I’m trying to keep these videos as focused as I possibly can.
I know when I’m able to focus on a word or an idea, I remember it a lot better.
I think that makes sense.
But that’s not so easy for me sometimes--especially at the beginning.
For example, in a recent video Definite & Indefinite Articles, I presented four similar words “un”
and “una” which both mean “a” or “an” then “unos” and “unas” which both
mean “some” or “a few”.
But unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard the words “uno,
dos, tres” before?
Well that first word--”uno”...
Doesn’t that look a lot like the words “un”, “una”, “unos” and “unas”?
How come I never you taught you “uno”?
And if “uno” is “one” (it is) then what’s “unos”?
You can’t have more than one one.
Well, that’s what we’re here to talk about today.
We’re going to get to the numbers soon--don’t worry, it’s not hard.
You can actually say any number between zero and one million with less than 35 words.
But like I said, that’s for another day.
Today, I want to focus on one number: “one”.
“One” is the only number that’s tricky in Spanish.
The other numbers, you just memorize the words and say them when you need them.
No singular/plural.
No masculine/feminine.
If you know your numbers, you’re good.
No thinking required.
The only exception is “one”.
One takes one of three forms.
“Un”, “uno” or “una” -- you have to pick which one to use based on what you’re
saying.
First, if you’re talking about a masculine noun, like “chico” you would use the masculine
form of “one”.
But there are actually two masculine forms--”un” and “uno” are both masculine.
You only use “uno” when you don’t say the noun.
So just “one” is “uno”.
That’s why we use it when we count, “uno, dos, tres”.
But “one boy” is “un chico”.
If you say the noun, you don’t say the O--”un”.
If you don’t say the noun, you say the O--”uno”.
So “one friend” would be “un amigo”.
You would never say “uno amigo”.
That’s why I didn’t teach you “uno” in the Definite & Indefinite Articles lesson.
Now, If somebody asked how many friends are in your class, you could just answer “uno”.
You would never just say “un”.
Make sense?
“Un” and “uno” are both singular, masculine forms of “one”.
The female side of things is easier, there’s only one version, “una”.
You use that whenever you want to say “one” for a female noun.
“One apple” is “una manzana”.
How many friends are in your class?
“Una.”
“One.”
Real easy.
Do these words look familiar?
They should.
If not, you need to go back and watch the video called Definite & Indefinite Articles.
In that lesson, I told you that both “un” and “una” mean “a” or “an”.
Confused?
If you think about it, “a” or “an” mean the same thing as “one”.
If you point to a bowl of cookies and tell somebody to grab “a” cookie for you, you’re
telling them to grab you “one” cookie.
If you wanted more than one cookie, you wouldn’t say “a”--you’d say “some”.
Now, remember that “some” in Spanish is “unos” or “unas”.
You learned that also in the lesson called Definite and Indefinite Articles.
Some people get confused at first with this--I did.
“Unos” and “unas” look very much like the plural form of “one”.
But you can’t have more than one one, so we know that’s not the case.
If you think like that, it’s not hard to remember that “unos” and “unas” actually
translate to “some” or “a few”.
And I promise, once you use this a couple times, it just becomes second nature.
That’s it.
To some it all up, here are all the versions and definitions of that word.
“un” or “una” is “one” “a” or “an” and is used when the noun is specifically
mentioned.
“one boy” is “un chico” “a boy” is “un chico”
“one girl” is “una chica” “a girl” is “una chica”
“Uno” or “una” is just “one” when the noun isn’t specifically stated, like
counting, “uno, dos, tres”.
“Unos” or “unas” is “some” or “a few” -- remember that because there’s
no such thing as plural one.
“Some boys” or “a few boys” is “unos chicos” and “some girls” or “a few
girls” is “unas chicas”.
This should be pretty clear now, don’t look too much into it.
Just go over to gringoespanol.com/uno-unos/ and download the Uno Unos Worksheet.
This Worksheet should take you about 10 minutes to do and when you’re all done, you’ll
have this down and you’ll never have to think about it again.
The Answer Key is also at gringoespanol.com/uno-unos/
If you liked this video, if it cleared up any confusion, then why don’t you go ahead
and click the LIKE button or the big thumbs up.
If I charged for these videos, I’d know when I did a good job explaining and when
I didn’t, based on which video sold more.
But I make these for free!
So, your LIKES are the only way I know if I did a good job or a bad job.
So do not like this video if you didn’t like this video.
But please do if you did.
I’ll see you next time.
Hasta luego.
Adiós amigo!