Part I
Getting Started
In this part . . .
This part lets you get your feet wet by introducing you to Spanish basics, including a brief primer on everything you need to know about Spanish grammar to start speaking it. You discover how to recite your ABCs; pronounce words and phrases like a native speaker; and meet, greet, and exchange pleasantries with other Spanish speakers. We show you how to count in Spanish (up to a million!), tell time, talk about days and dates, and convert your favorite measurements into metric equivalents. Finally, we encourage you to start speaking Spanish at home, where you can pick up all sorts of useful words and phrases.
Chapter 1
Spanish in a Nutshell
In This Chapter
Making the transition from English to Spanish grammar Getting a handle on a few very common expressions Counting to ten, telling time, and making dates Picking up a few Spanish words and phrases that come in handy at home Speaking Spanish when you’re out and about or travelling Everyone wants to know Spanish, but learning it takes considerable time and effort. That’s okay. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and we didn’t learn Spanish overnight.
However, you can wrap your brain around basic Spanish grammar and get up to speed on Spanish words and phrases in a matter of minutes. That’s what this chapter is all about. Here we provide the short ’n’ sweet version of the rest of this book, so you can start speaking and understanding Spanish immediately.
Tackling Basic Grammar
Studying grammar (language rules) is kind of a buzz kill...
