Think+Spanish

Each month, John Conner writes a column for THINK SPANISH magazine, an incredible online resource for students of all ages. This magazine highlights interesting cultural information from all over the Spanish-speaking world. John’s column focuses on grammar, helping readers unlock the mysteries of the language. Each of his columns ends with a practice exercise with answers hidden at the bottom of the page! A companion magazine called THINK FRENCH is also now available.

We have enclosed links to John's articles, handily arranged here by topic. Enjoy!


 * “YOU BETCHA!” - Expresssing conjecture or probability - June 2009
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif width="16" height="16" caption="alt" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/thinkspanish/MAY09_TSLESSON.pdf"]] It’s great to know how to conjugate! (part 2) - May 2009
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="alt" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/thinkspanish/APRIL09_TSLESSON.pdf"]] Oh where, oh where do adjectives go? - April 2009
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="alt" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/thinkspanish/MARCH09_TSLESSON.pdf"]] -AR,-ER, and -IR stem-changing verbs in the preterite: Forget the boot! - March 2009
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="alt" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/thinkspanish/FEB09_TSLESSON.pdf"]] Boot verbs in the present tense! - February 2009
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="alt" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/thinkspanish/JAN09_TSLESSON.pdf"]] Great vocabulary for travelers, tourists & students - January 2009
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="alt" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/thinkspanish/DEC08_TSLESSON.pdf"]] You really ought to! - December 2008
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="alt" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/thinkspanish/NOV08_TSLESSON.pdf"]] Already, no longer, still, not yet - November 2008
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="alt" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/thinkspanish/OCT08_LESSON.pdf"]] It’s great when you know how to conjugate! - October 2008
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf"]] Ongoing action – the fun never stops! - September 2008
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/thinkspanish/august2008_lesson.pdf"]] It’s that time of year – ready for an end-of-summer final exam? - August 2008
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/thinkspanish/july2008_lesson.pdf"]] Using “gustar” with gusto! - July 2008
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/thinkspanish/june2008_lesson.pdf"]] Be prepared for por and para! - June 2008
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/thinkspanish/may2008_lesson.pdf"]] There’s a ghost! Use the subjunctive - May 2008
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/thinkspanish/april2008_lesson.pdf"]] The subjunctive again ….. CHAD - ATE - April 2008
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/thinkspanish/march2008_lesson.pdf"]] Be a “pro” - March 2008
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/thinkspanish/feb2008_lesson.pdf"]] Don’t blame me! - February 2008
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/thinkspanish/jan2008_lesson.pdf"]] Beware! Some common traps and pitfalls to avoid - January 2008
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/dec07_lesson.pdf"]] What if? - December 2007
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/nov07_lesson.pdf"]] The future is perfect – “el futuro perfecto” - November 2007
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/images/stories/oct07_lesson.pdf"]] The use of “se” to replace “le” or “les” - October 2007
 * [[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2007-09.pdf"]] ¡Bravo! - E-mail from our Readers! - September 2007
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2007-08.pdf"]] How about another little quiz? - August 2007
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2007-07.pdf"]] El pretérito y el imperfecto - July 2007
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2007-06.pdf"]] “I say” – Some Cool Sayings - June 2007
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2007-05.pdf"]] ¡Perfecto! The present perfect subjunctive - May 2007
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2007-04.pdf"]] It’s all relative – some of my favorite pronouns! - April 2007
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2007-03.pdf"]] The subjunctive again ….. LET’S ESCAPE! - March 2007
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2007-02.pdf"]] Demonstrative Adjectives (and pronouns!) - February 2007
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2007-01.pdf"]] Idiomatic Expressions - January 2007
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2006-december.pdf"]] The Subjunctive Mood after Verbs of Emotion - December 2006
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2006-november.pdf"]] More Letters from Our Readers - November 2006
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2006-october.pdf"]] Making Polite Requests - October 2006
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2006-september.pdf"]] I said: “No!” - September 2006
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2006-august.pdf"]] How about a little quiz? - August 2006
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2006-july.pdf"]] I Have Your Number! - July 2006
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2006-june.pdf"]] The conjunctions "pero," "sino" and "sino que" - June 2006
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2006-may.pdf"]] When Definite Articles Are/Aren't Commonly Used - May 2006
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2006-april.pdf"]] The Progressive Tense - April 2006
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2006-march.pdf"]] The Subjunctive Mood After Indirect Commands - March 2006
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2006-february.pdf"]] The Personal "a" - February 2006
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2006-january.pdf"]] Diéreses and “cualquier” vs. “cualquiera” - January 2006
 * <span class="jce_file">[[image:http://www.tobreak.com/plugins/editors/jce/tiny_mce/plugins/filemanager/img/ext/pdf_small.gif caption="pdf" link="@http://www.tobreak.com/documents/john_article-2005-december.pdf"]] El pretérito y el imperfecto - December 2005