Expresiones Lección 1

Presentaciones con el verbo “presentarle”

English vs. Spanish

• In English, when we introduce, we say:

• I would like to introduce you to someone.

• In Spanish, it is opposite, as introduce by saying:

– I would like to introduce someone to you.

Paso a paso (Step by step)

• In order to better understand introductions in Spanish, we will build up to it step by step.

Presentarle = To introduce to someone

FIRST STEP

• When we want to express “I would like to introduce”, in Spanish we use either the expression: presento or quiero presentar.

¿Te, Le, or Les?

SECOND STEP

Before the verb “presento” or attached to “presentar” we have to choose an indirect object pronoun:– Te (to you) When speaking to one friend– Le (to you) When speaking politely to one person– Les (to you all) When speaking to more than one person

* Note: Te, Le, Les refer to whom you are directly speaking. That is to say, the person to whom the introduction is being made.

THIRD STEP

• Te presento/Quiero presentarte = I would like to introduce to you (friendly, one person)

• Le presento/Quiero presentarle = I would like to introduce to you (polite, one person)

• Les presento/Quiero presentarles = I would like to introduce to you (more than one person)

FOURTH STEP

• After the verb “presento” or the expression “quiero presentar” we state the person or persons being introduced. Before each person’s name, we must use the word “a.”

• The preposition “a” usually means “to” or “at.”

• However, when introducing, it has no meaning

at all, but must be included.

• I would like to introduce (person/s) to you (friendly; one person)

• Te presento a… /Quiero presentarte a…

• I would like to introduce (person/s) to you (polite; one person)

• Le presento a…/Quiero presentarle a…

• I would like to introduce (person/s) to you (all)

• Les presento a… /Quiero presentarles a…

• Te presento a Juan. /Quiero presentarte a Juan.• I would like to introduce Juan to you.• Te presento a Juan y a Miguel./Quiero presentarte a Juan y

a Miguel.• I would like to introduce Juan and Miguel to you.• Le presento a Marta./Quiero presentarle a Marta.• I would like to introduce Marta to you.• Le presento a Marta, a Carlos y a Paco./Quiero presentarle

a Marta, a Carlos y a Paco.• I would like to introduce Marta, Carlos and Paco to you.• Les presento a Rosa. /Quiero presentarles a Rosa.• I would like to introduce Rosa to you all.• Les presento a Rosa y a Isabel. /Quiero presentarles a

Rosay y a Isabel.• I would like to introduce Rosa and Isabel to you all.

A Uds. les toca…It’s your turn…Hagan los papeles siguientes:

Compañero 1 es Miguel.

Compañero 2 es Pablo.

Compañero 3 es Diego.

Escenario

• Pablo knows Miguel.

• Pablo also knows Diego.

• Pablo and Miguel see Diego.

• As Miguel and Diego don’t know one another, Pablo introduces them.

• C2P: , Hi, Diego How are you?

• C3D: Fine, thank you. And you, Pablo?

• C2P: I am very well. Diego, I would like to introduce Miguel to you.

• C3D: Pleased to meet you, Miguel.

• C1M: Likewise, pleased to meet you, Diego.

C2P: Hola, Diego. ¿Cómo estás tú?

C3D: Bien, gracias. ¿Y tú, Pablo?

C2P: Estoy muy bien. Diego, te presento a Miguel.

C3D: Mucho gusto, (Encantado) Miguel.

C1M: Igualmente (El gusto es mío) (Tanto gusto), Diego.

A Uds. les toca…It’s your turn…Hagan los papeles siguientes:

Compañero 1 es Jorge.

Compañero 2 es Francisco.

Compañero 3 es Mateo.

Compañero 4 es Raúl.

Escenario

• Francisco knows Jorge.

• Francisco also knows Mateo and Raúl.

• Francisco and Jorge see Mateo and Raúl.

• As Mateo and Raúl don’t know Jorge, Francisco introduces Jorge to them.

• C2F: Hi, Mateo. Hi, Raúl. How are you (all)?

• C3M: O.K. What’s happening, Francisco?

• C2F: Mateo and Raúl ,I would like to introduce Jorge to you (all).

• C4R: Pleased to meet you, Jorge.

• C1J: Likewise, pleased to meet you, Raúl.

• C3M: Pleased to meet you, Jorge.

• C1J: Likewise, pleased to meet you, Mateo.

C2F: Hola, Mateo. Hola, Raúl.¿Cómo están Uds.?

C3M: Regular. ¿Qué pasa, Francisco?

C2F: Mateo y Raúl, les presento a Jorge.

C4R: Mucho gusto (Encantado), Jorge.

C1J: Igualmente (El gusto es mío) (Tanto gusto), Raúl.

C3M: Mucho gusto (Encantado), Jorge.

C1: Igualmente. (El gusto es mío) (Tanto gusto), Mateo.

Los títulosCommon Spanish titles used with last names are:

– señor (Sr.) = Mister (Mr.)– señora (Sra.) = Misses (Mrs.) – señorita (Srta.) = Miss (Ms.)

These titles are only capitalized if they begin a sentence, or if they are abbreviated anywhere in a sentence.

NOTE: In Spanish, titles are sometimes used without the last name:

señor = Sir señora = Ma’am señorita = Miss

Talking to someone with a title

• When we speak directly to someone with a title, we simply state the title and the last name:– Sr. Rojas, le presento a Juan.

“Mr. Rojas, I would like to introduce Juan to you.”

– Sra. Lopez, le presento a Juan y a Carlos. “Mrs. Lopez, I would like to introduce Juan and Carlos to

you.”

– Srta. Valdez, le presento a Susana.“ Ms. Valdez, I would like to introduce Susana to you. “

Talking about someone with a title

• When we are talking about someone with a title, we put the definite articles before the title. They do not translate into any word in English.– el señor– la señora– la señorita

• Juan, te presento a la señora Melanson.– Juan, I would like to introduce Mrs. Melanson

to you.

• Sra. Melanson, le presento a la señora Rodriguez.– Mrs. Melanson, I would like to introduce Mrs.

Rodriguez to you.

• Sr. Rojas, le presento a la señora Melanson y al señor Preito.– Mr. Rojas, I would like to introduce Mrs.

Melanson and Mr. Prieto to you.OJO: Attention

a + el = al (It is a required contraction in Spanish.)

Un poco más sobre los títulos

• The titles don and doña are used before first names only.

• They are never capitalized, unless they begin a sentence.

• They never need el or la before them.– Don Juan, le presento a Miguel.– Doña Inés, le presento a Pablo.– Miguel, te presento a don Juan.– Pablo, te presento a doña Inés.

A Uds. les toca…It’s your turn…Hagan los papeles siguientes:

Compañero 1 es el señor Bahamón.

Compañero 2 es Carlos.

Compañero 3 es la señora Melanson.

Escenario

• Carlos knows Mr. Bahamón.

• Carlos also knows Mrs. Melanson.

• Carlos and Mrs. Melanson see Mr. Bahamón.

• As Mrs. Melanson and Mr. Bahamón don’t know one another Carlos introduces Mr. Bahamón to Mrs. Melanson.

• C2C: Good afternoon, Mr. Bahamón. How are you?

• C1B: Very well, thank you. How are things going, Carlos?

• C2C: I am O.K. Mrs. Melanson, I would like to introduce Mr. Bahamón to you.

• C3M: Pleased to meet you, Mr. Bahamón.

• C1B: Likewise, pleased to meet you, Mrs. Melanson.

C2C: Buenas tardes, señor Bahamón. ¿Cómo está Ud.?

C1B: Muy bien, gracias. ¿Qué tal, Carlos?

C2C: Estoy regular. Señora Melanson, le presento al señor Bahamón.

C3M: Mucho gusto, (Encantada) señor Bahamón.

C1B: Igualmente (El gusto es mío) (Tanto gusto), señora Melanson.