A UNIQUE NEW APPROACH THAT’S LIKE A LIGHTNING BOLT TO THE BRAIN You know that moment when you feel as though a lightning bolt has hit you because you finally get something? That’s how this book will make you react. (We hope!) Each chapter makes sure that what you really need to know is clear right off the bat and sees to it that you build on this knowledge. Where other books ask you to memorize stuff, we’re going to show you the must know ideas that will guide you toward success in Spanish. You will start each chapter learning what the must know ideas behind a Spanish subject are, and these concepts will help you with your classwork and on exams. Dive into this book and find: •   250+ practice questions that mirror what you will find in your classwork and on exams •   A bonus app with 100+ flashcards that will reinforce what you’ve learned •   Extensive examples that drive home essential concepts •   An easy-access setup that allows you to jump in and out of subjects •   Spanish topics aligned to national and state education standards •   Special help for more challenging Spanish subjects, including irregular verbs, indefinite pronouns, and ser versus estar We’re confident that the must know ideas in this book will have you trying out your new Spanish skills in no time—or at least in a reasonable amount of time!

Table of Contents:
Introduction The Flashcard App—with Audio! 1 Pronouncing Spanish Patterns of Spanish Sounds Using Accent Marks—¿Sí o no? Running Words Together 2 Being Friendly Saying Hello Meeting New People Welcoming New People Being Polite at a Meal Celebrating Being Polite Emergencies Saying Goodbye 3 Developing a Spanish Vocabulary Noun Cognates Adjective Cognates Verb Cognates Adverb Cognates 4 Identifying People Possessives Ser, the Verb That Tells Who People Are Subject Pronouns Asking Questions DIÁLOGO Chicos nuevos Identifying People by Nationality Identifying People by Ethnicity Identifying People by Sexual Orientation Identifying People by Religion Learning Where People Are From Using de DIÁLOGO Profesores de español 5 Talking About Family Tú: Another Word for “you” When Talking to Friends and Family The Plural of “you” “We are” “They are” Making Nouns Plural Possessives—Singular and Plural Talking About Two or More Relatives DIÁLOGO Apellidos LECTURA La familia Martínez 6 Talking About Jobs What Do You Do? Jobs and Professions DIÁLOGO Médicos Showing Possession with de Making Jobs More Specific with de Y and también—Together Ni and tampoco Showing Contrast with pero LECTURA Nuestros vecinos y sus trabajos 7 Describing People Descriptive Adjectives Describing People Using the Indefinite Articles un, una, unos, unas Showing the Strength of an Adjective Making Comparisons Superlatives Tener, a Verb Used to Describe Parts of the Body The Numbers 0–29 Indicating Age with tener DIÁLOGO Vecinos nuevos LECTURA Mi compañera de cuarto 8 Identifying and Describing Things Common Things in Our Lives Things We Use on a Daily Basis In the Classroom In the Office Around the House Things Found Outside Using Long-Form Possessives Describing Things with Adjectives Describing Things by Size Describing Things by Shape Describing Things by Color Describing Things by Other Qualities Describing Things with Nouns Describing What Things Are Made Of Describing Things by Category DIÁLOGO Regalos LECTURA Modos de transporte DIÁLOGO En una tienda de ropa 9 “It,” Counting to Infinity, and Abstract Nouns Using Direct Object Pronouns Numbers from 30 Up DIÁLOGO Conversación entre un maestro y la directora de la escuela Abstract Nouns LECTURA Lo más importante en la vida 10 Times, Dates, and Events Telling Time The Days of the Week The Calendar LECTURA ¿De qué signo eres? Events—What, When, and Where DIÁLOGO Invitación Using ir: Going to an Event 11 How People Feel, the State of Things, and the Weather Talking About How Someone Feels Adverbs That Describe Conditions Adjectives That Describe Conditions Making Adjectives Weaker or Stronger Using tener: When Something Is Wrong with Someone DIÁLOGO ¡Mi pobre mamá! Describing the Condition of Places and Things LECTURA Estamos nerviosos Reporting the Weather DIÁLOGO Visita a Argentina 12 Indicating Location Indicating Location with estar DIÁLOGO Prueba de geografía Indicating “in,” “on,” and “at” with Spanish en Places Where You Can Be Other Prepositions That Show Location LECTURA Mi dormitorio Indicating Location Using con DIÁLOGO Muchacho perdido 13 Describing Facts and Common Activities The Infinitive -ar Verbs Conjugating -ar Verbs in el tiempo presente Asking Yes/No Questions with -ar Verbs Asking What Someone Does on a Regular Basis Asking for Information with -ar Verbs Using Adverbs to Tell How Things Are Done DIÁLOGO La vida de una estudiante Using Stem-Changing -ar Verbs -er Verbs Conjugating -er Verbs in el tiempo presente Using Stem-Changing -er Verbs Other Common Stem-Changing -er Verbs DIÁLOGO Estar en forma Some Useful -er Verbs That Have Irregular yo Forms Other Verbs Whose Infinitives End in -cer Verbs Whose Infinitives End in -ger -ir Verbs Conjugating -ir Verbs in el tiempo presente The Verb salir, an -ir Verb with an Irregular yo Form Using Stem-Changing -ir Verbs DIÁLOGO Un consejo The Verbs decir (i) and venir (ie)—Two Stem-Changing -ir Verbs with Irregular yo Forms Verbs Whose Infinitives End in -uir The Verb oír The Verb elegir—and Other Verbs Whose Infinitives End in -gir Verbs Whose Infinitives End in -cir 14 Describing Actions Toward People and Things Verbs That Cannot Take a Direct Object Noun or Pronoun Verbs Used with Direct Object Nouns and Pronouns Direct Objects That Are Things Placement of Direct Object Pronouns Direct Objects That Are People More Practice with Direct Objects LECTURA Mejores amigos DIÁLOGO Ayuda con la tarea 15 Speaking Reflexively and Impersonally Infinitives That Include -se Common Verbs That Take Reflexive Pronouns— and How to Translate Them into English LECTURA Rutina diaria DIÁLOGO De vacaciones Reciprocal Verbs: How to Say “each other” in Spanish The Impersonal se 16 Giving, Showing, and Telling Indirect Object Pronouns Giving: The Verb dar LECTURA Dictados Showing and Telling: The Verbs mostrar and decir Asking and Answering Questions DIÁLOGO ¡Feliz cumpleaños! Direct and Indirect Objects Together LECTURA Bailes latinos DIÁLOGO Hermanos unidos 17 Expressing Feelings Two Common Ways to Express Your Feelings Customizing verbos psicológicos for Singular and Plural Subjects Talking About Activities That You Enjoy—or Not! DIÁLOGO Actividades favoritas LECTURA A cada uno lo suyo (“To each his own”) 18 Describing Activities in Progress Expressing “now” Forming the Gerund in Spanish The tiempo presente progresivo: estar + Gerund DIÁLOGO Conversación por teléfono Indicating How Long an Activity Has Been Going On Indicating How Long Since Something Happened: hace Indicating the Start of an Action That Is Still Going On: desde DIÁLOGO ¡Qué buena idea! Indicating a First-Time Action LECTURA Estudiar demasiado 19 Describing Intentions and Plans Asking a Favor Offering a Favor Talking About Scheduled Events Expressing “going to” The Verb pensar (ie) Using Reflexive, Direct, and Indirect Object Pronouns to Discuss Plans DIÁLOGO Amigo enfermo LECTURA Descanso 20 Explaining Our Reasons Saying What You Want to Do: querer Alternatives to querer Saying What You Can Do: saber and poder Expressing Necessity: deber and tener que DIÁLOGO Amigos y hermanitas Verbs with Object Pronouns LECTURA Mi futuro “To have just done” Answer Key