Nivel 1

Un poco de gramtica
1- Tilde
What is it? Tilde is the name of the orthographic punctuation mark () written on some Spanish words. Tilde shows what part of the word has to be pronounced stronger.

When to write an orthographic punctuation mark? Spanish words can be divided into 3 groups: Group 1: words in which the last syllable receives the spoken stress. Group 2: words in which the penultimate syllable receives the spoken stress. Group 3: words in which the syllable that receives the spoken stress is not the last or penultimate syllable.

Group 1: When words of the first group finish in n, -s or vowel you have to write an orthographic punctuation mark: For example: Camin (truck) But pared (wall) Pas (country) ayer (yesterday) caf (coffee) reloj (watch)

Group 2: When words of the second group finish in a consonant, except n or s you have to write an orthographic punctuation. For example: Azcar (sugar) But Hombre (man) Lpiz (pen) Libros (books) Fcil (easy) Amigos (friends)

Group 3: You have to write orthographic punctuation to all words of the third group. For example: Ocano (ocean) Fsica (Physics) Matemticas (mathematics)

As a general rule, monosyllable words dont need orthographic punctuation. However, there are some exceptions. For example: l (he) has orthographic punctuation to be distinguished of el (the).

Diptongo: When there are two vowels together in the same syllable and one of them it is i or u, it is called Diptongo: For example: Aire (air) Aula (classroom)

When there are 3 vowels together its called Triptongo. For example: Estudiis (you study).

If a word with Diptongo or Triptongo needs orthographic punctuation you have to write it in the vowel that is not i and u. For example: Adis (bye) Estudiis (you study)

Hiato: When two vowels are together but in different syllables is called Hiato. For example: Leer (to read) Ro (river).

If there is a word with i or u and another vowel but they are located in different syllables and -i or u has orthographic punctuation they are not Diptongo but Hiato. For example: Ma-r-a.

When dividing the words into syllables you cannot divide the Diptongos but you can divide the Hiatos. For exemple: Rei-na (Queen) (Diptongo) Feo (ugly) (Hiato).
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If you think that these rules are too difficult to memorize you can also try to memorize word by word. However, in the case when a new word appears these rules will help you to know when to write orthographic punctuation.