Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Typing The Characters ¡ and ¿


¡ and ¿
Many Spanish students opt to configure their keyboards so that they can type the characters unique to Spanish. However, this is not always appropriate  when using someone else's computer. I learned that the hard way doing work in the business center of a B & B in Okoboji, IA.

The code to type the ¡  is Alt key + 0191

The code to type the ¿ is Alt key+ 0161

At first, the code may look random and easy to forget. But look again and you'll see the obvious connection.

The zero is your head sitting down at the computer. 
The 1s represent the keyboard.
... and the 9 looks like the upside down exclamation mark and the 6 looks like the upside down question mark

See what I mean: 12345 ¿78¡ 




Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Practice The Subjunctive With Gael García Bernal

I Want You To Want Me    is an old song from the late 70s that happens to be a good way to practice one of the more challenging tenses in Spanish.

Every line of the chorus is in the Subjunctive tense.

I want you to want me.
I need you to need me.
I'd love you to love me.
I'm beggin' you to beg me.
I want you to want me.
I need you to need me.
I'd love you to love me.


Luckily there is a Spanish version of this song Quiero Que Me Quieras

Here are the lyrics so you can sing along with dishy Gael Garcia Bernal

Quiero que me quieras 
quiero que me adores 
quiero que me sientas 
que urge que me ames 

Words in bold are in the subjunctive tense.