Topic 1: Stating one's own name with "me llamo" 

  • This is one of those things that is much easier if you accept it as it is in Spanish, and don't try to force a translation to English.
     
  • "Me llamo" does not mean "my name". It is a verb phrase that literally means "I call myself".
     
  • "Me llamo es" is incorrect and does not exist in the language. Do not use this.

Topic 1: Stating one's own name with "me llamo"

Instead, learn the construction:

 

  • To state your own name: "Me llamo" + name
     
  • Or, if you want to be really emphatic, "Yo me llamo" + name. But it's not necessary or better to do do this.

I would say "Me llamo Karen", and/or "Me llamo Karen Jones". 

See? "Me llamo" plus my own name.

That's it. It's simple. Let it be simple.

Topic 1: Asking another person's name with "te llamas" or "se llama"

"Me llamo" plus your own name answers 2 possible questions: "¿Cómo te llamas? " and "¿Cómo se llama usted?" (they mean the same thing--only difference is level of formality)

Use "¿Cómo te llamas?", which is informal, when talking to:

  • Someone younger than you
  • Someone your own age
  • A classmate, unless there is a significant age difference

Use "¿Cómo se llama usted?", which is formal, when talking to:

  • Someone older than you
  • Anyone you'd automatically treat as "sir" or "ma'am" in English
  • Your professor, your boss, any employee of a business you visit who is your age or older.

Topic 1: Asking and answering questions about names

Let's practice! (¡Practiquemos!)

Here's the question for you to ask each other:  

¿Cómo te llamas?

  • How will you answer?
  • Of course, you will say "Me llamo" + your own name

Here's the question for you to ask me:  

¿Cómo se llama usted?

  • How do you think I will answer?

Topic 2: using "ser" plus "de" plus place to say where you are from.

This construction is used only to state the place where you were born, not where you are located/live now. 

The structure is simply:

Conjugated "ser" + "de" + proper noun for place.

I'm from Los Angeles, California, so I would say:

  • Soy de Los Ángeles.   and/or
  • Soy de California.  and/or
  • Soy de California, de Los Ángeles (if I wanted to be extra about it).

All 3 sentences answer the questions "¿De dónde eres?" and "¿De dónde es usted?" --they mean the same thing. The only difference is the level of formality.

Topic 2: Asking and answering questions about where people are from

Let's practice! (¡Practiquemos!)

Here's the question for you to ask each other:  

¿De dónde eres?

  • What will you answer?
  • Of course you will say "Soy de" + place where you were born

Here's the question for you to ask me:  

¿De dónde es usted?

  • How do you think I will answer?

Topic 3: Asking and answering questions about how someone is feeling/doing

Here's the question for you to ask each other:  

¿Cómo estás?

  • To answer, you don't even need to use a verb (not yet, anyway! That's coming later)
  • Just say one of our chapter phrases for how you're feeling:
  • Muy bien, gracias
  • Bien, gracias
  • Regular
  • No muy bien

Here's the question for you to ask me:  

¿Cómo está usted?

  • How do you think I will answer?