5.2 Accent as no diacritical mark

If the accent is an indicator for how a word should be pronounced it is a so-called diacritical mark. In Spanish the accent can also be a sign of grammatical function that is not at all related to the pronunciation of the word. Then the accent is a no diacritical mark.

For example it can be helpful to get a hint whether it is a person he (él) or an article (el). Interrogative pronouns always have an accent (¿Cómo? ¿Cuándo? ¿Qué?).

  Some examples

él = Se lo doy a él. I give it to him.
el = Te doy el libro. I give the book to you.
está = Está en London. He is in London.
esta = Esta casa es roja. This house is red.
cuándo = ¿Cuándo vienes? When will you come?
cuando = Cuando viene le pregunto. When he comes I ask him.





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