B2 · Unit 34 · 42 words, 3 texts with translation
Argue about memory and beliefs
Read a popular science article about how memory works, have a funny argument with your partner about your first date, and debate over dinner whether you can lie out of love and whether we're free in our choices.
Texts in this unit
Grammar in this unit
Writing about science: según, al parecer, podría
In an article about science, the writer doesn't just say "this is how it is." They show where they know it from, and they speak carefully, so the reader can see what is proven and what is still a guess. This kind of writing has its own set of words.
| What the writer wants to say | In Spanish | Example |
|---|---|---|
| "According to…" — where the information comes from | según + source | Según los datos más recientes, el cerebro no guarda un vídeo del pasado. — According to the latest data, the brain doesn't store a video of the past. |
| "Apparently…" — a conclusion from the signs, without being completely sure | al parecer | Al parecer, un recuerdo se parece a un puzle. — Apparently, a memory is like a jigsaw puzzle. |
| "It has been shown that…" — a solid fact | se ha demostrado que + normal form | Se ha demostrado que la seguridad no prueba nada. — It has been shown that being sure doesn't prove anything. |
| "The data show that…" | los datos indican que + normal form | Los datos indican que la fiabilidad es limitada. — The data show that reliability is limited. |
| "Maybe that's how it was" — the writer's own guess | podría + infinitive, podría haber + past participle | La evolución podría haber favorecido otra memoria. — Evolution may have favored a different kind of memory. |
Podría in an article doesn't mean "could, if…." It's the conditional of poder, but here it softens the claim: the writer isn't sure and says so openly. Compare: la memoria cambia — memory changes (a statement); la memoria podría cambiar — memory might change (maybe it does). After se ha demostrado que and los datos indican que the writer is sure, so the verb is in the normal form (indicative), not the subjunctive.
Según and pronouns. After según you use yo, tú, él, not mí or ti: según tú — according to you, según él — according to him. But for your own opinion, say para mí or en mi opinión: según yo sounds odd.
Who did it doesn't matter: fue realizado. Instead of "the researchers carried out an experiment," an article often says el experimento fue realizado — the experiment was carried out. This is the passive voice from unit 6 (B2): ser + past participle, and the participle agrees with the thing: fue realizado un experimento, fue realizada una encuesta. You need to recognize this form when you read; people hardly ever use it when they speak.
A common mistake. Using se considera que ("it is considered that") for everything. It's often more precise to choose:
- se ha demostrado que — it has been shown that: when there is proof;
- al parecer — apparently: when there isn't any;
- podría — may, might: when it's only a guess.
Partly agreeing: estar de acuerdo en que, tener razón en que
People rarely want to answer someone's opinion with just "yes" or "no." More often we say "you're right about that, but…" or "I mostly agree, except for one thing." Spanish has ready-made phrases for this. The preposition after acuerdo changes: with a person it's con, with an idea it's en que.
| What you want to say | In Spanish | Example |
|---|---|---|
| "I agree with you" | estoy de acuerdo contigo | Estoy de acuerdo contigo. — I agree with you. |
| "I agree that…" | estoy de acuerdo en que + normal form | Estoy de acuerdo en que el gusto cambia. — I agree that taste changes. |
| "I don't agree that…" | no estoy de acuerdo en que + subjunctive | No estoy de acuerdo en que seas la misma. — I don't agree that you're the same person (to a woman). |
| "You're right about that, but…" | tienes razón en que…, pero… | Tienes razón en que cambio, pero sigo siendo yo. — You're right that I change, but I'm still me. |
| "To some extent" | hasta cierto punto | Hasta cierto punto, sí. — To some extent, yes. |
Why the subjunctive after no estoy de acuerdo en que. It's the same rule as with creo que and no creo que (B1). When you state something, the verb is in the normal form (indicative): estoy de acuerdo en que es así. When you deny it or doubt it, the verb is in the subjunctive: no estoy de acuerdo en que sea así. You aren't saying it's true: you're only naming someone else's idea and arguing with it.
A "but" instead of a "no." Tienes razón en que…, pero… is the softest way to disagree: first you admit what's true, then you object. And hasta cierto punto can be a whole answer when someone asks your opinion: —¿Es verdad? —Hasta cierto punto. ("Is it true?" "To some extent.")
Common mistakes.
- Leaving out en. English says "I agree that" with nothing in between, but Spanish needs en: ✗ estoy de acuerdo que → estoy de acuerdo en que.
- Keeping the normal form after no estoy de acuerdo en que: ✗ no estoy de acuerdo en que eres… sounds like two different thoughts mixed together. Say no estoy de acuerdo en que seas….
Words in this unit
mentira piadosa — white lie
Decir que el regalo me encantaba fue una mentira piadosa. — Saying I loved the gift was a white lie.
libre albedrío — free will
Los filósofos discuten desde hace siglos sobre el libre albedrío. — Philosophers have been arguing about free will for centuries.
hasta cierto punto — to some extent, up to a point
Tienes razón hasta cierto punto, pero te falta algo. — You're right to some extent, but you're missing something.
dicho de otro modo — in other words, put another way
Ha dicho que no puede; dicho de otro modo, que no quiere. — He said he can't; in other words, he doesn't want to.
al fin y al cabo — after all, in the end
Al fin y al cabo, es tu vida y decides tú. — After all, it's your life, and you're the one who decides.
dar que pensar — to make you think, to give food for thought
Lo que dijo ayer me dio que pensar. — What he said yesterday made me think.
poner en duda — to question, to cast doubt on
Nadie pone en duda que trabajas mucho. — No one doubts that you work hard.
dar en el clavo — to hit the nail on the head, to get it exactly right
Has dado en el clavo: eso era exactamente lo que pasaba. — You've hit the nail on the head: that's exactly what was going on.
salirse por la tangente — to dodge the question, to change the subject
No te salgas por la tangente y contesta a la pregunta. — Don't change the subject, and answer the question.
el investigador — researcher
Los investigadores publicaron los resultados la semana pasada. — The researchers published the results last week.
el laboratorio — laboratory, lab
Las pruebas se hacen en el laboratorio del hospital. — The tests are done in the hospital lab.
el descubrimiento — discovery
El descubrimiento cambió la forma de entender el cerebro. — The discovery changed the way we understand the brain.
la neurona — neuron, nerve cell
El cerebro tiene muchísimas neuronas. — The brain has a huge number of neurons.
el gen — gene
Algunos rasgos se heredan a través de los genes. — Some traits are passed down through genes.
la célula — cell
El cuerpo está formado por millones de células. — The body is made up of millions of cells.
el placebo — placebo
El efecto placebo demuestra que la mente influye en el cuerpo. — The placebo effect shows that the mind affects the body.
la creencia — belief
Respeto tus creencias, aunque no las comparta. — I respect your beliefs, even though I don't share them.
la convicción — conviction, firm belief
Habla con la convicción de quien nunca duda. — He speaks with the conviction of someone who never has doubts.
la estructura — structure
La estructura del texto es clara: introducción, ejemplos y conclusión. — The structure of the text is clear: introduction, examples and conclusion.
el conjunto — set, group; outfit
Un conjunto de piezas pequeñas forma la figura entera. — A set of small pieces makes up the whole figure.
la fase — phase, stage
El proyecto está en la primera fase. — The project is in the first phase.
potencial — potential, possible
Es un cliente potencial de la empresa. — He's a potential client of the company.
la conducta — behavior, conduct
Su conducta en la reunión sorprendió a todos. — His behavior at the meeting surprised everyone.
la debilidad — weakness, soft spot
Mi mayor debilidad son los helados. — My biggest weakness is ice cream.
reciente — recent
Es la noticia más reciente que tenemos. — It's the most recent news we have.
similar — similar
Mi caso es similar al tuyo. — My case is similar to yours.
realizar — to carry out, to do, to fulfill
Para realizar el pago, necesito el número de tu tarjeta. — To make the payment, I need your card number.
eliminar — to eliminate, to delete, to knock out
Hay que eliminar los errores antes de entregarlo. — We need to get rid of the errors before we hand it in.
la población — population; town
La población de la ciudad crece cada año. — The city's population grows every year.
el reconocimiento — recognition; identification
Recibió un premio en reconocimiento a su trabajo. — He received an award in recognition of his work.
la combinación — combination
La combinación de dulce y salado me encanta. — I love the combination of sweet and salty.
la filosofía — philosophy
Estudió filosofía antes de dedicarse a la cocina. — He studied philosophy before he went into cooking.
el filósofo — philosopher
Los filósofos llevan siglos haciéndose esta pregunta. — Philosophers have been asking themselves this question for centuries.
la química — chemistry
En el instituto la química me parecía muy aburrida. — In high school, I thought chemistry was really boring.
la evolución — evolution; progress, development
La evolución de las ciudades es lenta. — The development of cities is slow.
reconstruir — to rebuild, to reconstruct
Reconstruyeron el puente después de las lluvias. — They rebuilt the bridge after the rains.
el sesgo — bias
Todos tenemos algún sesgo, aunque no lo notemos. — We all have some bias, even if we don't notice it.
distorsionar — to distort
La mala conexión distorsiona la voz. — A bad connection distorts the voice.
la fiabilidad — reliability
Es un coche de gran fiabilidad. — It's a very reliable car.
el/la participante — participant
Los participantes recibieron un diploma al final. — The participants got a certificate at the end.
razonar — to reason, to think logically
Cuando estoy nervioso, no puedo razonar. — When I'm nervous, I can't reason (man speaking).
el puzle — jigsaw puzzle, puzzle
Mi abuelo hace puzles de mil piezas. — My grandpa does thousand-piece puzzles.
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