A2 · Unit 20 · 38 words, 2 texts with translation
Look back on your year in Spain
Say goodbye and look back on a year in Spain: talk about feelings, goals, hard times and what you've learned.
Texts in this unit
Grammar in this unit
Three past tenses together: one question to ask yourself
You already know all three past tenses: he hecho (present perfect, units 2–3), hice (preterite, units 7–9) and hacía (imperfect, units 12–13) — and how to choose between hice and hacía (unit 16). There are no new forms here — just the big picture.
When you talk about the past — a trip, your job, your year in Spain — ask yourself one question before each verb:
| Question to ask yourself | Tense | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Is it background: how things were, what someone was like, what they usually did? | hacía | Al principio no conocía a nadie. — At first I didn't know anyone. |
| Is it an event: it happened and it's over — yesterday, in May, a year ago? | hice | En mayo encontré trabajo. — In May I found a job. |
| Is it a result up to today, or a period that isn't over yet — today, this year? | he hecho | Este año he aprendido mucho. — I've learned a lot this year. |
In a real story all three stand side by side:
- Hace un año llegué a Valencia. — A year ago I came to Valencia. (event)
- Tenía miedo y hablaba poco. — I was scared and didn't talk much. (background)
- Pero ya he hecho muchos amigos. — But I've already made a lot of friends. (result)
Don't choose the tense by the English verb. The English simple past covers two Spanish tenses: "I was scared" is tenía (background), but "I came" is llegué (event). And English often says "I worked a lot today", while in Spain hoy goes with he trabajado, because today isn't over yet. Look at the question in the table, not at the English form.
He hecho and hice in one story: this year, but last May
You already know the time words: hoy, esta semana, ya, todavía no go with he hecho (unit 2), and hice goes with ayer, anoche, el año pasado — yesterday, last night, last year (unit 7). What's new here is how both tenses live in one story.
A big period is still going on, but a small one inside it is already over. The year isn't over — he hecho. But May or Monday inside it are already past — for them, use hice:
- Este año he viajado mucho. En mayo estuve en Madrid. — I've traveled a lot this year. In May I was in Madrid.
- Esta semana he trabajado poco. El lunes no trabajé. — I haven't worked much this week. On Monday I didn't work.
From "have you ever" to "when". A question about experience uses he hecho: there's no time in it. As soon as the answer says when, switch to hice. English works exactly the same way here:
- ¿Has estado en Madrid? — Have you been to Madrid?
- Sí, estuve allí en mayo. — Yes, I was there in May.
No time at all — it's news or a result: He encontrado trabajo. — I've found a job. Add when, and the tense changes: encontré trabajo en enero (I found a job in January).
A common mistake is keeping one tense through the whole story: starting with este año he… and going on with ✗ en mayo he estado. Each time, look at the nearest time word. En mayo, ayer, hace dos meses (unit 8): that period is closed, so you need hice.
In Latin America people often use hice in both cases. This course is about Spain, and here people clearly hear the difference.
Words in this unit
la despedida — goodbye, farewell, send-off
Mañana hacemos una cena de despedida. — Tomorrow we're having a farewell dinner.
despedirse — to say goodbye
Mañana me despido de todos. — Tomorrow I'm saying goodbye to everyone.
regresar — to return, to come back, to go back
Regreso a casa a las ocho. — I come back home at eight.
el regreso — return, trip back
Mi regreso a casa es en julio. — My return home is in July.
el abrazo — hug
Dame un abrazo. — Give me a hug.
el beso — kiss
En España nos saludamos con dos besos. — In Spain we greet each other with two kisses.
que tengas un buen día — have a good day
Hasta mañana y que tengas un buen día. — See you tomorrow, and have a good day.
hasta pronto — see you soon
Adiós a todos, hasta pronto. — Bye, everyone, see you soon.
cuídate — take care
Adiós, Marta, cuídate mucho. — Bye, Marta, take good care of yourself.
pronto — soon, early
Vuelvo pronto. — I'll be back soon.
para siempre — forever
Esta amistad es para siempre. — This friendship is forever.
sobre todo — especially, above all
Me gusta Valencia, sobre todo el mar. — I like Valencia, especially the sea.
cuando quieras — whenever you want
Llámame cuando quieras. — Call me whenever you want.
espero que estés bien — I hope you're well
Hola, Pablo, espero que estés bien. — Hi, Pablo, I hope you're well.
agradecer — to thank, to be grateful for
Te agradezco mucho la ayuda. — I really appreciate your help.
la emoción — emotion, excitement
¡Qué emoción! — How exciting!
el hogar — home
Un hogar es más que una casa. — A home is more than a house.
la etapa — stage, period
Es una nueva etapa de mi vida. — It's a new stage in my life.
el comienzo — beginning, start
El comienzo del curso fue difícil. — The beginning of the course was hard.
la meta — goal, finish line
Mi meta es hablar bien español. — My goal is to speak Spanish well.
el objetivo — goal, aim, objective
Mi objetivo es aprobar el examen. — My goal is to pass the exam.
el reto — challenge
Vivir solo es un reto. — Living alone is a challenge.
superar — to overcome, to get through, to exceed
Hay que superar el miedo. — You have to overcome your fear.
valer la pena — to be worth it
Vale la pena visitar Toledo. — It's worth visiting Toledo.
duro — hard, tough
Fue un año duro. — It was a tough year.
especial — special
Hoy es un día especial. — Today is a special day.
maravilloso — wonderful, marvelous
Fue un viaje maravilloso. — It was a wonderful trip.
único — only, unique
Es mi única hermana. — She's my only sister.
inolvidable — unforgettable
Fue una noche inolvidable. — It was an unforgettable night.
la realidad — reality
Mi sueño se ha hecho realidad. — My dream has come true.
la nostalgia — nostalgia, homesickness
Siento nostalgia de mi casa. — I feel nostalgia for my home.
la lágrima — tear
Vi lágrimas en sus ojos. — I saw tears in her eyes.
el aprendizaje — learning, learning experience
Mi aprendizaje del español fue lento. — My Spanish learning was slow.
atreverse — to dare
No me atrevo a hablar en público. — I don't dare to speak in public.
arrepentirse — to regret, to be sorry
No me arrepiento de nada. — I don't regret anything.
madurar — to grow up, to mature, to ripen
He madurado mucho este año. — I've grown up a lot this year.
el brindis — toast (with drinks)
Un brindis por todos. — A toast to everyone.
a lo mejor — maybe, perhaps
A lo mejor vuelvo en verano. — Maybe I'll come back in the summer.
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