6 A SPANISH REFERENCE GRAMMAR

basta, voy ahora, enough, I am going now; vamos a tener un buen dia, we are going to have a fine day, buscamos al hombre, we are looking for the man. 18.

(b) In other cases the b (or v) is pronounced with the lips still less tense, and with a slight opening at the center through which the breath passes with some friction: la vida no es beber y hablar, life is not drinking and talking; el baile era bastante bueno, the dance was rather good; la voz de Pablo era vibrante, Paul's voice was vibrant. 19.

2. c before a, o, u, or consonant; or qu before e or i; sound of c or k in cake: el cura queda aqui, the priest remains here; creo las cosas que declara, I believe the things he declares;

con quien come Carlos? with whom does Charles dine?; quiere Carlota creer al criado? does Charlotte wish to believe the servant? 20.

3. c before e or i; or z in most cases; sound of th in thin, but with the tongue protruding slightly more between the teeth: dice que se calza los zapatos, he says he is putting on his shoes, cazamos el zorro, we hunt the fox; ella trenza las cinco cintas azules, she braids the five blue ribbons. 21.

4. cu before a, e, i, or o; sound of qu in quick: me cuenta cuatro cuentos, he tells me four stories; cuida a cuantos encuentra, he takes care of all whom he meets, z cudntas cuotas

cuenta cada cual? how many fees does each one count? 22.

5. ch ; sound of ch in church: muchos chicos marchan con mochilas, many boys walk with knapsacks; a lo hecho, pecho, make the best of what you have done; el muchacho toma salchichones con leche, the boy takes sausages with milk; los chinos charlan mucho, the Chinese chat a great deal. 23.

6. d is never identical with English d.

There are three pronunciations of this letter, one for each of the following cases:

1.  When initial, that is, when at the beginning of a breath-group, or when preceded by 1 or n; the tip of the tongue is then placed against the back of the upper front teeth: doy el dinero al conde, I give the money to the count; el domingo era un buen dia, Sunday was a fine day, damos caldo al mendigo, we give broth to the beggar. 24.

2.  When medial, that is, between vowels; the tip of the tongue then touches slightly the edges of the upper front teeth, and the breath escapes with some friction: nadie pide nada, no one asks for anything; el vestido de la criada esti adornado de seda, the maid's dress is adorned with silk; no dare mi duro a esa dama, I shall not give my dollar to that lady. 25.