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11¿Qué te pasa?Section 4 of 8

11.4

Grammar

Doler: me duele, me duelen

Look and think

Daniel says but . Remind you of another verb?

Doler works like gustar (Unit 6): the part of the body is the subject, so for one, for plural. The person is . And it's an o → ue verb (Unit 9): .

With parts of the body Spanish uses the article, not a possessive: — not Me duele mi cabeza. The already tells you whose head it is.

one partplural
(a mí)me duele la cabezame duelen los pies
(a ti)te duele la espaldate duelen los ojos
(a él / ella / usted)le duele el estómagole duelen las piernas
(a nosotros/as)nos duele la gargantanos duelen los brazos

Examples

  • ¿Te duele la rodilla?
    Does your knee hurt?

  • A mi padre le duele la espalda.
    My father's back hurts.

  • Me duelen las muelas.
    My teeth hurt.

Ser or estar? Character or state

Look and think

The pharmacist says , but Daniel says . Can both be true?

Ser + adjective describes what someone or something is like — identity, character, permanent features:

Estar + adjective describes a state or condition — how someone is now, often after a change:

Some adjectives change meaning: (he is boring) / (he is bored); (he is a nervous person) / (he is nervous right now).

ser — what it is likeestar — how it is now
Mi hermana es alegre.Hoy mi hermana está triste.
La clase es aburrida.Los estudiantes están aburridos.
Daniel no es nervioso.Hoy Daniel está nervioso.
El café de aquí es bueno.¡Este café está buenísimo!

Examples

  • Estoy muy contenta con mi piso.
    I'm very happy with my flat.

  • Claire es francesa y hoy está resfriada.
    Claire is French and today she has a cold.

  • ¿Estás preocupado por el examen?
    Are you worried about the exam?

Tener + noun, and simple advice

Look and think

Daniel ; the pharmacist says . Two different uses of tener!

Many physical feelings use tener + noun where English uses to be + adjective: (I'm hungry), (thirsty), (sleepy), (cold / hot), .

To give advice, use tener que + infinitive (Unit 8) or the friendly question ¿Por qué no…?:

EnglishSpanish
I'm hungry / thirstyTengo hambre / sed.
I'm sleepyTengo sueño.
You should rest.Tienes que descansar.
Why don't you go to the doctor?¿Por qué no vas al médico?

Examples

  • Tengo mucha sed. ¿Hay agua?
    I'm very thirsty. Is there any water?

  • Tienes que beber más agua.
    You have to drink more water.

  • ¿Por qué no te acuestas un poco?
    Why don't you lie down for a bit?