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2 min read 01-03-2025

Estamos de Acuerdo: Correcting Common Grammatical Errors in Spanish

"Estamos de acuerdo" – we agree. It's a simple, common phrase, but even simple phrases can hide grammatical pitfalls. This article will explore common grammatical errors related to agreement in Spanish and how to correct them. We'll cover subject-verb agreement, adjective-noun agreement, and pronoun agreement, providing clear examples and explanations to help you master this aspect of Spanish grammar.

Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is fundamental in any language. In Spanish, the verb must agree in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third) with its subject. This seems straightforward, but errors often arise with compound subjects, collective nouns, and inverted sentence structures.

Incorrect: Los gatos juega en el jardín. (The cats play in the garden.)

Correct: Los gatos juegan en el jardín. (The verb "jugar" needs to be conjugated to match the plural subject "gatos".)

Incorrect: Yo come pizza. (I eat pizza.)

Correct: Yo como pizza. (The verb "comer" must be conjugated to the first-person singular.)

Tricky Cases:

Collective Nouns: A collective noun (like "familia" - family) can be treated as singular or plural, depending on whether you're emphasizing the group as a whole or its individual members.
Inverted Sentences: When the verb precedes the subject (e.g., in questions), it's crucial to ensure correct agreement even if the subject appears later.

How to avoid subject-verb agreement errors:

Identify the subject of the sentence.
Determine whether the subject is singular or plural, first, second, or third person.
Conjugate the verb accordingly.

Mastering Adjective-Noun Agreement

Adjectives in Spanish must agree with the nouns they modify in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural).

Incorrect: La casa grande está vacía. (The big house is empty.) – Incorrect gender agreement

Correct: La casa grande está vacía. (The adjective "grande" correctly agrees with the feminine singular noun "casa".)

Incorrect: Los árboles altos están verdes. (The tall trees are green.) – Incorrect number agreement

Correct: Los árboles altos están verdes. (Both the adjective "altos" and the adjective "verdes" correctly agree with the plural masculine noun "árboles".)

Tricky Cases:

Adjectives ending in -o: Masculine singular: gato bueno (good cat); Feminine singular: gata buena (good cat).
Adjectives ending in -e: Usually invariable (doesn't change): coche elegante (elegant car), coches elegantes (elegant cars).
Compound adjectives: Each part of the compound adjective must agree with the noun.

How to avoid adjective-noun agreement errors:

Identify the noun.
Note the noun's gender and number.
Adjust the adjective to match the noun's gender and number.

Pronoun Agreement: A Closer Look

Pronouns must agree with the nouns they replace in gender and number.

Incorrect: Las flores son bonitas; él las quiero. (The flowers are pretty; I love them.)

Correct: Las flores son bonitas; yo las quiero. (The pronoun "las" correctly agrees with the feminine plural noun "flores.")

Incorrect: El perro es grande; ella es muy fiel. (The dog is big; it is very loyal.)

Correct: El perro es grande; él es muy fiel. (The masculine singular pronoun "él" correctly agrees with the masculine singular noun "perro.")

How to avoid pronoun agreement errors:

Identify the noun the pronoun replaces.
Check the noun's gender and number.
Choose the pronoun that correctly matches.

Conclusion: Achieving Grammatical Harmony

Mastering subject-verb, adjective-noun, and pronoun agreement is key to fluent and accurate Spanish. By carefully considering gender, number, and person, you can avoid common errors and ensure your Spanish sentences are grammatically sound. Remember to practice regularly, and don't be afraid to seek help from resources like grammar books and online tutors. With dedication and consistent effort, you'll be expressing yourself clearly and confidently in Spanish in no time – and saying "Estamos de acuerdo" with complete accuracy.