Dialogue

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Vocabulary

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Lesson Notes

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Lesson Transcript

Let's take a closer look at the conversation.
First, do you remember how Mark asks,
"How are you?"
¿Cómo estás?
First is cómo, "how." Cómo (enunciated). Cómo.
Next is estás, "[you] are." Estás (enunciated). Estás.
Note, estás is a shortened form of tú estás, “you are.” In Spanish, tú, “you,” is usually omitted, as it’s understood from context.
Estás is from the verb, estar, meaning "to be." Estár.
All together, it's ¿Cómo estás? "How are [you]?" ¿Cómo estás?
Note the rising intonation to mark that it’s a question. ¿Cómo estás?
Let's take a closer look at the response.
Do you remember how Jorge says,
"Fine, thank you."
Jorge Soto Aguilar: Bien, gracias.
"Fine, thank you." Bien, gracias.
First is bien, "fine." Bien (enunciated). Bien.
Here, bien is the shortened form of Yo estoy bien. “I’m fine.” Yo estoy bien.
Yo estoy is omitted, as it is understood from context.
Estoy is from the verb, estar, meaning "to be." Estár.
Next is, gracias, meaning "thank you." Gracias (enunciated). Gracias.
All together, it’s Bien, gracias. "Fine, thank you." Bien, gracias.
The question ¿Cómo estás? can be used in informal situations.
However, for formal situations, use the following pattern.
¿Cómo está usted? "How are you?" ¿Cómo está usted?
Simply replace estás, the informal version of "you are," with está usted, the formal version of "you are."
First is the word, está, literally "is," but translates as "are," as in "you are" for formal situations. Está (enunciated). Está.
Está is from the verb, estar, meaning "to be" in Spanish. Estár.
Next is the word usted, the formal word for "you." Usted (enunciated). Usted.
All together, it’s ¿Cómo está usted? "How are you?" ¿Cómo está usted?
Note that when asking about one’s well being in formal situations, the word for "you," usted, is included.
Imagine you’re Sonia Hernández, Mark’s Spanish teacher. Ask about Mark’s well-being using formal Spanish.
Ready?
¿Cómo está usted?
"How are you?"
¿Cómo está usted?
For the response, both of the following are okay:
Bien, gracias.
Estoy bien, gracias.
In Spanish, there are two verbs that translate as “to be:” ser and estár. When talking about well being, use estar.
So when responding to ¿Cómo estás? “How are you?”
Always use the verb estar, as in estoy bien. “I’m fine.”

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