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FIVE LANGUAGES MADE SIMPLER 

French, Italian, English, Spanish, and German

A FEW FRENCH EXPRESSIONS OR IDIOMS

Il a fait une queue de poisson. = He passed another car and cut back very close

Je suis plein comme un oeuf. = I'm as full as an egg

Comme tu y va! or Tu vas y fort! = You're going a bit too far!

Je vous le fais 90 F = I'll let you have it for 90 francs

Cette offre n'est valable que jusqu'a 17 heures. = This offer is good only until 5:00 PM.

Revenons à nos moutons. = Let's get back to the subject.

Elle être bien balancée. = She's well-built

On casse le croûte? = Let's eat lunch (a crust of bread)

être dans le vent = to be worth it, trend

faire le correspondence = to make the connection (plane, train, etc.)

aller au petit coin or aller faire pipi or aller aux cabinets = to go to the toilet

les carottes son cuites = the die is cast, or the affair is nearly over

passer à la casserole = to be killed or to get laid

Il pleut à boire debout. = It's raining very hard.

faire la main or faire la rue = to "drag" the street for the opposite sex

Il couche à droite à gauche. = He screws around.

Tu viens boire du pot? = Will you have a drink?

Il promenait son regard partout. = He looked all around.

Il arrive comme un cheveu en la soupe. = He arrives at a bad time (like a hair in soup).

Quelques minutes s'écoulèrent. = A few minutes ran by.

Ménager le chèvre et le chou = to have your cake and eat it too (to manage the goat and the cabbage)

 

A FEW ITALIAN EXPRESSIONS OR IDIOMS

inghiottire il rospo = to eat crow (toad) or to swallow a bitter pill

A occhi e croce, lei essere sulla cinquinta (lui... sulle).= At a rough guess he/she is about 50 years old.

tirare le cuoia = to kick the bucket (die)

far pari è patta = to get even with

voglio dire ... = I mean ... ; vale a dire ... = that is to say ...

avere fin sopra gli occhi = to be fed up with

passare col rosso = to go through a red light

darsela a gambe = to take to one's heels--run away (verb dare)

alzare i tacchi = to show a clean pair of heels, alzare in piedi = to stand up, alzare le spalle = to shrug one's shoulders

da indi innanzi = from that moment on

venire con l' acqualina in bocca = to make one's mouth water

guadagnarsi il pane or la vita = to earn a living

volere è potere = where there's a will there's a way

copia in omaggio = free copy, a gift

L'abito non fa il monaco. = Clothes don't make the man (monk).

Sono come pane e càcio. = They're hand in glove with each other (like bread and cheese).

riprendre la marcia = to start to leave

vediamo un po' (poco) or che so or dunque = Let's see.

se io fossi in voi (te)... = if I were you ... (verb essere)

dar ragione = to agree; dar torto = to disagree

Lui è furbo di tre cotte. = He is cunning, a slicker.

Non si pensi. = Don't worry about it.

dormire come un ghiro = to sleep like a log (dormouse)

render pan per focaccia = to give tit for tat

O bere o affogare = to sink or swim (drink or drown)

fare la pipì = to go to the toilet; fare di tutto = to do one's best

fare le cose in famiglia = to wash one's dirty linen at home

Questo mi va. = I like this. (verb andare)

fumara como un turco = to smoke like a Turk (too much)

beve come una spugna = to drink like a fish (sponge)

Nudo come un verme. = Naked as a jaybird (worm).

Loro sono somiglianti come due gocce l'acqua. = They are as alike as 2 drops of water.

non farsi far fesso = don't be made a fool of

Meglio fringuello in man che tordo in frasca. = A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

cascare le braccia = to lose courage (droop your arms)

Non fare il passo più lungo della gamba. = Don't bite off more than you can chew.

piove a catinelle = rain like throwing water from a wash panragazza che fa la vita = party girl or prostitute

sgranare gli occhi = to stare or open one's eyes

covare con gli occhi = to devour with one's eyes

conserva la linea = to keep one's figure

Lei è bien piantata. = She's well-built.

fare l'amore = to flirt; fare all'amore = to make love

cascar dalla padella nella brace = to fall from the frying pan into the fire

detto fatto = no sooner said than done (verbs dire, fare)

 

A FEW SPANISH EXPRESSIONS OR IDIOMS

dicha actividad = the activity just talked about

mencionada actividad = the activity just mentioned

de la referido cosa = the thing just referred to

susodicho = above-mentioned

a fines de = at the end of; a fin de que = in order that

en algunos trechos = in some places

andarse por las ramas = to beat around the bush

Adonde el corazón se inclina, el pie camina. = Where the lover is the feet will go.

Llorar poco y buscar otra. = Cry a little and look for another.

Se aventó con otra. = He threw her to the winds and left with another.

Me levanté con el pie izquierdo. = I got up on the wrong side of the bed.

Más vale pajaro en mano que cien volando. = A bird in the hand is worth 100 flying.

Más vale lo viejo conocido que lo nuevo por conocer. = The well-known friend is worth more than the new acquaintance.

A arbol caído hay que hacerlo leña. = If you have bad luck, do good things

Ella está vestido de veinticinco alfileres. = She is dressed to kill. (with 25 pins)

Hay dos clases de mujeres--las decentes para casarse y las otras para acostarse. = There are two types of women--nice ones to marry and others to take to bed.

No le veo grandes tetas y beunas ancas, pero es linda. = I don't see big breasts and hips, but she's pretty.

¡Vete a freír esparragas! = Go fly a kite. (fry asparagus; verb ir = to go, imperative)

poner el grito en el cielo = to raise the roof (shout at the sky)

El echa sapos y culebras. = He swore toads and snakes.

La buena hambre no hay pan duro. = Everything tastes good when you're hungry. (even stale bread)

GADQUEV = Gracias a Dios que es viernes. = TGIF = Thank God it's Friday.

No necessita abuela. = He doesn't need a grandmother. (he brags enough for himself).

sin embargo, como ya he dicho... = nevertheless, as I already told you...

En este asunto me dí con la puerta en las narices. = In this matter I hit my head against a stone wall.

No se ganó Toledo en un credo. = Rome wasn't built in a day.

hacer pipí o hacer pis = to wee wee; orinar = to urinate

Me siento para el gato. = I'm dog (cat) tired.

Tengo un hambre de perro. = I'm as hungry as a dog.

 

A FEW GERMAN EXPRESSIONS OR IDIOMS

Mal sehen = let's see

Ach, so. = Oh, I see.

Sie ist schön schlank. = She has a good figure.

Ihm quollen die Augen fast aus dem Kopf. = His eyes almost popped out of his head.

Er schätzte mich auf achtzen Jahre. = He took me for an 18 year old.

Sie ist flach als die Niederlande. = She is as flat as the Netherlands.

Ja, aber sie hat ein Gesicht, daß man sich merken muß. = Yes, but she has a face one must notice.

Was ist los? = What's the matter?

Ich weiß nicht, was ich tun soll. = I don't know what to do. (verb sollen)

per Anhalter fahren = to hitchhike

Er ist nicht so toll. = He's not so hot.

Was ich nicht weiß, macht mich nicht heiß. = What the eye does not see, the heart does not grieve over.

Es gehen mir fünf Mark ab. = I'm 5 Marks short.

Ich bin fix und fertig. = I'm done for. (all in)

Sie fehlt uns. = We miss her. (verb fehlen)

Ingrid fehlt uns. = We miss Ingrid.

Er fehlt mir sehr. = I miss him very much.

das Kind mit dem Bade auschütten = to throw out the good with the bad (the child with the dishwater)

Es kommt immer gleich Knüppeldick. = It never rains but it pours.

Es schüttet wie aus Kübeln. = It's raining cats and dogs. (buckets)

Ich muß mal verschwinden or Ich muß mal. = I have to go to the toilet. (verb verschwinden = to disappear

Ich will wissen, wie ich daran bin. = I want to know how I stand.

unter gleichen Voraussetzungen = other things being equal

können sie behaupten, daß... = how can you say that ...

________________________________________________________________________________________

FIVE LANGUAGES MADE SIMPLER 

French, Italian, English, Spanish, and German--Grammar, Vocabulary, Phrases, and Conversation

by Wesley M. Wilson, B.S., M.B.A., J.D.

226 pages plus introduction, index, and a table of contents at the front and rear, Paper bound, 8.5 by 11 inches (21.25 X 27.5 cm), Printed in 1997, ISBN #1-57087-307-0

Price $19.95 + $2.00 P and H in the USA

To order books: 

Do you travel to Europe? Latin America? The “Typical Conversation” pages in this book can be your phrase book in France, Italy, Spain, Latin America, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. There are also guides to pronunciation.

The chapter for each language ends with typical conversations, grouped by subject. They include: polite sayings, greetings and meetings, questions and using the language, banking, finding the way, letters and the post office, shopping, hair and beauty shops, medical problems, sightseeing, entertainment, emergencies, hotels, eating, and drinking. These conversations will be helpful as a phrase book for those who do not speak the language, as well as a reminder for anyone who is fluent in the language.

This book has the complete grammar of five languages. Most of the first 83 pages have French and Italian grammar in columns on the left page, and Spanish and German grammar in columns on the right-hand page. English grammar and translations are interspersed throughout the book. The first chapter has many helpful facts in the five languages: written numbers, math, days of the week, months, colors, telephone conversations, the weather, time, how to ask questions, the use of capital letters, negatives, measurements, participles, and dialogue. Many pages have columns of adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions, and articles, divided by types, in the five languages, side by side. The text explains facts about the particular part of speech, with a separate paragraph for each language. German grammar requires several extra pages of explanations. The author has analyzed and presents in simplified form the various type of pronouns in each language, side by side. A chapter explains how to write nouns in singular, plural, masculine, or feminine forms in each language. Verbs, their moods and tenses, are clearly presented.

The author has prepared a separate chapter for each language. Those chapters begin with the full conjugation of regular, irregular, and other verbs, with hints to memorize their endings. The complete grammar is then analyzed, with many facts about verbs, moods and tenses, prepositions, hints on using the language, and more. We learn how to express our opinion, make suggestions, and to express any time in the past, present, or future. Hints on how to pronounce letters and words, compared with English, are given. Headings of food and drinks on a typical menu are analyzed. The author has compiled a list of words that he found to be used most often by native speakers. You can master them and sound more like a native. For fun, try the tongue twisters, speaking aloud, fast. The author has compiled a large group of idioms or slang expressions in each language. You can have fun with them. A few letters are included, business and personal, as guides.

The book has a list of more than 800 of the most common verbs in the five languages, in alphabetical English order. A list of more than 1,700 nouns in the five languages are grouped by subject matter. Subjects include: family and relatives; food, drink, and eating; housing; travel and transportation; clothes; toilet articles; the body and health; business, finance, and law; plants, animals, and the outdoors; entertainment and sports; the post office, education, and tools.

This is perhaps the first book in the world to compare the grammar and vocabulary of five great languages so clearly, in an easy-to-understand side by side form. It will make learning any of the foreign languages easier. Perhaps it will whet the appetite of the reader to learn the other languages, so we can truly become "citizens of the world."

INTRODUCTION TO FIVE LANGUAGES MADE SIMPLER

THE BASIC GRAMMAR OF FIVE LANGUAGES: This book displays it in easy-to-read form. This unusual method clearly shows the similarities and differences of the five languages. Anyone interested in only one "foreign" language will find it to be quite helpful. However, the reader and student will be enticed to study and learn the other languages. It will be an easy reference book to refresh your memory as to the various parts of the language you are studying. When you learn two "foreign" languages you will want to frequently refer to this book to look up grammar or a word that you are not sure about.

VOCABULARY: The list of verbs includes more than 800 verbs most frequently used in the five languages. The list of nouns at the back has more than 1,700 words in each of the five languages, grouped by subject matter. A knowledge of these nouns, with the verbs and grammar, will enable a serious student to carry on serious discussions in the language, to understand TV programs or movies, or to read a novel or newspaper in that language. The vocabulary of business, economics, and government words is so extensive that business people can use it when conducting business in a country where one of the languages is spoken.

TRAVELERS PHRASE BOOK for the five languages: The typical conversation in each language, with English translations, will be useful both to the serious student of another language as well as an occasional traveler who wants to learn only the basic phrases helpful during a visit. Anyone who travels in Europe will find this book to be very helpful to review or to use frequently as you enter a country where one of the "foreign" languages is spoken. Even teachers of languages in Europe, who may be fluent in three of these languages will find this book to be useful.

EXPRESSIONS OR IDIOMS: The spoken or slang used by native speakers in each language is as important as the written language. A serious student of another language will often ask himself/herself "how do I say that phrase in my new language?" You will have fun reading the phrases and marking the ones to try out on native speakers of the language. I compiled the expressions or idioms in each of the languages over a period of several years.

We learn a new language by various methods. Some of us learn better by ear, by listening to the language and speaking it. I discovered that I learn best by writing down a new word, comparing it with a word of the same meaning in other languages. TO LEARN ANY LANGUAGE, USE IT. Of course, you will make mistakes. People may laugh at your errors or your mistakes. Sometimes what we say is embarrassing. Don't be proud. Laugh with them! You will remember that word or phrase. Listening to tapes, saying the words with the speaker, is a good way to learn a language. The best way, however, is TOTAL IMMERSION. If you can, go to a country where the language is spoken, enroll in a language school where you will use ONLY that language (not your mother tongue), and live with a local family. Within a few months you may realize that you are thinking and even dreaming in the new language.

To keep current with a new language, Europeans are lucky. The countries are small, and people who speak your new language are never far away. In the U.S.A., when I hear a group of tourists speaking one of my languages, I talk with them. They are usually glad to find someone who speaks their language, even if my accent and vocabulary are not the best. I alternate in reading a novel in French, Italian, Spanish, and German. I read a few periodicals published in one of the "foreign" languages. If it is my own book or periodical I underline words that I don't know well. Later I look up their meaning in a dictionary, sometimes writing a translation in the margin. Another good way to keep current with a language is to listen to short-wave radio broadcasts in the evening. On a radio that cost less than 50 dollars at Radio Shack I often listen in one evening to programs in each of my languages.

This book began when I first studied my third language, French. When I couldn't remember a French phrase, I thought of the phrase in Spanish, my second language. I learned that this is a common problem for students of languages. I began to make lists of words in English, French, and Spanish, to help me separate the three languages. When I studied Italian in a school in Florence and German in schools in Stuttgart, Cologne, and Weimar, I continued to add words and phrases to my lists. I completed 14 "total immersion courses" in schools abroad, usually while living with a local family. Of course, I also studied the languages in schools near home. After each language course or other trip I added my list of new words, phrases, and expressions to my computer files, correcting errors and improving old phrases. My wife has also studied all of the five languages. We have acquired a large home library of dictionaries, grammars, encyclopedias, novels, and other books in the five languages. I have made several trips to Europe with the principal purpose to add new expressions and phrases to my list and to study British grammar and spelling, comparing it with that of the U.S.. This book represents many years of language studies. I find the systematic comparison of languages used in this handbook to be so helpful that others should also have access to it. It supplements language courses at home or abroad, as well as studying with casette tapes.

Each copy includes a sheet listing corrections. Most of the errors are in German. 

EXCERPTS, FIVE LANGUAGES MADE SIMPLER,  Copyright 1997

[Excerpt, P. 15-16]

French, Italian, English, Spanish, and German Adverbs

An adverb completes the sense of the word it modifies--a verb, adjective, or another adverb. An adverb usually answers the questions: when? where? why? how? An adverb does not accord in gender or number with the word it modifies. (French exception: tous, toute(e)(s)) Adverbs of comparison, like adjectives, have different endings for the positive, comparative, and superlative. (See Adjectives, p. 32, 33 for comparisons.)

Fr.: Many adverbs (adverbe, m.) are formed from an adjective by adding -ment to the feminine form. This corresponds to -ly in English. An adverb is usually placed  after the verb it modifies. (Ex.: Il se promene lentement autour de la montagne.) (He walked slowly around the mountain.) but always  before the  adjective it modifies. (Ex.: Il avait bu une trop grande quantite du vin.) (He has drunk too much wine.) A short adverb is usually placed before the verb. Ex.: Elle a toujours eu des amis. (She always had friends.)

It. Many adverbs (avverbio, m.) are formed by adding -mente to the feminine form of the adjective. Ex.: certo = certamente. When the adjective ends in e and has its stress on the antepenult (3rd syllable from the end), the final e is dropped. Ex.: facile = facilmente. As in En., adverbs normally follow the verb.

En. Some words are the same whether used as an adverb or an adjective; look at the meaning of the sentence to determine which it is. Ex.: hard, late, well, fast. Many adjectives add the suffix -ly to form an adverb. Some nouns add -ful, -able, or -wise to create an adverb.

Sp. Many adverbs (averbio, m.) are formed from an adjective by adding -mente to the feminine form of adjectives with -o or -a endings; -mente is attached directly to the end of other adjectives. This is like -ly in English. (See p. 142 for adverbs, etc. used only with the indicative or with the subjunctive.) Some adv. are formed by adding con before a noun.

Gr. Adverb (das Umstandswort oder das Adverb) endings do not decline, they take the same form, no matter how used. Separable prefixes are usually adverbs (ab = down, away, auf = up, fort, los, and weg = away, nieder = down, weiter = further on, wieder = again, zurück = back.) An adverb usually follows the verb and any pronoun. If a sentence has more than one adverb they are in this order: time, reason, manner, place. Ex.: Ich fahre übermorgen mit dem Bus nach Stuttgart. (I'm going by bus to Stuttgart the day after tomorrow.) An adverb never comes between the subject and a verb. Ex.: Er ißt nie allein. (He never eats alone.) Suffixes are used to form an adverb, including -lich (abendlich) and -weise (normalweise). Nearly all adjectives and many nouns may be used as adverbs, often adding -s, -weise, -or -halb. For the comparative form add -er. Ex.: lieber = rather. For the superlative use the prefix am and the suffix -en. Ex.: am besten = the best. Desto often means the. Je often means the or ever. Ex.: Desto besser or je besser = the longer the better; je Kilo = per kilo

ADVERBS OF MANNER

Fr-manibre,f., It-modo,m., Sp-manera,f., Gr-die Art)

[Excerpts, P. 23-24]

French , Italian , English , Spanish , and German Adjectives

An  adjective modifies or describes a noun (substantive) or pronoun. It is a type of  determinant. Except as stated below all adjectives in Fr., It., Sp., and Gr. must agree in gender (sex) and number (singular or plural) with the noun or pro-noun they modify. An adjective often comes  after its noun(s), unless it adds something important to or qualifies the noun. An adjective should appear close to the noun or pronoun it modifies. Below only the masc. form is usually given.

Fr.: An adjective (adjectif, m.) is usually placed  after  the  noun, but it is placed before the noun when it is short and frequently used (tous, chaque, petit, grand, jeune, joli, gros, bon, gentil, etc.), when it qualifies a proper noun (le celebre Mme. Curie), and in a few other instances. When there are 2 adjectives they usually follow the noun. (Ex.: Il a choisi une épouse belle et blonde.) (He chose a wife pretty and blond.) When an adjective modifies both masculine and feminine nouns the adjective is masculine. Some adjectives have an objective meaning when placed after the noun and an affective meaning when placed before. Ex.: un homme grand (big); un grand homme (important). Many adjectives are formed from the present participle of a verb (ending in -nt). Ex.: Ils garderent longtemps le silence. (They were quiet a long time.) To change adj. ending in masc. -eux to fem., change the ending to -euse. Adjectives with a masc. ending of -e usually change it to -é and add another -e to form the fem.

It. Adjectives (aggettivo, m.) usually follow nouns, but all adjectives must agree with the noun, though endings may not be identical. Adjectives that end in -o are masc., those that end in -a are fem; those that end in -e may be either masc. or fem. Adjectives and nouns that end in -o or -e form their plural by changing the ending to -i; those that end in -a change the ending to -e. Ex.: caro (masc. sg.), cara (fem. sg.), cari (masc. pl.), care (fem. pl.) Ex. of an adjective that has only two endings: gentile (masc. and fem. sg.), gentili (masc. and fem.pl.). An adj. can be repeated to make it stronger. The endings for colors (see p. 6) does not change for masc. or fem., sg. or pl. Descriptive adjectives usually follow the noun but interrogative and possessive adjectives precede the noun.

En. An  attributive adjective is placed before the noun, which it describes or modifies. Ex.: The day was cold and wet. An  appositive adjective directly follows the noun and explains its use. Ex.: The girl, cheerful and pretty, soon had many friends. A  predicate adjective also follows the noun. Ex.: The task was difficult. Adjectives do not change endings based upon gender, number, or case. Many nouns and verbs add a suffix to form an adjective. Ex.: (noun) shame + full = shameful, child + ish = childish, (verb) prefer + able = preferable

Sp.: An adjective (adjetivo,a) usually follows the noun, but limiting adjectives and those expressing quantities are placed before the noun. To change a substantive into an adjective, the last letter is often omitted and  -oso( a), -udo( a), -ico(a), -ble, or -il is added. To change the masc. endings -o, and -os to fem., change them to  -a or -as. An adjective ending in -e may be either masc. or fem. If an adjective ends in a consonant, usually add  -a to form the fem. (Exception: joven, m, f = young person). To form a plural, add -s or -es after a consonant. All adjectives in a sentence, including those following a noun, must accord in gender and number with the noun.

Gr.: When an adjective (das Adjektiv) precedes the noun or pronoun it is used as an attributive adj., which always takes an ending (declines). It must agree not only in gender and number, but also in case of the noun it modifies. To change a substantive (noun) into an adjective, the last 2 letters are often omitted and a suffix (such as -lich) is added. All adjectives preceding the same noun have the same ending.

The endings for the der words (der, die, das, a "weak" declension) is the same as for the definite article.(see p. 50) The ending for the ein words (with a "mixed" declension) is the same as for the indef. art. The negative  kein and all the possessives are called ein words because they receive the same endings as the indef. art. (see p. 50, 51).

An adjective which is not preceded by any of the der or ein words, nor by an article, is independent or "strong." All adj. preceding the same noun have the same endings.

In the dative (ind. ob.) the adjective usually follows the noun. Ex.: Sie war es leicht. (For her it was easy.) But für usually precedes the noun. Ex.: Für sie war es leicht. (For her it was easy.) When an adj. follows the noun, it is used as a predicate adjective, and it does not decline--the endings do not change. Ex.: Der Kaffee war bitter. (The coffee was bitter.) Er wird  alt. (He is old.) Heute ist sie sehr  krank. (She's very sick today.) Some adjectives require the dative (ind. obj.), particularly when used as a predicate adjective.

  DESCRIPTIVE OR QUALIFYING ADJECTIVES

(Fr-descriptif ou qualificatif; It-descriptivo, Sp-descriptivo o elimination, Gr-beschreibend)

They specify a quality of the noun they modify.

[Excerpts, P. 40]

French, Italian, English, Spanish and German Prepositions

(Fr-préposition,f.; It-preposizione,f.; Sp-preposición,f.; Gr-die Präposition)

A preposition is a word that, when used with a substantive (noun or pronoun, the object of the preposition), shows the relation of that substantive to some other word in the sentence. Prepositions are usually necessary to make the meaning clear. Ex.: She walked into the room. Prepositions often contract with articles--see p. 48.

Fr.: After all prepositions except en, the infinitive is the only form of a verb. Ex.: Je suis à New York. Je viens de Chicago. (I'm from New York. I come from Chicago.) Many prepositions act as an adverb when placed at the end of a phrase. Repeat à and de before each of their objects.

It. The preposition di expresses the possessive (gen.) case of the English noun. The name of the possessor follows the name of the object possessed. Ex.: il libro di Roberto = Robert's book. The prepositions del, dello, della, degli, and delle also precede nouns in the partitive sense. Ex.: ho comprato dei libri = I bought some books; dammi dell'altro pane = give me some more bread. (See articles, p. 48, for contractions.)

Modal verbs (dovere, potere, and volere, see p. 109) and a few other verbs, do not use a preposition.

En.: The participle present or -ing form of a verb is often used. The noun following certain prepositions is the same form (nom., gen., etc.) for all prepositions. A prepositional phrase is always used as a part of speech, usually as an adjective or as an adverb.

Sp.: The infinitive is the only form of a verb used as an object of a preposition. Ex.: No podemos salir sin terminar. (We can't leave until we finish.) Many adverbs act as prepositions when de is added. To form prepositions from adverbs, add de. Ex.: además de (besides), detrás de (after).

Sp. uses prepositions: (1) before a dir. obj. referring to a person. Ex.: Vi a su tia. (I saw his aunt.)

(2) before nadie, quien, éste, etc. when used as dir. obj. referring to persons. Ex.: No vi a nadie. (I didn't see anyone.) (3) before infinitives following verbs of motion. Ex.: Voy a correr. (I'm going to run.) (4) To show the ind. obj. Ex.: Ella va a casa. (She goes to the house.) (5) with expressions of time. Ex.: Son los dos. (It's two o'clock.) (6) to show the means. Ex.: Escribe a lápiz. (He writes with a pencil.) (7) To show measurements, units, and price. Ex.: Los venden a un dolar por dos. (They sell for a dollar for two.)

(8) to clarify the meaning and in certain adverbial expressions. (See p. 22)

Gr.: The noun following a preposition is always in a particular case other than nominative. A preposition usually comes before the noun to which it refers. Ex.: vier Stunden hin und vier her = 4 hours there and 4 back

Some ("postpositions") can come after the noun. Ex.: Der Boden besteht aus Beton. (The floor is made of concrete.) Abbreviations used below: gen = genitive (poss.), dat = dative (ind. obj.), acc = accusative (dir. obj.), dat-acc = dative or accusative

PREPOSITIONS OF TIME (Fr-temps,m.; It-tempo,m.; Sp-tiempo,m.; Gr-die Zeit)

(Some prepositions may apply to time, place, and/or "other")

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Basic Languages P.25