There are three key contrasting features between English and Spanish: spelling, noun forms, and verb tenses. These differences can lead to errors for students learning the second language. Teachers have instructional tools to help correct errors stemming from these specific language differences.

1. ESL 502 Lindsay Guenter

5. SPANISH ENGLISH *Masculine & feminine forms *Any article or adjective must agree in gender *English uses no gender in grammar except for personal pronouns *For example: -he -she -his -her -hers

6. SPANISH ENGLISH *Spanish verbs must agree with the subject *There are many different forms in every tense of a verb *For instance, eat in Spanish is comer *A few forms of eat are -como -comes -come *A few forms of ate are -comi -comiste -comio *English has 3 forms for the present of the verb to be -am -is -are *English has 2 forms of other simple present affirmative verbs -do/does -work/works *And only 1 form in the past tense -did/went *Therefore, there are not SEVERAL different forms for every tense of a verb