Some differences between Spanish and English grammar & style

Keep in mind the following differences between English and Spanish. Remember
that your brains default tendency is often to use L1 structures in your L2. Many L1
structures are useful in our L2, but not all of them.
1. In English, the subject has to almost always be clearly stated. In Spanish, it is
often omitted, especially when it has been previously established or is clear because
of context.
Examples:
a. He is my brother Sam.
b. Es mi hermano Sam.
c. It is raining right now.
d. Est lloviendo ahora mismo.
e. Unacceptable: Is my brother Sam.
f. Unacceptable: Is raining right now.

2. In English, adjectives did not have number. This means that they have the same
form, whether the noun they modify is singular or plural.
a. The new books are in my car.
b. Los libros nuevos estn en mi carro.
c. The most interesting stories are the ones from the early twentieth century.
d. Los cuentos ms interesantes son ellos del principio del siglo veinte.
e. Unacceptable: The news books are in my car.
f. Unacceptable: The most interestings stories are the ones from the early twentieth
century.
3. In English, its necessary to use gender inclusive language. Masculine pronouns
alone are not acceptable if you are referring to men and women or humans in
general. Sometimes their is useful as a gender-neutral word.
a. The student has to sign his or her name at the bottom of the letter.
b. Each of your professors should introduce himself or herself.
c. All of the musicians parked their cars outside in front of the concert hall.

4. Adjectives in English usually come before the noun they modify; in Spanish they
usually come after.
a. The spectacular scenery made the hikers realize that they are in a special place.
b. Unacceptable: The scenery spectacular made the hikers realize that they were in
a place special.
5. The Oxford comma is often used in English and will always be required in our
course. This is the comma used in a list of three or more items. It comes just before
a conjunction (usually and or or). It is not acceptable in Spanish.
a. Samuel likes to eat toast, eggs, and bacon each morning before he reads the
newspaper.
b. The Governor wasnt sure whether to cancel the program, hire a new director,
or wait for the current director to improve her performance.
6. Punctuation belongs inside the quotes according to most English style guides.
This is the rule for all of your work in this class.
a. The author said, The challenge of writing is to transform the beauty of nature
into words.
b. In the second chapter of the book Pedagogy of the Oppressed, On Education, the
author critiques banking education.