Subject Pronouns in Spanish

Los pronombresLos pronombres

Examples:MikeMike is reading the book.HeHe is reading the book. Alicia Alicia skates well.

She She skates well.The team The team plays football.

TheyThey play football.

Examples:are going to the are going to the beachbeach.

WeWe

ItIt is an exciting is an exciting gamegame..TheyThey seem to be seem to be

nicenice.

Subject pronouns are Subject pronouns are frequently organized into a frequently organized into a

wimpy looking chart called a wimpy looking chart called a verb treeverb tree..(Watch…we’ll draw one.)

That”s it…That”s it…That’s all That’s all

there is to there is to drawing a drawing a verb tree!verb tree!

Spanish has Spanish has 99 subject subject pronouns and pronouns and 33 of them of them mean in English.mean in English.

YOUYOU

It’s not so unusual if you remember It’s not so unusual if you remember that English used to use words like that English used to use words like yeye and and theethee for you. for you.

¡MUY IMPORTANTE!¡MUY IMPORTANTE!

So, with So, with 33 words that mean words that mean YOUYOU, , it’s very important to learn them it’s very important to learn them and when they’re used and when they’re used since they’re since they’re not interchangeablenot interchangeable..

11Tú is singularsingular, called the informal forminformal form, and is used when speaking to a friendfriend, a family family member member or someone your age or someone your age or younger younger – anyone you call by their first namefirst name.

22Usted is singularsingular, called the formal formformal form, and is used when speaking to an older strangerstranger, someone older someone older or someone you someone you don’t call by their first name .don’t call by their first name .

33Ustedes is pluralplural, and is used when speaking to a more than more than one personone person, somewhat like using “y’all” in the southern part of the United States, or “you guys”.

A quick review…A quick review…

means means youyou when you talking when you talking to one person, a friend or a to one person, a friend or a family member.family member.

TúTú

UstedUsted means means youyou when talking to when talking to an older person you don’t an older person you don’t call by their first name.call by their first name.

UstedesUstedes Means Means youyou when talking to when talking to more than one person.more than one person.

Try and remember how the word is used,before the answer appears.

yo

tú

élella

usted

means I

means you

means hemeans shemeans you

nosotros means we

ellosellas

ustedes

means theymeans theymeans you

And, remember the verb “tree” we drew?And, remember the verb “tree” we drew?That’s how they all fit into the verb tree.That’s how they all fit into the verb tree.

nosotros means we

ellosellas

means theymeans they

First, this Girls, in a girls only group, use . Notice the –as on the end. If it’s a mixed group – boys and girls together, use the nosotros form, with the –os ending.

nosotras

And, this There are 2 Spanish words for they – ellos when talking about guys and ellas when talking about girls. With both boys and girls in the group you must use ellos.

yoyotútúélél

ellaellaustedusted

nosotros/asnosotros/asellosellosellasellas

ustedesustedes

IIyou - informalyou - informalheheshesheyou - formalyou - formalwewethey – they – only guys or a mixed grouponly guys or a mixed groupthey – they – a group of girlsa group of girlsyou - pluralyou - plural

How much do youHow much do yourememberremember¿¿ ??

Guess what these pronouns mean before the answer is given.

How’d you do?How’d you do?

How much do youHow much do yourememberremember¿¿ ??

Which subject pronoun would you use if

you were speaking to the following people: tú, usted, or ustedes?

La profesora de arteLa profesora de arte

Tu papáTu papá

Los amigosLos amigos

El Señor AllenEl Señor Allen

Un estudianteUn estudiante

ustedusted

tútú

ustedesustedes

ustedusted

tútú

How much do youHow much do yourememberremember¿¿ ??

Which subject pronoun would you use if

you wanted to speak about…The PresidentThe President

AliciaAlicia

Miguel y BetoMiguel y Beto

You and your friendYou and your friend

The girlsThe girls

élél

ellaella

ellosellos

Nosotros or nosotrasNosotros or nosotras

ellasellas

Your assignmentYour assignment

Make 9 flash cards, Spanish on one side and English on the other. Review them frequently until you know what they mean by heart.

yoyotútúélél

ellaellaustedusted

nosotros/asnosotros/asellosellosellasellas

ustedesustedes

IIyou – you – informal, for family & friendsinformal, for family & friendsheheshesheyou – you – formal, respectful, strangersformal, respectful, strangerswewethey – they – only guys, or a mixed grouponly guys, or a mixed groupthey – they – group of girlsgroup of girlsYou – You – plural, “y’all” or “you guys”plural, “y’all” or “you guys”

Remember:Remember: “ “youyou” words are for talking ” words are for talking to to people,people,the rest are for talking the rest are for talking about about people.people.

Now, sit back, watch and listento how these pronouns work with Spanish verbs. Can

you find the one extra pronoun thatis used only in Spain?

PowerPoint created by Bobb JacksonBobb JacksonHillside Middle School, Hillside Middle School, Salt Lake City School DistrictSalt Lake City School District

Pronoun song courtesy of S. LewisPorky Pig courtesy of Warner Bros.