Use Signs for Some Quick Spanish Lessons (part II)

“Vivir donde quieres”. This is a sign I saw in Spain while I was trying to learn Spanish again before going back to South America. Basically I was trying to work out the difference between all those different tenses which confusingly exist in Spanish. This humble sign gave me an unexpected breakthrough in my struggle. It was for a property development and it dawned on me that it meant “live where you want to”, as in “right here”. Had it said “vivir donde quieras” then it would have meant “live wherever you want to”. It might not seem much of a difference in English but in Spanish it is a big enough issue to have cost me a few sleepless nights. Actually, sort of on that subject, I remember asking some friends in Bolivia the difference between “quería” and “quise”. One replied that if someone asked me a question in the first form I should reply in the same manner. If someone asked me in the second way then I should use this style. I asked how I should form the question when I wanted to ask someone and he told me that it was better never to ask. Good advice which I follow to this day.