I'm not understanding why a person would you a plural form of you. If a person is refering to other people they would just use ellos.
Please clarify. I have a quiz today.
2007-02-08 05:14:30 · 8 answers · asked by melissa13182 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
you can use it present or past tense when talking to more than 1 person
like youv'e done your homework
ustedes han hecho su tarea...
or
did you do your homework?
Hicieron ustedes su tarea?
or
are you going to do your homework?
van hacer ustedes su tarea?
ellos you would use if your talking to someone about 1 or more persons...
2007-02-08 05:19:16 · answer #1 · answered by yesenia e 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because it is how Spanish speakers here in the Western Hemisphere speak, of course! Not only here, but in Spain as well, but they use "vosotros" when they're addressing to more than one person. Since you live here in the Western Hemisphere and most Spanish speakers here are Latin American, you would use "ustedes" when you addressing more than one person. Spanish isn't the only language where they have the plural form of "you"; here are the plural forms of "you" in a couple of other languages:
"Voces" (Portuguese)
"Vous" (French)
2007-02-08 05:28:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Spain, ustedes is used when talking 'formally' to more than one person. In a business meeting, you use ustedes meaning "you - the company" - like 'How many employees do you have?' Also in the Canaries, tu+tu = ustedes, they do not use the form vosotros.
2007-02-08 05:31:54 · answer #3 · answered by JJ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are talking about a group (people) you say ellos
They are talking = ellos están hablando.
If you talk directly to the group, then you say
ustedes or
vosotros (Spain)
You have to go to the theatre = ustedes tienen que ir al teatro
or vosotros teneis que ir al teatro.
I hope it is clear now. Good luck.
2007-02-08 05:36:19 · answer #4 · answered by Martha P 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your teacher addresses the whole class, she would say ustedes (plural of you)
The word ellos is plural for them.
Ellos estaban comiendo=They were eating
Ustedes estaban comiendo=You(plural) were eating.
2007-02-08 06:31:47 · answer #5 · answered by zumi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ellos is when you're talking to 'them', so it's a more far conversation, you use ustedes when you're talking to people who are in front of you, it's more direct. I hope it helps!
2007-02-08 05:25:43 · answer #6 · answered by abstractunderdigital 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you use "ustedes" when you are refering or speaking to a group
"ellos" means "they"
2007-02-08 05:25:15 · answer #7 · answered by buddy1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When speaking directly to more than one person.
2007-02-08 05:22:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋