Does this paragraph have any errors?

[richard148]

¡Yo estudio mucho! Tú para encontrar mí en la biblioteca casi todo el tiempo. Yo tomo las clases de las mathmaticá, la computación y la historia. Me favorito es clase de historia. Me gusta historia y estudio el pasado. La profesora es muy bien y enseña excelente. Los profesores de la computación y las mathmaticá no es bueno. Los estudiantes en las clases son amistoso y para ayudan con la tarea.


This is basically what I am trying to say.

I study a lot! You can find me in the library almost all the time. The classes I am taking are math, computer science and history. My favorite class is history. I like history and studying the past. The teacher is very nice and can teach really well. The professors of computer science and math are not good. The students in the classes are friendly and like to help with homework.

¡Gracias!

[Rusty]

I moved your post to the 'Practice & Homework' forum because I assume you wouldn't want us to just translate the paragraph. In this forum, we'll try to give you hints and help you to understand why things need changed.

Your paragraph has many errors.
What is your level of Spanish? (What verb tenses have you studied? What is your vocabulary level?) We can tailor our help to your level, if you let us know.

[richard148]

Hey Rusty,

I appreciate you moving the topic to the appropriate thread. I am indeed looking for hints and advice.

I just started Spanish two weeks ago. I have a really basic vocabulary and have gone through the present tense ar verbs as well as the basics of estar.

Thanks for your help.

[Rusty]

Two weeks!? Most people would start with a much smaller set of vocabulary than what you've chosen to use.

Let's tackle one sentence (even one phrase) at a time.

¡Yo estudio mucho! There's nothing really wrong with this sentence, except that you don't need to say the subject pronoun yo. The correctly-conjugated verb ending tells us who the person is.

"You can find me" is an English phrase that is referencing no one in particular. In other words, the "you" in this phrase isn't really a person you're addressing. In Spanish, this type of construct also needs to be written in an 'impersonal' way - it shouldn't address a second person. For that reason, Spanish has an 'impersonal se' construct. English has the same thing - it's the not-so-colloquial 'one can find me' construct. To use this construct in Spanish, the impersonal pronoun se precedes the conjugated verb. Now, the problem is, you didn't write the correct verb in your phrase. There should be a conjugated form of poder (to be able) in your phrase, followed by the infinitive encontrar. Then, the direct object pronoun me needs a home. So, there are four parts of speech needed. See if you can come up with them. The rest of your second sentence is fine.

[chileno]

Richard:

That's an excellent effort you've done.

But I would recommend you to translate form Spanish to English. So that you can get more acquainted with translating, and manage a bit better, instead of guessing so much and hoping that you will be right.

Do you know English grammar?

I always ask that question.

[richard148]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Two weeks!? Most people would start with a much smaller set of vocabulary than what you've chosen to use.

Let's tackle one sentence (even one phrase) at a time.

¡Yo estudio mucho! There's nothing really wrong with this sentence, except that you don't need to say the subject pronoun yo. The correctly-conjugated verb ending tells us who the person is.

Thanks for your help! I really appreciate it!

Originally Posted by Rusty

"You can find me" is an English phrase that is referencing no one in particular. In other words, the "you" in this phrase isn't really a person you're addressing. In Spanish, this type of construct also needs to be written in an 'impersonal' way - it shouldn't address a second person. For that reason, Spanish has an 'impersonal se' construct. English has the same thing - it's the not-so-colloquial 'one can find me' construct. To use this construct in Spanish, the impersonal pronoun se precedes the conjugated verb. Now, the problem is, you didn't write the correct verb in your phrase. There should be a conjugated form of poder (to be able) in your phrase, followed by the infinitive encontrar. Then, the direct object pronoun me needs a home. So, there are four parts of speech needed. See if you can come up with them. The rest of your second sentence is fine.

Should it look like this?
Se poder encontrar me en la biblioteca casi todo el tiempo.

Since its being written in an "impersonal" way what should the ending of the infinitive be? Do I keep it ar?

Originally Posted by chileno

That's an excellent effort you've done.

But I would recommend you to translate form Spanish to English. So that you can get more acquainted with translating, and manage a bit better, instead of guessing so much and hoping that you will be right.

Do you know English grammar?

I always ask that question.

¡Gracias! Thanks for the advice and I do know English pretty well. I have been speaking it for several years.

[Rusty]

Escribiste: Se poder encontrar me

The first word (the impersonal se) is correctly used.
The next word needs to be conjugated. Be careful, this particular verb is irregular. If you don't already know it, the box in the upper left-hand corner of this page will provide verb conjugations. All you need to do is type in 'poder' and select 'Conjugations' from the menu. The present indicative tense is the first block of conjugations given. Just pick the correct one for the person. Wait! I said there was no subject. So, what person is used with the impersonal construct? The third person. Use the singular form.

The direct object pronoun me appears in the correct place, but it needs to be suffixed to the infinitive encontrar. 'Infinitive' means that it isn't conjugated, so the -ar ending remains untouched. It is the verb poder that needs to be conjugated.

[richard148]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Escribiste: Se poder encontrar me

The first word (the impersonal se) is correctly used.
The next word needs to be conjugated. Be careful, this particular verb is irregular. If you don't already know it, the box in the upper left-hand corner of this page will provide verb conjugations. All you need to do is type in 'poder' and select 'Conjugations' from the menu. The present indicative tense is the first block of conjugations given. Just pick the correct one for the person. Wait! I said there was no subject. So, what person is used with the impersonal construct? The third person. Use the singular form.

The direct object pronoun me appears in the correct place, but it needs to be suffixed to the infinitive encontrar. 'Infinitive' means that it isn't conjugated, so the -ar ending remains untouched. It is the verb poder that needs to be conjugated.

Makes sense now!

Se puede encontrar me

[Rusty]

Very close! What did I say to do with the direct object pronoun?

Before we do the next sentences, look up how 'math' is spelled, and make sure you know the gender of all the nouns you used. Adjectives must agree in number and gender with the nouns they modify. Verbs must agree with their subjects.
A number of your mistakes fall into these areas. Perhaps you can change a few more things and lessen their numbers.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by chileno

Richard:

That's an excellent effort you've done.

But I would recommend you to translate form Spanish to English. So that you can get more acquainted with translating, and manage a bit better, instead of guessing so much and hoping that you will be right.

Do you know English grammar?

I always ask that question.

Originally Posted by richard148

¡Gracias! Thanks for the advice and I do know English pretty well. I have been speaking it for several years.

I never doubted you spoke English well. It is precisely why I am advising you to translate from Spanish to English.

I, in turn, do not speak English or Spanish well, despite the fact that I've been living in the US for thirty years and I am a native of Chile. I call it ignorance, of which I am conscientiously aware.

Then it seems your native language is not English?

Thank you anyway.

Hernan.

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by chileno

Then it seems your native language is not English?

Me parece que su lengua materna es el inglés y además tiene un sentido de humor inglés...

[chileno]

Originally Posted by pjt33

Me parece que su lengua materna es el inglés y además tiene un sentido de humor inglés...

I thought so. But one never knows...

[richard148]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Very close! What did I say to do with the direct object pronoun?

Before we do the next sentences, look up how 'math' is spelled, and make sure you know the gender of all the nouns you used. Adjectives must agree in number and gender with the nouns they modify. V
erbs must agree with their subjects.
A number of your mistakes fall into these areas. Perhaps you can change a few more things and lessen their numbers.

I'm a bit confused on what I should do with me. It needs to be suffixed to the infinitive encontrar but what does that necessarily mean?

As for the next sentence, this is what I came up with:
Yo tomo las clases de matemática, computación y historia.

Originally Posted by chileno

I never doubted you spoke English well. It is precisely why I am advising you to translate from Spanish to English.

I, in turn, do not speak English or Spanish well, despite the fact that I've been living in the US for thirty years and I am a native of Chile. I call it ignorance, of which I am conscientiously aware.

Then it seems your native language is not English?

Thank you anyway.

Hernan.

Thanks for your comments and words of advice. I'm originally from the island of Cyprus. I've moved to the U.S. twelve years ago and have been speaking ever since.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by richard148

Thanks for your comments and words of advice. I'm originally from the island of Cyprus. I've moved to the U.S. twelve years ago and have been speaking ever since.

You're welcome.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by richard148

I'm a bit confused on what I should do with me. It needs to be suffixed to the infinitive encontrar but what does that necessarily mean? encontrarme ('me' is suffixed to the infinitive)

As for the next sentence, this is what I came up with:
Yo tomo las clases de matemática, computación y historia.

Better.
You don't need the subject pronoun yo (it's clearly understood because of the verb ending).
The definite article (las) isn't needed. Tomo clases = I'm taking (I take) classes
"matemática" should be plural.
The word 'y' is changed to an 'e' when the word that follows it begins with 'i' or 'hi'.
Tomo clases de matemáticas, computación e historia.

Next.

[richard148]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Better.
You don't need the subject pronoun yo (it's clearly understood because of the verb ending).
The definite article (las) isn't needed. Tomo clases = I'm taking (I take) classes
"matemática" should be plural.
The word 'y' is changed to an 'e' when the word that follows it begins with 'i' or 'hi'.
Tomo clases de matemáticas, computación e historia.

Next.

Thank you so much!

This is what I have next:

Mi favorita es la clase de historia. Me gusta historia y estudiar el pasado.

[JPablo]

Originally Posted by richard148

Thank you so much!

This is what I have next:

Mi favorita es la clase de historia. Me gusta la historia y estudiar el pasado.

Hello, (welcome to the forums) . Just one correction. (You normally will add the article in Spanish in this case.)

I'd probably say,
"La clase de historia es mi favorita" for the first sentence but the way you say it is totally fine too.

(By the way, I also like history and study the past... To the degree that helps me to understand the present and predict the future...)

[richard148]

Originally Posted by JPablo

Hello, (welcome to the forums) . Just one correction. (You normally will add the article in Spanish in this case.)

I'd probably say,
"La clase de historia es mi favorita" for the first sentence but the way you say it is totally fine too.

(By the way, I also like history and study the past... To the degree that helps me to understand the present and predict the future...)

Thanks for your help! This is what I have for the last three sentences.

La profesora es muy buena y enseña excelentemente. Los profesores de computación y matemática no son buenos. Los estudiantes en clases son útiles y ayudan en la tarea.

[JPablo]

Originally Posted by richard148

La profesora es muy buena y enseña de una forma excelente. Los profesores de computación y matemáticas no son buenos. Los estudiantes en clases son útiles/amistosos y me ayudan en la tarea.

I marked suggestions in blue.
"Excelentemente" even if not "incorrect", I don't think it is much used. (There are some writers that avoid totally the adverbs in "-mente".)
I'd probably just say "enseña muy bien". Or probably "enseña estupendamente" (in this case the "estupendamente" seems more common to my ear.)
You can use "matemática/s" both, singular and plural, but I have heard it a lot more with the "s". (My brother-in-law is a Math teacher, and he says "Soy profesor de matemáticas".)

Regarding "útiles" this is a modifier (adjective) that you'd use with a tool, or a book... maybe with a person too, but in this context doesn't seem to fit. If you meant "helpful" I'd say "siempre están dispuestos a echar una mano" (they are are always willing to lend a hand). I put "amistosos" as I read your original post = friendly.

Hope this helps.

[richard148]

JPablo, Rusty and Chileno,

Thanks so much for your help!

This site is a great resource and I will definitely return very soon. Thanks again!