

Ok my Spanish friends, can someone explain this please.

Sometimes, on Duolingo, our word for ‘you’ is sometimes translated into ‘Tu’ or ‘Usted’ or even ‘Ustedes’. Does anyone know the difference between the three words please ?

I think tu is the informal version as you would speak to friends or family and usted is the formal version.

Barlow Boy wrote:Ok my Spanish friends, can someone explain this please.

Sometimes, on Duolingo, our word for ‘you’ is sometimes translated into ‘Tu’ or ‘Usted’ or even ‘Ustedes’. Does anyone know the difference between the three words please ?

OK BB here is my take on this. 'Tu' is the informal version of 'you' so to be used with friends and family. In Spain when people meet they typically use the 'tu' version as it is regarded as more friendly, relaxed, informal etc. However if there is an obvious age gap then it's good manners/respectful to address the elder person as 'usted' until told otherwise. Similarly if you are in a business situation it's normal to address eg your customer as usted or if you are in a meeting with a number of people 'ustedes'.

Perhaps revisit the exercises and see if my rationale fits??

Thanks gents, that’s brilliant and makes complete sense now. It’s impossible for me to differentiate on Duolingo, of course, as I’ve no idea if I’m taking to friends or otherwise, no wonder I was confused.

Thanks again guys

I only know two words of Spanish: tu and usted. Can't remember where I learned them.

johnh wrote:I only know two words of Spanish: tu and usted. Can't remember where I learned them.

Keep tuning in Sir John, there will be more words to learn (if Davy and MW are willing anyway)

Perhaps one for Davy or MW (more than happy to receive help from others )

On Duolingo, in the past I would simply put the name of someone before whatever it is they did, but Duolingo has now started putting an ‘A’ in front of the name, and then a ‘te’ or ‘le’ before whatever it is. For example...........

Previously... Howard encanta futbol

Now... A Howard te encanta futbol

Also, sometimes, ‘al’ is put before football.

Any ideas gents ?