Achieving Fluency in Spanish as an Adult Learner

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[@QrooSpanish]

Want to thank me? Buy me a coffee www.buymeacoffee.com/qroo The Book That Propelled my Spanish amzn.to/3yOpO95 How I Became Fluent in Spanish kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3PYomCHe7lmlZo

[@Beautyprossalon]

She's great!! You want to stick around? Ummm NO! I love the honesty, come back anytime...

[@gregoriopuro]

23 years married to a Native Spanish Speaker... So now we know why you really speak such good Spanish 😂😂😂

[@maxillariadendrobulum4079]

It’s not that simple. Paul has dedicated a lot of time learning / studying on his own, plus has spent time in Mexico, plus was teaching his fellow police officers before he retired. I’m also married to a native Spanish speaker and feel that my Spanish level has plateaued. I’m going to have to invest some time really focusing on improving my Spanish to get to the next level. Talking to my wife and making the same mistakes over and over again isn’t going to cut it.

[@mattdoyle9914]

Yes, his wife sounds like a native English speaker, but not because she's married to a native English speaker. She has been in the US for 40 years.

[@gringoofcandamo]

While it might help to have someone who is always (well, not always.. we’d hope, but mostly anyway.. ) with you - who you’re comfortable interacting in Spanish with - it’s certainly helpful. But really it’s just about how much you interact with other Spanish speakers. I’ve had a girlfriend here and that didn’t work out (and that’s fine btw) and I learned alot of Spanish with her obviously - but I was also learning a lot of Spanish from friends etc so…. Anyway.

[@11ms62]

I have been married to my husband for 39 years and he still only knows cerveza, taco, burrito…☹️

[@Thelegendhaha]

@@11ms62 what more does he need in life? 😂

[@roberttewnion1690]

I was wondering if your wife would be willing to talk more about her experience of learning English as a child? My kids are 8 and 10 and they have just started attending school in Spain a few weeks ago with very little knowledge of Spanish. I'd be really interested to hear her insights if she were up for talking about it in a video.

[@Alex-u6j8q]

How are they doing

[@rainbowtouch797]

I love how she casually said no. You have such a sweet and lovely partner. It's really adorable how you two speak to each other with such patience

[@QrooSpanish]

Thanks. She refuses to do any prep before we film so I'm never sure what she is going to do...lol.

[@imanupead]

Good stuff! Do you usually write these out and store in a notebook then review often or do you type this phases out and store on an electronic device(phone, tablet, etc..or simply a computer ? My problem is going back and forth between handwritten notes and electronic notes.

[@tutornotepad]

Listening to music and reading the lyrics of Spanish (or any language) songs will help you become familiar with the subjunctive form of the verb. Sing along with the lyrics and you will be able to exercise the muscles of your mouth, but you must sing aloud.

[@TomRNZ]

"Do you wanna hang around while I tell them? "No." 🤣🤣🤣

[@Spanish-mg9ee]

Paul, any chance you'd be willing to share your list of sentence fragments, so we can focus on them, and study from that list? Thanks in advance... Kalon

[@CleonaPattersoneFluentEnglish]

Gracias por compartir tu método eficaz de aprender español.👍 Unos ejemplos para practicar: PONGÁMONOS = Let's put on ... LLOVER = to rain Pongámonos nuestros impermeables por si (acaso) llueve. Pongámonos nuestros impermeables en caso de que llueva.

[@Philosopearl]

Developing an ear for the language. What a wonderful thing, when it happens. And when it happens, you may not know WHY you know you must put a particular word in a particular place, you just know you should do it because it sounds right.

[@LunarMarie]

Grammer is a superpower. If you know it well in another language, then you can say almost anything in a second language on logic alone by only using grammatical rules. Eventually, the "ear" should do the rest with time. I have done this exact same thing myself with French and Spanish. And it's how I'm able to create sentences out of thin air. I'm glad to see someone talking about this finally. It's so true. My only issue is getting the ear for it when I hear them speak back to me. 😅

[@ShizzleGizzleGizzenGar]

It all comes in levels. I found that as i listen to more and more people its like the words magically started making sense. What used to sound like jibberish became distinct words and sounds with actual syllables. Lol. My last name might be latino or even brasilian but i didnt grow up speaking spanish. For anyone at the lower levels of learning it is really a difficult task to learn a whole new language but its so worth it and when you talk to people in their own language you automatically disolve any cultural barriers. Usually i should say. Not everyone wants to talk to you. I always compare it to starting a new job. You have to learn everyones name but after a while you just have to learn the new hires. Especially the music. The family of spanish speaking people across the world have some amazing music.

[@bruce2357]

It's pretty cool how that works. I've been self learning for two years and actually started only really understanding most of what I heard a couple of months ago after studying and listening religiously for too many hours a day. What I didn't realize was that I was overloading my brain and ended up quitting for about two weeks, I even thought I might not go back to Spanish but I did, I didn't want to give up. I was blown away when I started listening again and I was instantly recognizing most of what I was hearing without trying. So I would advise everyone don't overload yourself and give yourself a break once in a while be patient and don't give up, it will all come together. It's amazing when it all comes together you start wondering if maybe you're just listening to people who speak clearer or speak in simpler terms but in actuality your brain is just putting it all together.

[@angiescott6046]

This is so helpful! I’m also married to a Colombian and he always says I don’t know why we use that specific word it just feels right.

[@Mamasprincess-i9s]

Buenas los dos ¿qué pasa? (It's more informal way of saying Como estás )

[@williameimers]

This makes SO much sense, Paul! I’m hooked on your vids and method. Keep up the good work!

[@adgepeterb]

My friend.. you are one of the best spanish teachers online ive come across and ive come across so many

[@QrooSpanish]

Thank you so much!

[@heidicripps8879]

nos encantan los videos con linda

[@hagendf]

Yeah I'm at B level, which is really just one pattern after another. Yesterday I was changing sentences from "como" to "como si". Ejemplo: Ella actua como su madre => Ella actua como si fuera su madre.

[@chancerobinson5112]

Paul teaches for what is, to me, the correct reason. Teaching clarifies and validates what he knows. Beautiful stuff.

[@alphaosomega]

I don't know why...but "I don't have my glasses on" was the funniest😂

[@josephschmeggins6311]

My Panamanian wife does the same thing. I ask why you say something a certain way and she just says that’s the way we say it.

[@QrooSpanish]

Lol, the benefit it being their first language ;-)

[@davidhsherrod]

Awesome video. I love your wife's frankness about staying 😂. I definitely need to up my word list game; I have the book (and workbook) you recommended - do you recommend a source for Spanish phrases rather than the "top N Spanish word lists" that are all over the internet?

[@_sonicfive]

Learning the culture will help tremendously. I am a spanish native speaker. Learning English was difficult, because the order of the words still trips me up. (Even after 11 years in the US) Things like English phrasal verbs still boggle my mind. - Spanish is a very rich language.

[@IvoryFrost]

You are the BEST teacher!! You really could develop a Spanish course product...

[@QrooSpanish]

Thank you! That's a great idea and a possible future project...

[@josedelnegro46]

Rápidamente me senté en la única silla de la Sala. Para asegurarme de que mi nuevo amigo no pudiera refugiarse en esa silla. Estaba parado en el lugar en el que necesitaba estar. Ese lugar entre las rocas fuera de la puerta y un lugar blando dentro de la puerta. El podría salir por la puerta por la que entramos. O podría sentarse en la cama suave y perfumada junto a una bella latina. Yo había entrado en la puerta en la traducción. Traduje para él a ella y para ella a él. Ella dijo "tu amigo está tan guapo. El tiene muchas chicas. El no necesita nada de mi". Él dijo a mi: "Wow, man, she is beautiful. ¿Cómo diablos voy a hablar con ella? ¿Ella habla inglés?" Como, él decía que ella me preguntó en el mismo momento: "¿tu amigo no puede hablar español?" Yo les dije a los dos en ese mismo momento: "Ella es joven y está bonita. "She is young and pretty". He Is young and handsome. El es joven y está guapo. You and she...Tú y ella tenéis tiempo para aprender el uno del otro. Empieza ahora mismo." Ella sabía que necesitaba inglés y un hombre guapo que estuviera dispuesto a proporcionarla. Entonces, ella sonrió y se acercó a él. Pero, èl se levantó. Él quería salir. Sintió que las necesidades de ella no eran las suyas. Yo vi que el no quería para más español. ¿Incluso si él la deseaba? ¡Me di cuenta de que quería algo menos! Dije ok. Vamos a ver a Mónica. Le dijo a la bella joven : "yo voy come back later.". Nosotros fuimos. Mientras caminábamos hacia Mônica, le dije: "¡Tienes suficiente español para conocerla bien amigo. Solo tienes que usarlo! Y otra vez está más fácil a aprender un idioma en la cama. Grabaciones, libros de frases, canciones, películas y KZbin et más no sirven para nada si se usan solos. Todos deben usarse en compañía de alguien que nos ama. En aislamiento es la más peor manera de aprender cualquier cosa. Robinson Cureso necesita Viernes y Viernes necesita Cureso. Aprendemos a caminar cuando alguien nos levanta del gateo. Una amante nos toma de la mano y hace los primeros pasitos con nosotros. Aprendemos a hablar hablando con los que nos importan y a su vez se preocupan por nosotros. Nuestras pocas palabritas inconexas mágicamente convertirse en muchas palabras grandes unidas. El lenguaje no es una condición sintética controlada y generada por À.I. Es un a priori para todas las formas de vida simples y complejas. El lenguaje debe usarse para ser lenguaje". Yo recuerdo cada día. Había un libro en francés que tenía que leer antes de morir. Y porque todas las vidas son demasiado cortas. Estaba fuera de tiempo. El libro Gemminal de Zola es que libro. No pude leerlo. No había hablantes de francés alrededor. Conduje hasta un colegio para encontrar uno. Pasé lentamente por cada clase de inglés como segundo idioma. Entonces la vi y escuché su acento francés-inglés de ella. Cuando termino la clase le pregunte cuanto te puedo pagar la hora por leerme Germinal de Zola? Ella estaba sorprendida. ¿Conoces a Zola? Ella accedió a leerme. Mientras leía durante las semanas que leyó, me enamoré de ella. Ella no se enamoró de mí. Pero la muerte final por asfixia de uno de los dos amantes en las minas de ese infernal páramo industrial nos hizo repartir lágrimas. ¿Qué pasó con Mónica y mi nuevo amigo? Ella se emborrachó. El se emborrachó más. El inglés de 50 palabras de ella ( en su mayoría hablado junto con su pronombre universal "baby" repetido una y otra vez) fueron, como siempre, nuevamente congelados por la taquilla que bailaba como el diablo sobre la lengua abajo la garganta. El español de 20 palabras de mi amigo fue todo lo que le quedó con el después de una eyaculación y un "adiós Mónica". ¿Y la joven belleza? No la he visto en una semana. Ambos estamos en un estado de vergüenza por què pensamos en nuestras esperanzas para ella que ja no están ja realidades. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKa5YndvfpeYZ6s

[@andrewtsymbalyuk8114]

Thank you Paul, another great educational video! If you don't mind to share, what did you do to memorize these phrases and rules?

[@InputGuerreraEspañol]

Great question! I would love to know this as well!

[@iamwinningrightnow]

Paul, why was the "s" dropped from pongámoSnos? I've seen this before.

[@bevmckee1380]

When I commented that a certain video was in my top twenty, I meant the top twenty of all YOUR videos. You know what English native speakers need to learn. Thank you!

[@QrooSpanish]

Thanks. :)

[@kavitaa4493]

U seem to be a very logical learner.. I too get very overwhelmed in immersion environment and feel like an ape. lol.. Baby steps of logical understanding work better for me. and then I can immerse in a light video where I understand like 30% word to word but like 90% from context. or the SuperBeginner content where I reinforce and learn the basic words where I understand 90% of words. But I am delaying output exercise until I get a handle on the grammar (I'm learning for last 42 days). And thanks to you !! I will get there sooner than I thought.

[@tutornotepad]

@2:17 - Vayamos - es en el subjuntivo porque no es cierto que ustedes van a ir a la playa. Vayamos - is the subjunctive form of the verb because it is not certain that you all will go to the beach. The subjunctive form of the verb is used in English. Consider, for example, the US Constitution: “Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States;” Why - before it become - and not - before it becomes? Because it is not certain that the law will pass. This is a rare example of the subjunctive in Englsih.

[@daviddalton8545]

That's exactly how I learned French. I spoke it correctly only because I had studied the grammar and done a lot of exercises. After years of reading, listening and interacting with natives, I began to develop an instinct. It takes time and patience.

[@BrandonKnight-il9xs]

Im a 47 yr old electrician whos been working with the same group of Mexican guys, absolutely great 👍 human beings, of the 5 only 2 speak english, but 2 of the non-english speaking guys still try to communicate Spanish to me and im lost but for a hand full of spanish words and that barrier just frustrates the hell out of me so i have to try to learn somehow

[@MarkMagpusao]

Thank you. Qroo Paul. I think that would be an amazing compliment to receive.

[@JustMe-to8te]

Native speaker here. I would say: Hay que llevar ropa de baño por si vamos a la playa. Se puede decir : Llevemos ropa de baño por si vamos a la playa, pero usar llevemos suena muy formal. Normalmente, los hablantes nativos usan la forma “hay que + verbo”

[@jackt6112]

Coming across these videos had to have been inspired by God. Your videos are the only ones that have been enabling for me. My next thought was, how do I get it right for Colombia? Now I learn in the video that she is from Colombia, where I'm going. What is the best way to put this together while learning? Starting with Lesson 1, I was already able assemble phrases because you illustrated how to leverage what I already know. Then you demonstrate leveraging standard language elements to get where you need to go, which provides value for learning them. With a realistic expectation of being able to use any words I learn, learning words now has value, and with that the ability to easily remember them. Your videos cause to intersect what I need to learn Spanish. It sounds like the learning requirements for our minds are similar. I didn't care what was what in the English language structure before because I had no use for it, thus I did poorly in English classes. Spanish classes, a U.S. Ambassador School in Colombia and being stuck with a family instructed not to speak English to me, listening to courses in my sleep, did nothing to make me conversational. However, I have always had addictions to learning, creativity, and helping others. When they intersect, people are stunned by how rapidly I learn and able to competently devise and implement strategies and solutions in areas I've never worked in before. As soon as these elements no longer intersect I will put off and won't do even what I know how to do. I'm a great pioneer and teacher, and a poor settler.

[@cmcjvcltcbmc]

Paul, I love your videos, and you're a great teacher, but I think you're an anomaly (with respect to learning a language). At least thats what I'm telling myself so I dont get discouraged with how long its taking me.

[@bruce2357]

My gf is originally from Mexico and obviously a native speaker. I've learned not to ask her why certain things are said the way they are because she can't explain either. I have the same issue when on the rare occasion I have to help her with her English. I know more about Spanish grammar than I do about English, I always hated English class in school.

[@aland155]

Another great vid with excellent advice. Thanks!

[@AddyGoesPlaces]

Before Paus videos, I would have considered myself about as fluent as a 5 year old, but after putting into practice some of these suggestions I'd say that's been bumped up to 8 or 9. As someone who is also studying Thai, I wish I could find a Qroo Paul for Thai.

[@donnafoster5215]

Your strategy makes sense.

[@Cheapmotorcycling]

Couldn’t find pongamonos in the conjugations of poner… i just went with poneremos and got en caso de que but missed the vayamos and wrongly put vamos…still the spanish i seem to be able to go with these days is far better since watching senor Pauls great videos…Gracias!

[@timmaloney6441]

The only way to learn another Language is to use it . people will correct you when you make mistakes . here`s what i typed into google translate ; porque no vestimos nuestros trajes de bano en caso que iremos a la playa ? many ways to say that ( probably better ) but it works and google translate gave me several options . a native speaker might say it better but they'll understand . the best way to learn is by doing it / using it . analyzing it in English doesn't work for me .

[@bongcrosby5598]

My attempt: Que tal nos ponemos nuestros trajes de banos en caso de que vamos a la playa. The Google understood what I was trying to say. 😅

[@paulfaulkner6299]

Thanks Paul once again - and greetings from this side of the pond (Derbyshire England) too

[@maxfrederickson]

I’m doing Duolingo and soon will have a private Tudor on SpanishVIP, but in the meantime tell us how you identified the phases to learn and plug in. I’m definitely somewhere in the A1 level and am finding this process rather more daunting as the enormity of it starts to dawn on me.

[@craigbernthal7388]

I've fallen into doing something like you describe in this video, though it tends to happen by chance as I work my way through various materials on Spanish and I get into Spanish Dict. Do you have any suggestions for how to come by these bits and pieces, phrases, that are helpful, in addition to your videos, which are terrific?

[@rantsfromthesofa4653]

The same exists in English with using in, at or on. Hispanohablantes have a hard time using them correctly. I don’t as a native speaker, but ask me why I used one and not the other and I am stumped. I just know what sounds right. Let’s sit on the beach. It is hot out, let’s sit in the house or we could sit on the patio in the garden under the umbrella. 😂

[@edwardburroughs1489]

I'd tell an English learner that 'on' meant 'on top off' - which might need further explanation LOL - whereas 'in' means 'inside'. I reckon that about covers it?

[@gatosospechosop3]

Hah, if only it were that easy. -in the street = not literally inside of the street -on the airplane = not literally on top of the airplane -on the bus = not literally on top of the bus -on the list = not on top of the list there’s so many more, trust me, these things are very hard for Spanish speakers to master.

[@edwardburroughs1489]

@@gatosospechosop3 It gets worse when you consider that to be 'on the street' is to be homeless!

[@rantsfromthesofa4653]

@@edwardburroughs1489 I was in the street when car crashed part of it was on the sidewalk and the other part was in the street. He almost hit a homeless person who lives on the street and was sleeping in his tent which he had on the sidewalk. Haha crazy.

[@gatosospechosop3]

@@rantsfromthesofa4653 the english language is true madness, my heart goes out to everyone who is learning it, seriously an impressive feat.

[@tutornotepad]

¡Muy bien!

[@franceshall7127]

Thank you Linda Gracias los dos o ambos

[@QrooSpanish]

¡De nada!

[@TryRickPayton]

I so discourage it’s like I am never learn this language in my 50’s now 😔

[@amymills9228]

Your wife hahahaha she's like nah, I'm out, BYE!

[@ajarnray4115]

I'm still struggling a lot with the past tense especially with the verb to be because this will have four different words in Spanish. It's not so easy to have example sentences that can work as a model sentence all the time and I wonder how you dealt with this in your first two years of learning Spanish. Great video thanks for the upload.

[@debbiewatermelon]

My learning has improved 100%

[@creativeclerk6087]

Vayamos - es en el subjuntivo porque no es cierto que ustedes van a ir a la playa.

[@millerbotanicals6128]

Hi Linda. Nice to see you. Thanks for the help.

[@sue3745]

Are you living in Mexico again? If so where?

[@ART1025MXL]

I think you're right in your Technik, as for your wife I think she has lost her natural pronunciation and intonation, her Spanish doesn't sound native any more, it sounds like she's been speaking English for too long without speaking Spanish, as a matter of fact you're pronouncing better. I'm telling you as a native Spanish speaker living on the Mexican side of the border. Vas por buen camino....Por otra parte aquí en México a swimsuits les llamamos trajes de baño y en España bañadores.

[@QrooSpanish]

She has definitely lost her Spanish accent. It's odd because she speaks Spanish every single day. When we were living in Mexico, people would assume she was not Latina but they would constantly ask her how she learned to speak Spanish so well.

[@kaym.2854]

Oh Linda's back looking pretty. Que linda! We love when you're here.

[@QrooSpanish]

Linda says: mil gracias :-)

[@jamesfreese4700]

Great comments and observations of sentence construction!!!!

[@QrooSpanish]

Thanks!

[@lafroing]

Speaking of infomercials, if you made a well-organized list of useful phrases, I bet you’d could sell a ton of them as a downloadable pdf.

[@QrooSpanish]

Thanks for the suggestion.

[@isaacandmary]

Okay Paul, lemme be the difficult student here. I know that you're trying to teach us to simply learn these triggers so that we know when to use the subjunctive. But why? What's the difference between 'in case' and 'just in case' that mandates use of the subjunctive in one versus the other?

[@QrooSpanish]

That's one of the mysteries of Spanish. Sometimes the triggers defy logic.

[@yupazestru5189]

Nostalgic for rediscovering the nosnos monos rule.

[@donnalofton7988]

I just found your videos a couple of days ago and they're reinvigorated my desire to improve my (very rusty) Spanish.

[@QrooSpanish]

That's great to hear! Happy to help. :)

[@saintsandsin3885]

I think you should not have stopped making your Spanish for Beginners videos. I think all you needed to do was make your videos shorter and with less intensive work all at once.

[@QrooSpanish]

Thanks for the feedback, I'm considering it :-)

[@tonyhormiga5242]

Hmm. Give us your notes Plz

[@marydrozdzik9470]

Just wanted to THANK YOU so much for your instruction! Your videos are a blessing!

[@QrooSpanish]

You are very welcome! I'm so glad you are enjoying the videos.

[@Andrew-nz9sr]

i think its because when you added "que" after "en caso de" the "que" triggers the subjunctive

[@kcorpora1]

no that is not the reason why. the reason why is simple, en caso de que is subjunctive by rule. In case says in case meaning that it has not happened but in case it does. by spanish rule it is subjunctive. there is no research or rocket science to it. the rule is no different than quiero or necesitar or dudar or recomendar as spanish triggers. por si if you use it does not pure and simple.

[@shamimgough1714]

What language do you speak together. Spanish or English?

[@QrooSpanish]

We speak both. I would say English 60% of the time and Spanish 40% of the time.

[@NewLife2028]

The FUN part about the Spanish Subjunctive, for me, is that it is NOT...at all...ever...based on nearly what everyone who isn´t native says: uncertainty. The clear case of this is the preposition of uncertainty, «IF». The only steadfast rule is that the subjunctive is based on triggers. English is radically mutating and because it is unstable and inferior, patched together like a Frankenlanguage, we «use to say» in case that we MIGHT, in case that we MAY. When that exact structure exists in Spanish, the far superior, extremely stable language which is nearly perfect, we STILL use that construction. Si acaso, the best translation being NOT may, NOT might but THAT, we use the indicative. So, thinking in Spanish is an elegant process of recapturing the grace and beauty English has forsaken. In case that we might, in case that we may (subjunctive) or If by chance we go (indicative). There are only six conditions in which the subjunctive is invoked and mostly with NO and the past, because even in the past, Si hubiera dicho invokes the subjunctive. 1. No 2. Cuando 3. Si «pasado» 4. Two subjects (que) 5. ¡Qué...! expressions and mandates 6. ...a secret. Basically, the subjunctive is just a way of expressing ¨might¨ and ¨may¨ which are moods.

[@jeffsartadventure3634]

Thanks for the videos,I always learn a lot!

[@thomasodonovan4426]

Where does pongamonos come from?

[@RoadyPacking-CyclingAdventures]

Otra vídeo muy genial, muchísimas gracias!

[@QrooSpanish]

Me alegra que te haya gustado!

[@abdulazizalhareeri2586]

Would you please explain why you used the subjunctive though no subject change

[@QrooSpanish]

Give me a time stamp in the video please.

[@abdulazizalhareeri2586]

Is this the answer to my question?

[@QrooSpanish]

You have to tell me where it is in the video. Example: 7:42

[@abdulazizalhareeri2586]

Ok i mean the only example you have demonstrated with your esteemed spouse:: pongámonos los vestidos de bańo en caso de que vayamos a la playa No subject change, however you used the subjunctive

[@QrooSpanish]

I see now. It is common to use the infinitive and not the subjunctive when there is not a subject change but that does also depend on the connector used. EN CASO DE would sound odd with just the infinitive used: EN CASO DE IR A LA PLAYA. So we use EN CASO DE QUE + subjunctive or we could have used POR SI + INDICATIVE - Por si vamos a la playa. This is where it differs from say, ANTES DE which sounds fine with the infinitive attached: ANTES DE IR A LA PLAYA.

[@mwiebe2663]

Paul, I disagree with you on one point. You DO have a “real product”, and an excellent one at that. I, like you, learned Spanish on my own starting at age 21. Like you, it was in the US, while working, socializing and eventually living with native Spanish speakers. I spoke pretty fluently after a year, but it was then an ongoing process of continuous learning. After 40 years, I often have to stop to recall how to say something in English, as the Spanish word or phrasing sometimes comes more easily. I speak intuitively, and the only difference between my sentences and Linda’s was that I use “traje de baño” instead of “vestido de baño”. In spite of numerous requests over the years, my husband (native speaker) would rarely correct my grammar. But my stepsons, who studied in French immersion in Mexico, would correct me, as they had a more explicit understanding of grammatical rules. It was pretty much only the subjunctive that ever needed correcting. I’d say I use the subjunctive intuitively (without thinking about it, because it “sounds right”) about 90% of the time, but there is still that 10% where my brain is sorting through options and grammatical rules as I’m speaking to make sure it comes out right. Even though I have often been mistaken for a native speaker, I have definitely learned from your subjunctive videos, Paul. It helps me to have these rules to quickly apply when my brain goes, “Wait! Subjunctive or not?” Thank you. I wish I would have had your videos 40 years ago!

[@QrooSpanish]

Thank you very much for taking the time to comment. I appreciate your unique perspective. I actually prefer "traje de baño" too...lol. The one question that I have is that, at your level of Spanish -- which I am sure surpasses mine -- why are you even watching videos like this? You shpuld be MAKING videos like this.

[@mwiebe2663]

@@QrooSpanish You have a natural gift for teaching. Also the way you are able to systematize and explicitly describe your trigger phrases, sentence fragments, etc. is a true skill. While I’ve always been a grammar and vocabulary nerd (in English and Spanish), and I love knowing the “why” of things, so much of my Spanish is intuitive that I don’t think I could so explicitly describe how I got there the way you do. Watching your videos gives me many “aha!” moments. “That’s why I say this or do that.” I appreciate that you use the proper grammatical terms for things. Because I never formally studied Spanish, I didn’t learn the proper terms for most of the tenses, direct/indirect objects, etc. and I LIKE knowing that. So I am learning. Also, whenever I’m not in Mexico, I spend a fair amount of my downtime watching KZbins related to Mexico and Latin America, just because I miss it so. When I’m actually in Mexico, I don’t watch YT nearly as much. In Toronto, we have a close group of 6 couples, all Colombian except my husband and me, and one of the other husbands who is originally from the US but has lived and worked in Colombia (where he met his wife). We had a karaoke night recently. The other “gringo” chose most of his songs from the English language repertoire. Mine were all in Spanish, because since 21 yrs that’s most of what I listened to. I think music definitely helped my language learning. My husband and stepsons all play guitar, and we sing together a lot. Nothing like being around a fogata, singing, laughing, conversing, reminiscing, whether in the Ontario woods or our patio in Mexico.

[@paulaswaim8434]

This sounds like the method on Spring Spanish channel, where they recommend learning Spanish in "chunks." This is my favorite technique and I did it in German as well. Thanks for the advice, Paul. Greetings from Evergreen, Montana USA.

[@sylviasiguenza]

Your videos are always so helpful. Thank you for sharing!

[@LeeDaiYing]

I am paying you in gratitude. Thank you for your big heart in sharing.

[@QrooSpanish]

Thanks for watching. Take care.

[@edwardburroughs1489]

It seems that structures which require 'que' use the subjunctive in general? Also it seems that use of 'que' and 'para' as conjunctions are mandatory in Spanish whereas in English their equivalents can be omitted. Anyway I was thinking (that) the 'mood' one is trying to convey is contained in other parts of speech in English which is why it confuses us so much. On a tangentially related note I was watching this and thinking how much we take for granted when speaking our own language: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p53FeKd7nJtrrpY

[@DrWoofOfficial]

Have you made a video on the several words for “to become” in Spanish? Might be a good video idea

[@QrooSpanish]

Not yet. I did do one on "to get" and there is some overlap there (get fat, become fat): kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIWZYmSgjL-ihqs

[@galentine09]

I just love Linda! She's one of those women you wanna get drunk with and practice Spanish! She has the best personality ever jajajajajaja

[@NoaNoir]

Linda es bellísima.

[@joesoy9185]

It´s notable that Linda, a native speaker of Spanish, automatically took the "easy" way out, so we should all do the same and learn "por si acaso", right ? 🙃 Why make life more complicated than it is already.

[@kcorpora1]

when I read some of the comments I say to myself that a lot of you make certain parts a of learning more difficult than needed. here is an example. if I tell you to go up 3 streets and make a right, you do not have to know the name of the street. there is never going to be a road block or construction. just go up 3 streets and make a right and the store is there. unless you cannot count you will never be wrong. por si en caso de que is the same way as going up 3 streets and making a right. por si is not subj always...en caso de que is subj always. plan and simple! I am used to using en caso de que subj...no need to be fancy...now I will use por si no subj. the spanish rule says 1 is not subj and the other is subj... use what you are naturally comfortable with. plan and simple! Good stuff!

[@QrooSpanish]

People do have a tendency to overthink things. I tell people if they don't know the subjunctive to use por si.

[@kcorpora1]

@@QrooSpanish as simple as that! use por si. I will start using por si but as said I have always used en caso de que subj. While in the dominican my lady friends father was sick and she was caring for him. She came over my place after work to visit. I told her "no quiero que te quedes aqui tarde, tienes que volver a casa en caso de que tu padre te necesite." But hey, cut down and use por si...less words, no subjunctive. tienes que volver a casa por si tu padre te necesita. Good stuff...go up 3 streets and make a right!

[@hackingpalabrita]

Un fuerte abrazo para Linda, and great video!

[@QrooSpanish]

Gracias. Un abrazo. :)

[@michaelhollis2177]

lol she said no!

[@username9577]

I'm glad that you have kept going! Hi Miss Linda! My Leasing Agent is second generation Hispanic/ American citizen. She is very intelligent and is super fluent in her bilingualism.

[@robertallair7278]

Hey Qroo Paul. I have been working on Spanish as a retirement project for a number of years now. Even though I already know most of the stuff I see in your videos, you present things in a way that allows me to incorporate what I already know into how I speak. You always give practical, totally on point advice. I feel I would have gotten to where I am faster if I had found your channel sooner. So, I wholeheartedly endorse your approach. You deserve many more subscribers, and a coffee, which is on its way.

[@QrooSpanish]

Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

[@MrAlirezait]

Love your content and especially loved this video, other than it being super cute you are literally showing the reality of how we can become fluent in Spanish which is something I wanna conquer soon haha. Keep it up 🙏. Also can we have your list of verbs please ? (can pay for it of course)

[@tombernard4612]

Thanks again Paul for another great video sharing your amazing tips and secrets to unlocking the Spanish language for non-native speakers. Just wanted to touch on something you mentioned recently in another video as to why it is important to explain things in English. Case and point. Although I live in Colombia with my Colombian wife and speak Spanish all day every day, I am continually learning and remembering new things the way Paul explains them in English. For example the way Paul explains what triggers the subjunctive is just one small example. When I speak with my wife or other natives here and have a grammar question no one would ever explain this to me as such, it would just be summed up by, " well that's the way it" is or that's the right way to do it, which prolongs the learning process by years. Once again thanks so much for all your invaluable knowledge you share, look forward to the next video! Mucha suerte a todos, saludos desde Colombia!! ;)

[@nittus]

In all honesty is not that natives don't want to help you. Is that Spanish is not that thoroughly thaught at school. Not even remotely close as Paul's or any other KZbin tutor's level. I don't know if that is the case in Spain. but at least in Latin America it's just basic+advance-ish grammar. With the years passing by, once you are our of school, all that little knowledge becomes such a blur.

[@tombernard4612]

@@nittus Yes, I understand that. I wasn't saying they don't want to help me, rather it's more of a case they just don't have clear explanations like Paul does. Just like I wouldn't have clear English grammatical explanations if I was trying to explain English grammar to an adult English student. As well I only mention this because a few weeks ago some viewers were complaining and asking why Paul does Spanish lessons in English.

[@nittus]

@@tombernard4612hehe Paul is great. this is pretty much why I watch these videos even though I am a native Spanish speaker. I'm pretty much reverse osmosis-ing my English while learning Spanish grammar :D Que tengas buen día.

[@tombernard4612]

@@nittus ahh Vale , muchas gracias y qué coincidencia! Es que mi esposa es paisa y nos encantamos ver Paul y sus Videos, la misma cosa con mi esposa, she is learning plenty of good English grammar and English phrasal verbs and idioms by reverse osmosis as you say ..jejejeejee.. by watching Paul's videos with me! Saludos de Colombia ;)

[@emm5468]

What terms do you use to find sentence fragments?

[@QrooSpanish]

Locuciones is a good one. There are different types of locuciones, you'll find a lot of them this way.

[@carlibeguerie]

En argentino sería, pongámonos las mallas por si vamos a la playa

[@QrooSpanish]

Qué interesante. :)

[@charlesgoller71]

Love your content man, purchased that book that you recommended and am enjoying going through it to help with my trouble spots. Verb tenses mainly. Keep up the strong work!

[@QrooSpanish]

Thanks for following the channel. I think you'll like that book. I've spoken Spanish for many years but I still refer to it from time to time. It is the best!

[@josedelnegro46]

Butt's work is beautiful. Paul's taste for a master work and his application of Butt's life's work makes Paul all the more worth watching. Plus Linda and her family are devoted to the language from the highest judicial level and tradition.

[@ronseymour4976]

This kind of exercise is SO instructive.

[@QrooSpanish]

I'm so glad you found it helpful!

[@pamp212]

up and her “it’s just normal” really make me look Jr your videos all the more!!

[@NoaNoir]

No podría haberlo dicho. Que buen consejo.

[@Svensk7119]

My first hurdle was conjugation. I studied and studied, and I picked up phrases here and there, but I always had to think about it. I was talking to my friend, frustrated, about all these hours, but I couldn't remember conjugations! My friend spoke. "You just have to remember the Rule: O, As, A, Amos, An." Picture a cave with treasure chests, all of them locked. He said that, my friend, and all those chests in that cave unlocked and opened. Before he spoke, I could not speak Spanish. After that, I could. Often my Spanish was broken and ugly, but I spoke it, instead of an idiom that at best was high Spanglish, with a few cogent moments of Spanish. Rest in peace, Lin Schuetz. My second treasure was and is the phrase, "¿Comó se dice?" Paul, your emphasis of the subjuntivo is a thing for which I am very grateful. I am still trying to make the Rule for the other tenses, but I am often complimented on my Spanish.

[@QrooSpanish]

It is great hearing about your learning process and I am so glad the videos are helping. Keep up the good work!

[@JLZwissRN1950]

Great tips! I created notes with all your phrases from your other videos that have been useful. This style of learning works for me. Now I’m off to see why “ Let’s put on…is pongámonos” 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@QrooSpanish]

That's the imperative mood (command form).

[@Stormy575]

My approach to languages is similar to yours, no wonder I am enjoying your videos so much! And while you certainly deserve to be compensated for your content, I appreciate you doing these videos for free. But for now I am happy to buy you a cup of coffee as a thank-you ☕ 🙂

[@QrooSpanish]

Thank you. I appreciate it. :)

[@tarikburns8846]

Hi Paul. I love your videos, thanks. I'm an Australian living in Spain. I remember hearing from ski instructors that the best 'skiers' are never the best ski instructors because they learn it so young that it's just intuitive. The best instructors are those who learn to ski as adults because they are aware of, and remember, the learning process, and so can transmit that to their students. It's the same with learning a language. My advice to any native English speaker who wants to learn Spanish; get your explanations from those who've already done it, and then go and practice with the natives for fluency and immersion.

[@QrooSpanish]

Thanks for taking the time to comment. What you said about the ski instructors makes sense. When we learn a skill as an adult, it requires more deliberate effort and we become more aware of each step we haven taken to accomplish it.