Technology and the Internet in Everyday Life
Translation on technology and the internet covers both directions: devices, apps, communication, and the advantages and disadvantages of being online. The examiner is testing direct and indirect object pronouns with tech-specific verbs (subir, descargar, compartir), gustar-type opinions about technology (me preocupa, me parece útil), and negative structures with the personal a, since a device or a person almost always needs to be replaced with a pronoun rather than repeated.
Before you start
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Method
- Identify the tech-specific verbs first and their precise meaning: subir (to upload), descargar (to download), compartir (to share), conectarse (to connect/log on), navegar por internet (to browse the internet).
- Use direct object pronouns to avoid repeating a device or app once named: lo uso, la comparto, los descargo, placed before a conjugated verb or attached to an infinitive/gerund.
- Use indirect object pronouns with verbs of communication: le escribo un mensaje, les mando fotos, since Spanish requires the pronoun even when the person's name is also stated.
- Translate gustar-type opinions about technology precisely: me preocupa (it worries me), me parece útil (I find it useful), me interesa (I am interested in).
- Handle negative structures carefully: nunca comparto datos personales, no confio en nadie que no conozco, remembering that nadie needs the personal a when it is the direct object of a verb affecting a person.
- Choose between ser and estar for tech statements: es peligroso (it is dangerous, a general truth) versus está conectado (he/she is connected, a current state).
- Check pronoun order last when two pronouns combine (se lo mando, te lo comparto): the indirect pronoun always comes before the direct pronoun, and le/les becomes se before lo/la/los/las.
Worked example
Translate into Spanish: I use my phone to talk to my friends and I share photos with them every day. My parents worry about it, but I never share personal information with people I don't know.
- Split into chunks: 'I use my phone to talk to my friends' / 'and I share photos with them every day' / 'My parents worry about it' / 'but I never share personal information with people I don't know'.
- 'I use my phone to talk to my friends' names the phone for the first time, so the noun stays: uso mi móvil para hablar con mis amigos.
- 'and I share photos with them every day' needs an indirect object pronoun for them: y les comparto fotos todos los días.
- 'My parents worry about it' uses preocupar like gustar, with the situation as the subject: a mis padres les preocupa esto.
- 'but I never share personal information with people I don't know' needs the personal a before people and correct negation: pero nunca comparto información personal con gente que no conozco.
- Full translation: Uso mi móvil para hablar con mis amigos y les comparto fotos todos los días. A mis padres les preocupa esto, pero nunca comparto información personal con gente que no conozco.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1Translate into Spanish: I download music every weekend.Show answer
Answer: Descargo música todos los fines de semana.
Q2Translate into English: Le mando un mensaje a mi amigo cada día.Show answer
Answer: I send my friend a message every day.
Q3Translate into Spanish: I never share my password.Show answer
Answer: Nunca comparto mi contraseña.
Q4Translate into English: Me parece peligroso hablar con desconocidos.Show answer
Answer: I find it dangerous to talk to strangers.
Q5Translate into Spanish: My little brother uses it too much (use a direct object pronoun for 'it').Show answer
Answer: Mi hermano pequeño lo usa demasiado.
Q6Translate into English: Nos preocupa el tiempo que pasan los niños conectados.Show answer
Answer: We are worried about the time that children spend online.
Q7Translate into Spanish: I don't know anyone who doesn't have a mobile phone.Show answer
Answer: No conozco a nadie que no tenga móvil.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE Spanish exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Translate this passage into English: Uso las redes sociales todos los días para hablar con mis amigos y compartir fotos. Mis padres piensan que paso demasiado tiempo conectada, pero a mí me parece una forma fácil de mantener el contacto. Nunca comparto información personal con gente que no conozco, aunque a veces recibo mensajes de desconocidos.
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Translate this passage into Spanish: I download apps to talk to my friends, and I share videos with them every week. My mother worries that I spend too much time on my phone, but I find it useful for my homework too. I never give my password to anyone.
Show mark scheme
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See real GCSE Spanish past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
Free printable worksheet
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