English-Spanish Helpful Handouts – For English Speakers Who Want To Learn Spanish
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Today’s Spanish-English Cognate – la calculadora Spanish and English have many similar words known as cognates. These words are constructed with the same base, or root word, which may come from Latin, Greek, or another language. You can expand you Spanish vocabulary quickly by using cognates. By studying cognates, you can use your knowledge of English to help you learn Spanish. Today we will focus on this Spanish-English cognate: la calculadora – calculator As you can see, both words share the root calcula which comes from the Latin word calculare (to reckon, compute). Take a look at the sample sentences below. Please don’t be overwhelmed by the complexity of the Spanish sentences. The English translation is provided. Una calculadora es un dispositivo que se utiliza para realizar cálculos matemáticos. (A calculator is a device used to perform mathematic calculations.) Esta calculadora permite efectuar cálculos sencillos como suma, resta, multiplicación y división. (This calculator can perform simple calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.) Las calculadoras especializadas realizan operaciones con raíces cuadradas. (Specialized calculators can perform operations with square roots.) Las calculadoras más avanzadas pueden mostrar gráficos. (The most advanced calculators can display graphics.) Esta calculadora no es lo suficientemente capaz para calcular logaritmos. (This calculator does not have the capability of calculating logarithms.) The sentences above may prove to be a little difficult depending on your experience with Spanish. Take a few minutes to practice pronouncing them out loud. Then, do the matching activity below. The sentences have been divided into two parts. 1. _____ Una calculadora es un dispositivo que
a. pueden mostrar gráficos.
2. _____ Esta calculadora no es lo suficientemente capaz
b. como suma, resta, multiplicación y división.
3. _____ Las calculadoras especializadas
c. para calcular logaritmos.
4. _____ Esta calculadora permite efectuar cálculos sencillos
d. se utiliza para realizar cálculos matemáticos.
5. _____ Las calculadoras más avanzadas
e. realizan operaciones con raíces cuadradas.
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