subjunctive

Episode 202 – Q&A Spanish

It’s Q&A Spanish time again this week and we’re turning to questions from Beth who wants to know about using the subjunctive with aunque, and from Mr Bean who is looking for some help to translate “I’ve been studying Spanish for 40 years”. JP and Nayheli provide their expert answers as usual with lots of

Coffee Break French

Season 3 – Lesson 39 – Coffee Break French

It’s time for the penultimate episode in this season of Coffee Break French. Our translation challenges this week include further practice on the subjunctive and a couple of examples of the future tense. Please note that lesson 39 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 339 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the

Coffee Break French

Season 3 – Lesson 38 – Coffee Break French

This week’s coffee break provides some practice on the tricky pronoun y and some further subjunctives. Please note that lesson 38 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 338 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners.

Coffee Break French

Season 3 – Lesson 37 – Coffee Break French

We’re back with more translation challenges to help you test your knowledge of the materials covered in Season 3. Please note that lesson 37 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 337 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 27 – Coffee Break Spanish

This week we return to a topic we covered previously – in response to listeners’ requests. It’s time to look at your tricks and tips for language learning. Mark and Alba talk about the suggestion of one of our listeners which involves printing out internet texts and cutting out the words. Listen to the episode

Coffee Break French

Season 3 – Lesson 30 – Coffee Break French

It’s time for another lesson of Coffee Break French and this week we join Alf in his final text. He has been writing a diary over eight weeks while he has been renovating his new house in the south of France and attending daily French lessons with Veronica and Katie, the two other protagonists of

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 24 – Coffee Break Spanish

Following our recent musical episodes, listeners have been asking us for some suggestions of Spanish-language singers and groups. In episode 24 we’ve provided some suggestions, talking about Spanish groups Amaral and Ojos de Brujo, and we’ve also mentioned Colombian Juanes and the renowned Panamanian salsa performer Ruben Blades. Language points include more subjunctive talk, the

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 22 – Coffee Break Spanish

In this week’s lesson, Mark and Alba talk about music. Their discussion includes talk of playing musical instruments and how listening to music is changing because of technology. In the intermedio, José provides a couple of interesting phrases which can be used to say that you find something difficult. Language points covered include comparitives such

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 18 – Coffee Break Spanish

In episode 18 of Coffee Break Spanish Season 3, Mark and Alba talk about the advantages and disadvantages of buying things online, and share their experiences both positive and negative. In this week’s intermedio, Alba presents the city of Granada in the south of Spain, and José talks about ways to describe someone whose head

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 17 – Coffee Break Spanish

This episode is dedicated to all fans of the imperfect subjunctive… and to those of you who are terrified of it! After listening to Mark and Alba’s discussion about all things hypothetical, you’ll be 100% confident in using the Spanish imperfect subjunctive. In addition, Alba talks about her favourite parts of Madrid, and José introduces

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 16 – Coffee Break Spanish

Episode 16 features a conversation between Alba and Mark about what they’ve been doing since they last saw each other. Grammar points covered include possessive pronouns, and uses of the subjunctive. This week’s intermedio features a presentation of Barcelona from Alba, and José looks at some more interesting ways of talking about going out for a

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 14 – Coffee Break Spanish

In episode 14, Mark and Alba are joined by David, el novio de Alba. Topics discussed include Galicia, (the region of Spain where David is from), St Valentine’s day, romantic Spanish and the imperfect subjunctive. In this week’s intermedio, Alba talks about the film Diarios de Motocicleta, and José introduces some different ways to express

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 13 – Coffee Break Spanish

In episode 13, Mark and Alba discuss social networks including Facebook and Twitter and their value for language-learning. In addition, in this week’s intermedio, José discusses effective ways to say you’ve had enough of something, and Alba talks about the film Habana Blues. Grammar points discussed include subjunctive after el hecho de que, preferir que

Coffee Break French

Season 3 – Lesson 26 – Coffee Break French

We return to Alf’s story this week on Coffee Break French and his wife, Jennifer, has finally arrived in France. Alf has been preparing for her arrival, both with the house renovations and he’s even learned to cook! As usual there are plenty of useful expressions and interesting grammar points in this week’s lesson. In

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 09 – Coffee Break Spanish

In this 09th episode of our intermediate-advanced Spanish course, Mark and Alba discuss Christmas traditions in Spain. José introduces a couple of phrases which you can tell someone not to take something the wrong way in this week’s intermedio. Grammar points covered include al + infinitive, por and para, volver a hacer algo, and expressions

Coffee Break French

Season 3 – Lesson 24 – Coffee Break French

In this week’s lesson we’ll continue with Alf’s text from last week. There are some fantastic examples of preceding direct objects in this week’s show, and you’ll have the opportunity to practise ne … rien and ne … que. Please note that lesson 24 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 324 of Coffee

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 04 – Coffee Break Spanish

In this fourth episode of Coffee Break Spanish Season 3, Mark has just returned from a week in London and he discusses the advantages and disadvantages of living in a village, town or city with Alba. We also meet Laura from Verano Español, our forthcoming soap opera. In José’s intermedio he introduces two phrases which

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 03 – Coffee Break Spanish

This lesson was originally released in October, so in lesson 3, Alba tells Mark about a Halloween party she attended. They discuss the traditions of Halloween. In the intermedio, José provides two alternative ways to say that you’re tired. Grammar points include reflexive verbs in different tenses, the subjunctive after quizás. Not the most seasonal

Coffee Break French

Season 3 – Lesson 22 – Coffee Break French

In this week’s episode of Coffee Break French we hear about Veronica’s exciting weekend at the Monaco Grand Prix. We’ll be hearing about the party she attended at the house of one of her clients. We will be hearing more examples of the subjunctive along with a couple of interesting preceding direct objects! Please note

Coffee Break French

Season 3 – Lesson 21 – Coffee Break French

Coffee Break French is back with episode 21 in which we’ll be hearing from Alf, one of our three students learning French in Nice. Alf will be telling us about a chance meeting he had with his neighbour and his new interest in the game of pétanque , French boules. Please note that lesson 21