In this lesson, we will learn how to use "él" and "ella" in Spanish sentences.

We will focus on some important ideas like:

• Personal pronouns
• Changing verbs
• Making sentences negative

Understanding these concepts will help you create clear and effective sentences.

Personal Pronouns: "él" and "ella"

In Spanish:

• "él" means "he"
• "ella" means "she"

These words refer to people based on whether they are male or female.

When to use "él":

• Use "él" when talking about a boy or man.

For example:

• "Él es mi hermano." (He is my brother.)
• "Él juega fútbol." (He plays soccer.)

When to use "ella":

• Use "ella" when talking about a girl or woman.

For example:

• "Ella es mi hermana." (She is my sister.)
• "Ella canta muy bien." (She sings very well.)

Present Tense Conjugation of Regular Verbs

To use "él" and "ella" correctly, you need to know how to change regular verbs in the present tense. Here’s how it works:

1. For -ar verbs (like "hablar"):

   • Yo hablo (I talk)
   • Tú hablas (You talk)
   • Él/Ella habla (He/She talks)
   • Nosotros/as hablamos (We talk)
   • Vosotros/as habláis (You all talk)
   • Ellos/as hablan (They talk)

2. For -er verbs (like "comer"):

   • Yo como (I eat)
   • Tú comes (You eat)
   • Él/Ella come (He/She eats)
   • Nosotros/as comemos (We eat)
   • Vosotros/as coméis (You all eat)
   • Ellos/as comen (They eat)

3. For -ir verbs (like "vivir"):

   • Yo vivo (I live)
   • Tú vives (You live)
   • Él/Ella vive (He/She lives)
   • Nosotros/as vivimos (We live)
   • Vosotros/as vivís (You all live)
   • Ellos/as viven (They live)

Use of the Verbs "ser" and "estar"

The words "ser" and "estar" both mean "to be," but we use them in different situations.

• Use "ser" for things that are permanent:
  For example:

• "Él es alto." (He is tall.)

• "Ella es estudiante." (She is a student.)

• Use "estar" for things that are temporary or to show where someone is:
  For example:

• "Él está cansado." (He is tired.)

• "Ella está en casa." (She is at home.)

Asking Questions

To ask questions about "él" and "ella," use this easy structure:

• About a male subject:
  "¿Él juega fútbol?" (Does he play soccer?)

• About a female subject:
  "¿Ella canta?" (Does she sing?)

Making Sentences Negative

To make sentences negative, put "no" before the verb. Here are some examples:

• For "él":

  • "Él no juega fútbol." (He does not play soccer.)
  • "Él no es estudiante." (He is not a student.)

• For "ella":

  • "Ella no canta." (She does not sing.)
  • "Ella no está en casa." (She is not at home.)

By learning when to use "él" and "ella," how to change verbs, the differences between "ser" and "estar," how to ask questions, and how to make sentences negative, you can create correct and meaningful sentences in Spanish.

This basic knowledge is key to having simple conversations.