In this article, we’ll explore key verbs and their imperative forms, distinguishing between when you’re addressing one person or multiple people, and depending on whether or not you’re part of the group. The Coffee Break German Show is a podcast series in which we discuss useful and tricky topics for anyone learning German. In the
Do you know when to use un’, with the apostrophe, and when to use un, without the apostrophe? Un’ and un are both indefinite articles in Italian, and they’re easy to get mixed up if you’re a learner of the language. This is why it’s the topic of our latest episode of The Coffee Break
Liaisons in French are essential for fluent and natural speech. However, some liaisons are forbidden and sound particularly unnatural to native speakers. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at French liaison rules – in particular, identifying when liaisons should not be made. What is a liaison? The word “liaison” refers to the linking
Learning how to order a coffee in Spanish is an essential skill for anyone visiting or living in a Spanish-speaking country. Not only does it help you get your daily caffeine fix, but it also opens up opportunities to practise your Spanish and interact with locals! In this blog post, we’ll cover how to order
You’ve probably heard all about those German compound nouns. But did you know there’s a whole world of fantastic compound adjectives in German waiting to be discovered? These adjective combinations aren’t only fun to use, they can also add something to your German. Sure, you can always use adverbs like sehr or total, but creating
How confident are you with giving instructions, commands and advice in Italian? All of these require what is known as the imperative. The Italian imperative is essential to know for many everyday situations you may find yourself in. If you already know how to form the affirmative (positive) imperative (i.e. how to tell or advise
Liaisons in French, the linking of the final consonant of one word to the initial vowel of the next, play a key role in fluent and natural-sounding speech. However, it can be a tricky concept to master for learners, and one of the questions we are frequently asked by our Coffee Break French community is:
Knowing how to give commands in Spanish is key to many everyday situations. If you’re a learner of the language, it’s therefore important to know how to form the imperative in Spanish, which is used to give commands, instructions, advice and to ask someone to do something for you. The Coffee Break Spanish Show is
In this article about pronunciation, we’re looking at German vowels, particularly double letter sounds. We’ve already explored umlauts and letter combinations in another episode of The Coffee Break German Show. Today, our focus shifts to the short and long pronunciations of vowels, which significantly impact the meaning and clarity of words in German. The Coffee
In everyday conversations, one important aspect of communication is knowing how to give commands, instructions, and suggestions. This is done using what is known as the imperative in Italian. If you’re new to the imperative, don’t worry, as we’re going to talk through what it is, when you use it, and how to form it.
Using capital letters in French correctly is essential for writing accurately. While there are similarities between English and French when it comes to capitalisation rules, there are also key differences that every French learner should be aware of. In this article, we’ll guide you through the rules of using capital letters in French, ensuring that
Being confident with the nuances of pronunciation makes a big difference in your language-learning journey. One of the trickier Spanish sounds for English speakers is the letter J. This article will teach you how to pronounce the letter J in Spanish, provide tips for practice, and explain some regional variations. The Coffee Break Spanish Show is
In the world of language learning, getting your head around temporal expressions can sometimes feel like a bigger task than it really is. For English speakers wanting to understand how to translate “when” in German, the trio of wann, als, and wenn can initially appear as interchangeable equivalents. However, knowing the rules for when to
The verb fare in Italian is incredibly versatile and frequently used. As you’ll know, its basic meaning is “to do” or “to make”. However, there are many set expressions using fare, which you should know to help you expand your range of expression in Italian. The Coffee Break Italian Show is a series of short,
Are you ready to learn how to choose between the imparfait and the passé composé in French? These two tenses are essential for telling stories in the past, but it can sometimes be tricky to decide which one to use. In this article, we will help you identify what triggers the use of each tense
The English word “for” can be tricky to translate into Spanish. This is because there are two words that are normally associated with “for”: por and para. When to use por vs para in Spanish is something that many of our Coffee Break learners ask us about. The Coffee Break Spanish Show is a series
If you’ve ever found yourself scratching your head over why a verb suddenly splits in half, fear not! Because today we’re looking at German separable verbs, and we’re here to shed some light on this special category of verbs that can be confusing for learners. The Coffee Break German Show is a podcast series of
Have you ever wondered why the plural of uovo (“egg”) is uova (“eggs”) in Italian? Or why “one man” is un uomo, but two men is due uomini? While plurals in Italian often follow regular patterns, there are a number of irregular plurals to watch out for. But don’t worry, as we’re here to guide
The agreement of past participles in French is a key aspect of the perfect tense (or le passé composé). It’s a big topic for French learners and can seem confusing at times, which is why we’ve chosen it as the topic of our latest episode of The Coffee Break French Show. The Coffee Break French
Knowing how to appropriately express obligation in Spanish is a useful aspect to get to grips with if you’re a learner of the language. In Spanish, there are three main phrases used to convey that someone must or has to do something: deber, tener que and hay que. Understanding these expressions is useful for many
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