Using Spanish A Guide to Contemporary Usage

This is a guide to Spanish usage for those who have already acquired the basics of the language and wish to extend their knowledge. Unlike conventional grammars, it focuses on those areas of vocabulary and grammar which cause most difficulty to English speakers. It fully illustrates the differences between the Spanish of Spain and Latin America, and looks in detail at register variation. Complete with a full word index, this clear and easy-to-consult text guides students through the richness and diversity of this major world language. This new edition has been extensively revised and updated to take a fuller account of Latin-American (particularly Mexican) usage. The vocabulary sections have been significantly expanded, and now include examples which contextualize each word or expression. The presentation of many sections has been improved to make reference even easier than before, and some completely new material has been added on semi-technical vocabulary and Anglicisms.

This 2005 book is a guide to Spanish usage for those who have already acquired the basics of the language and wish to extend their knowledge. Unlike conventional grammars, it focuses on those areas of vocabulary and grammar which cause most difficulty to English speakers. It fully illustrates the differences between the Spanish of Spain and Latin America, and looks in detail at register variation. Complete with a full word index, this clear and easy-to-consult text guides students through the richness and diversity of this major world language. This new edition has been extensively revised and updated to take a fuller account of Latin-American (particularly Mexican) usage. The vocabulary sections have been significantly expanded, and now include examples which contextualize each word or expression. The presentation of many sections has been improved to make reference even easier than before, and some completely new material has been added on semi-technical vocabulary and Anglicisms.

1. Introduction; 2. Passages illustrating register and local variety; 3. Misleading similarities between Spanish and English; 4. Similarities between Spanish words; 5. Fields of meaning - vocabulary expansion; 6. Complex verb expressions; 7. Affective suffixes; 8. Idioms, similes and proverbs; 9. Proper names; 10. Adjectives pertaining to countries and towns; 11. Abbreviations; 12. Latin expressions; 13. Anglicisms; 14. Grammatical terms; 15. Interjections; 16. Fillers; 17. Transition words; 18. Numerals; 19. Measurements; 20. Semi-technical vocabulary; 21. Gender; 22. Number; 23. Word order; 24. Prepositions; 25. Prepositional constructions with verbs, nouns and adjectives; 26. Constructions with verbs of movement; 27. Negation; 28. Use of tenses; 29. Periphrastic verb-forms; 30. Modal auxiliaries; 31. The subjunctive; 32. 'ser' and 'estar'; 33. Pronouns; 34. The reflexive; 35. Comparison; 36. Usage with names of countries.

Using Spanish is a 2005 guide to Spanish usage for those who have already acquired the basics of the language and wish to extend their knowledge. Complete with a full word index, this significantly expanded new edition guides students through the richness and diversity of this major world language.

Christopher J. Pountain is Professor of Spanish Linguistics at Queen Mary, University of London.
Ronald E. Batchelor has now retired from the University of Nottingham, where he taught French and Spanish for 40 years.