Lets Talk About Research

Lets Talk About Research What is up, my dudes? Its the end of week 4 here on campus, and things are rolling. There was no slow build this semester; it hit like a truck. A lot of the reason my workload is huge this semester is because, on top of classes, I am studying for the GRE and writing the first draft of my research paper. As you can tell from the title, this blog is going to be about research. Specifically, how I got into it to where I am now. Hopefully, youll start to understand that the road to research is not as straight as one may imagine it to be. Step 1: Research Workshop Picture this, youre me. Its your second semester at Illinois and everyone is telling you that you need to be doing research and blah blah blah. Youre panicking. You have no idea how to get involved in research, you dont know what research is, and you have no clue if its even something you want to do. You check your student email and find out there is a How to get started in research workshop at the union next week. What are you going to do? Go, of course! Okay, so were at this workshop and a researcher, who you later find out does big deal research on campus, is presenting. They offer you advice on how to reach out to labs who you might be interested in. You get sample emails to send potential labs. You leave feeling a bit relieved. Youre still not sure about what you want to do, but it leaves you motivated. Step 2: IB 299 Introduction to Research Flash forward to April and youre registering for classes for the following year. You get yet another email (BIG HINT: READ THE EMAILS!) about a class thats an intro to research and pairs you up with a lab on campus. You register ASAP! Side Note Before I continue, I want to clear the air about any and every rumor you may have heard about getting involved with research. When I was a freshman, everyone told me that labs only wanted upperclassmen because they had the experience through their classes. I want yall to know that although yes, some labs do prefer upperclassmen, other labs prefer sophomores and freshman! Believe it or not, some researchers will put in the time to train you so that you can work with them until your senior year. Youre not required to, but it allows for you to really get integrated into a lab and grow. Alright so youre in IB299, in this class, the sole purpose is to give you an opportunity to get involved in research and understand the process behind it. A ton of researchers from Illinois come into the class and present on their research. The big bonus of this class is that you get to choose whose lab you want to join. When I was taking the class, one particular researcher really caught my attention. A graduate student presented on their work on pollen and brought in 3D models of pollen. I thought the 3D models were cool, and I really identified with Ingrid. She was also a Latina woman in biology, and if were being honest, you rarely see that in science. I was so excited to see that I was represented in my own school. I signed up to work with her in the Punyasenya Lab. Ingrids thesis was focused on comparing the current climate with that of the Pliocene Era. She was using pollen to compare the carbon isotopes. While in Columbia, she collected rocks with preserved vegetation. Other lab assistants and I would break the rocks and very carefully search for old (thousands of years old) leaves or wood within the rocks. In addition, she had us filter rocks to find the perfect size of specimen. Overall, most of the lab work involved listening to podcasts and playing with some cool rocks. I loved my experience working for Ingrid. She has been a phenomenal mentor and taught me so much more about research and application processes than anyone else. While writing this, I am reminded that I should email her soon. I really value the mentorship that she provided me. I was an assistant for Ingrid for 2 semesters, and through that experience, I was able to branch out and start doing my own research. Step 3: Diving Into Your Own Interest Although I loved working with Ingrid, I realized that lab research was not for me. I enjoyed laughing and listening to podcast with my lab mates, but I wasnt in love with the actual work I was doing. This is okay. It was really hard for me to leave the lab, but it helped me realize that it was something I didnt want to do. I didnt want to give up on research though; I was still looking for other opportunities. In my sophomore year, I took a class named Honduras Water Project. The class was a mix of undergrad and grad students with the goal to design a water system for a rural community of Honduras. Within the class, I was able to travel to Honduras and learn about the existing flaws within international engineering. The class was two semesters, which meant I really got to know my classmates and professors (they all became like best friends). I was assigned to design the hand washing station for the school within the community. This was the school in Honduras for which I was designing a hand washing station for. I loved the kids and they were for sure the hardest part about leaving. By the time the class ended, I was not done with the design, and I worked on it over the summer. Throughout the summer, I met with the professor for the class, Dr. Ann Witmer. I continuously expressed interest in the work she was doing. She asked me to attend her research group meeting so I could get a sense of whether that was something I actually wanted to do. Keep in mind, at this point, I had just decided that I was not going to apply to med school, so I was looking for options. I went to their meetings and fell in love with the work. Dr. Witmer continuously encouraged me to begin my own research project, and so I did! Contextual Engineering To give you all a background of what research group focuses on, I want to give you an example from my own travels with Dr. Witmer. This is a story told to us by a woman in the rural mountains of Guatemala. We were sitting in her home asking about what she envisioned for the water system we were designing. I asked if any other international organizations had come to her community. She told of a politician, from where she could not recall, that came to their community and told them they had a trash issue. He started a project with the community to manage their trash. The politician told families that if they built a large compost bin (as big as an average car), he would exchange the bin for new aluminum roofing for their homes. This is a very low income community where most people do not have electricity, and homes are small and built of homemade adobe bricks. The woman told us that every family jumped on the project. Some families pulled their children out of school and did not take any other jobs that came to devote their time to building a compost bin. After many families were done and went to receive compensation for their work, the politician told them he had run out of money and left their community, leaving them with a compost bin that they didnt want, know how to use, or care for. All the compost bins currently sit at the bottom of a valley, untouched or cared for. The families still need new roofs. This was taken in Guatemala. I was the travel mentor for International Water Project, the same as Honduras Water Project except in Guatemala. The women on the left were our cooks (they taught me how to make tortillas) and the men on the right were our guards. This story broke my heart when I heard it, but it is a reality of many low-income rural communities around the world. International organizations market the completion of extremely successful projects that changed the lives of many poor people. Unfortunately, success is currently being defined by the international organizations as opposed to the people, families, and communities that these projects are truly meant to serve. This is what Contextual Engineering is all about. It aims to build the bridge between sociology and engineering to create place-based designs and critical thinking. My research is specifically focused on finding the voice and opinions of these rural communities and illustrating the value that they have in projects. Research group has grown so much since the 3 semesters I have been a part of it. Everyone is working on their own project that encompasses some branch of Contextual Engineering. Currently, I am writing the outline to my literature review that I hope to publish by the end of second semester. I cannot express how much this has changed the trajectory of my life. I have been able to travel to Honduras, Guatemala, and Sierra Leone within the past two years with Dr. Witmer to experience and hear these stories firsthand. I have made countless friends internationally and within research group. I came to college knowing I wanted to help people, and I figured out how I was going to do it. The roads to get to the rural communities and within big cities in Sierra Leone After a long day of interviews, I finally was able to eat some dinner back at the hotel. Bo, Sierra Leone Make it your own I cannot encourage you all to try some sort of research at least once at your time here at Illinois, or wherever life takes you. You may find a passion for it that you didnt know existed before. Or you may realize that its not for you. Whatever you learn, you want to give yourself the experience. Dont let the myths you have heard around campus or other students discourage you from just checking it out. That is all for this one, friends. Feel free to comment and let me know if you have any further questions about research or my work. I hope to hear from some of you soon. Happy fall, JN research Julissa Class of 2020 I am majoring in Integrative Biology within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. I am from Lemont, a small southwest suburb of Chicago. If you want to read about the daily life of a student on campus and get some tips and tricks in the trade, my post are for you!

A Guide to Vertebrates and Invertebrates

Animal classification is a matter of sorting out similarities and differences, of placing animals in groups and then breaking those groups apart into subgroups. The whole endeavor creates a structure—a hierarchy in which the large high-level groups sort out bold and obvious differences, while the low-level groups tease apart subtle, almost imperceptible, variations. This sorting process enables scientists to describe evolutionary relationships, identify shared traits, and highlight unique characteristics down through the various levels of animal groups and subgroups. Among the most basic criteria by which animals are sorted is whether or not they possess a backbone. This single trait places an animal into one of just two groups: the vertebrates or the invertebrates and represents a fundamental division among all animals alive today as well as those that have long ago disappeared. If we are to know anything about an animal, we should first aim to determine whether it is an invertebrate or a vertebrate. Well then be on our way to understanding its place within the animal world. What are Vertebrates? Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata) are animals that possess an internal skeleton (endoskeleton) that includes a backbone made up of a column of vertebrae (Keeton, 1986:1150). The Subphylum Vertebrata is a group within the Phylum Chordata (commonly called the chordates) and as such inherits the characteristics of all chordates: bilateral symmetrybody segmentationendoskeleton (bony or cartilaginous)pharyngeal pouches (present during some stage of development)complete digestive systemventral heartclosed blood systemtail (at some stage of development) In addition to the traits listed above, vertebrates possess one additional trait that makes them unique among chordates: the presence of a backbone. There are a few groups of chordates that do not possess a backbone (these organisms are not vertebrates and are instead referred to as invertebrate chordates). The animal classes that are vertebrates include: Jawless fish (Class Agnatha)Armored fish (Class Placodermi) - extinctCartilaginous fish (Class Chondrichthyes)Bony fish (Class Osteichthyes)Amphibians (Class Amphibia)Reptiles (Class Reptilia)Birds (Class Aves)Mammals (Class Mammalia) What are Invertebrates? Invertebrates are a broad collection of animal groups (they do not belong to a single subphylum like the vertebrates) all of which lack a backbone. Some (not all) of the animal groups that are invertebrates include: Sponges (Phylum Porifera)Jellyfish, hydras, sea anemones, corals (Phylum Cnidaria)Comb jellies (Phylum Ctenophora)Flatworms (Phylum Platyhelminthes)Mollusks (Phylum Mollusca)Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)Segmented worms (Phylum Annelida)Echinoderms (Phylum Echinodermata) In total, there are at least 30 groups of invertebrates that scientists have identified to date. A vast proportion, 97 percent, of animal species alive today are invertebrates. The earliest of all animals to have evolved were invertebrates and the various forms that have developed during their long evolutionary past is highly diverse. All invertebrates are ectotherms, that is they do not produce their own body heat but instead acquire it from their environment.

Essay about Gang Violence Problem on the Rise - 1896 Words

What ever happened to kids wanting saying they wanted to be a police officer, fireman, doctor or teacher when they grow up? Does anyone ever say, when I grow up I want to be in a gang? According to the National Gang Threat Assessment there are over one million gang members in California and over forty percent are under the age of eighteen. Just in Fresno alone there are over twelve thousand gang members and over 500 gangs (Overend). Gang violence is a growing problem and if we don’t try to control it now it will be a bigger problem in the future. According to the National Gang History, gangs started out in India in the year 1200 AD when a group of criminals used to roam the town committing burglaries and crimes.†¦show more content†¦(Overend) â€Å"Out of the one million gang members about 400,000 are teens, 90%-94% are male.† (Gang Statistics) When conducting a survey on gang violence I asked fifty people, â€Å"What are the top five gangs here in Fresno?† and the top five were Bulldogs, Surenos, Crips, Bloods, and Asian Boyz. The most known gang in Fresno are the Bulldogs. (Rosas) They represent themselves not so much by color but by the Fresno State Bulldog symbol. The Bulldog gang is the biggest gang here in Fresno with over 4,000 members. (Gang Statistics) Most Bulldog gang members usually have dog paws tattooed or many will get the whole dog face tatted on them. Bulldogs do not have any specific number or color to represent them, but Fresno State apparel is usually red, blue, black, or white. Sur enos are another popular gang in Fresno, most surenos are Mexican, Hispanic, or Latino. Their color to wear or represent is blue, therefore they will carry a blue rag with them most of the time. Tatoos they usually have are â€Å"south side†, the number 13, three dots (each dot stand for one word in â€Å"mi vida loca†), and when they have killed someone they will have a tear drop tattooed on the side of their eye. They will also use a rosary around there neck to show respect for god, but it is also something that represents the sureno gang in general. Bloods were originally known as the Piru gang. (Walker) The name Piru came from Piru Street in Compton, CaliforniaShow MoreRelatedTaking a Look at Gang Violence1075 Words   |  4 Pagesones being murdered by violent street gang members. These victims often had nothing to do with the gangs or gang members that killed them. A street gang is a group of people who commonly involve themselves in heinous crimes such as murd er, assault, drug dealing, robbery, and car theft. These gangs are present all over the nation and are starting to spread to other countries. It is imperative for the United States government to put a stop to gangs and gang violence. Ed Gottesman and Richard Brown agreeRead MoreThe War On Drugs Has Been All Over The World1726 Words   |  7 Pagesregion to region. When you really think about it each and every place at one point in time has had the trouble of facing the many negatives that come along with drugs such as people becoming addicts, violence, and crime in general, drug lords, and a plethora of other problems. Handling these problems before they get out of hand are relatively important, because if not handled right the country, region, state, or local municipality could collapse at any given time. Mexico, who has been handlingRead MoreChicago Gangs and History Essay1307 Words   |  6 PagesChicago Gangs, Then and Now with Solutions Nick Crot Marist High School Abstract This paper deals with gang violence in the city of Chicago since the beginning of time. It takes a deep look into the history of Chicago gangs and how they interact today. Also the past problems the City of Chicago made when dealing with gangs and the problems that gangs today have and how Chicago has the worst gang problem in the country. Also how gangs have turned themselves into big, and lucrative enterprisesRead MoreEssay about Rise in Prison Gangs in Canada988 Words   |  4 PagesRise in Prison Gangs Fueling Violence, Drug Trade – Canada – CBC News The article presented on this paper reveals the problem of gangs and gang related violence in our nation’s institutions. Corrections Canada has seen a 44 per cent jump in gang members in federal prisons in the last five years, to 2,040 in 2012 from 1,421 in 2007, according to the documents obtained under access to information. The correctional service constructed a strategic framework for dealing with gangs in 2006, and implementedRead MoreThe Problem Of Gang Violence1356 Words   |  6 PagesGang violence has grown to be a great problem in El Salvador in the last 30 years. Gangs have grown into large, complex organized crime units; the two largest gangs, MS13 (also known as Mara Salvatrucha 13) and Barrio18 (also known as Calle18), now encompass large parts of Central America. Both gangs rely heavily on local drug-peddling, which drives most of the general gang violence. The desire for control over certain areas had forged a fierce rivalry, in which civilians are often endan gered whenRead MoreGangs And Its Effects On Society Essay1320 Words   |  6 PagesGang members may feel that gangs are merely a family and other see them as violent people with no direction that need to be locked away. Gangs cause fear to those that live around them, but to children that have no support system gangs appear to be a surrogate family. Gangs are not all about friends committing crime, but to a gang member a way of life. Gangs that are a threat to society is a problem, but one that can be changed by silencing the influence of the media, parenting your children, andRead MoreGangs and Teenage Violence Essay1413 Words   |  6 PagesGangs and Teenage Violence A gang is a group of people who interact among themselves. Teen violence is contributed to these gangs. Most gangs claim neighborhoods as their territory and try to control everything inside that territory. This kind of antisocial behavior is a major problem in American Society. Gang members are typical members of the same ethnic group. Fear and hatred for people of another race is called xenophobia. People who are victims of racism are often racistsRead MoreThe Legacy Of Columbus, Ohio1288 Words   |  6 Pagesout-of-control gang violence that has claimed countless lives across the city. Gang violence in Columbus, Ohio has shattered the hearts of an incalculable amount of mothers around the city; as well as crippled the dreams of living a flourishing life for many inner city youth. The bloodshed between rival gangs has reached a degree of severity that action must be taken. In order to reduce and eliminate the gang infestation, it is imperative that the city of Columbus develop and utilize an anti-gang interventionRead MoreStreet Gangs : Americas Growing Problem1056 Words   |  5 PagesStreet Gangs: Americas’ Growing Problem Gangs have increasingly become a serious problem over the past few decades. A report from the FBI’s 2011 National Gang threat assessment states that there are 1.4 million active gang members comprising of more than 33,000 gangs in the United States. This growth migration of gangs has had a negative effect on our youth. Gang violence causes fear and changes how kids behave in school. In a poll of 2,000 teenagers, â€Å"the respondents reported that their fearsRead MoreDrug Trafficking877 Words   |  4 Pagesspent to fight the trafficking of illicit drugs in the United State. With all the money spent to prevent drug trafficking Americans need to understand the harmful effects. Drug Trafficking is causing harm to the United States economically, brings violence to communities, and puts law enforcement in unnecessary danger. The economic strain put on the United States because of drug trafficking unquestionable. Since 1971, the United States government has spent one-trillion dollars during the War on Drugs

New Religious Movements Religion Free Essays

When studied, compared, and scrutinized, every religion – though said to be basically similar in that all believe and worship a god/gods – is actually different from each other in many respects. Before tackling diversities however, it is better to start with similarities. Many people view all adherents of any religions share at the very least certain commonalities such as historical roots, practices/rituals, and doctrines. We will write a custom essay sample on New Religious Movements Religion or any similar topic only for you Order Now In other words, to be considered religious, one must be a follower of a certain form of ritual/practice prescribed by a founder or guru, a worshiper or believer of a god – whatever or whoever that god might be. When looked at the surface, this might be true. However, looking closely and seeking out the nuances, one can find real diversities. For example, for a Jew and a Muslim, Christianity is a religion represented by Vatican and the pope as its representative. To the eyes of these two, no differences whatsoever are detected between a devout Roman Catholic and a Protestant and a Mormon. Of course when investigated, marked differences come to the surface and the initial seemingly unified similarities are gone. Actually, differences are underscored every time there occurs along the way a deviation from the fundamentals of any religion. In the history of Christianity alone, schisms are either a deviation or a return to its roots (Adherents.com, 2007). Effects of Religious Pluralism Post your response to this question: What effect do you think religious pluralism and the interfaith movement will have on the future of organized religion? Explain your answer. Religious pluralism and interfaith movement are recently advocated by proponents from different religions with certain political aims. For instance, during Holy Week in 1971, there were many demonstrations conducted by different religious groups to voice their antiwar protests. Professor Robert McAfee Brown of Stanford University was among those arrested for blocking the way to a draft board office in Berkeley, California. He said he chose to preach his sermon â€Å"not in a church but on a pavement, not with words but with a deed† (Microsoft Encarta, 2007). Though there are certain benefits to it in terms of rights, there are also disadvantages and innumerable damages that may have paved the way for further confusion in the future. In what ways has learning about world religions influenced the way you think about religion? Why is it important to learn about other peoples’ beliefs and attitudes? How will you utilize this information in the future? Knowledge of World religions Knowledge of the different religions of the world and their adherents’ beliefs and practices is necessary for a better understanding of different peoples and cultures. Religious tolerance means differently when taken in the light of this endeavor. The ability to understand world religions and appreciate people because of their different persuasions and beliefs mean a more empathic and compassionate stance towards any group, ethnic or religious assemblage. Those who differ from us will not be seen as enemies, which oftentimes have become a common experience (Adherents.com, 2007). Reference: ________ Major Religions of the World Ranked by Number of Adherents, 2007. Retrieved March 11, 2008 http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html ________ Microsoft Encarta. 2007. How to cite New Religious Movements Religion, Essay examples

You Decide free essay sample

Memo summarizing various tax issues 1. John Smiths tax issues: Issue a) How is the $300,000 treated for purposes of federal tax income? John Smith’s earned income of $300,000 will reported as gross income either on Schedule c of the individual return or as gross income on the LLC return. As a result of the variance in the state laws as to whether or not a single person LLC can report on a business return is the reasons why it could be either reported on the Schedule C or LLC. Some states that do not allow the separate reporting see the LLC as meaning not to be reported separately from the individual. Issue b) How is the $25,000 treated for purposes of federal tax income? The advancement of $25,000 for expenses would have been listed as a client advance two years ago on the balance sheet. It would not have been reported as a deductible expense following the matching principle. We will write a custom essay sample on You Decide or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When the $25,000 is reimbursed in the current year, the revenue subtracted by the expense should equal zero and there would be no net income to report as being taxable. Issue c) What is your determination regarding reducing the taxable amount of income for both (a) and (b) above? There are a few ways John Smith can minimize the tax being assessed. John Smith could possibly invest the $300,000 to produce a taxable loss by the year end. Investing in rental real estate could be direct or partnership. John Smith could also pay most or all of his current expenses, which later can be directly written off using Section 179. Another way John Smith can reduce his taxable amount of income is to make us of the LLC and report it s a S Corporation where the wages paid to the shareholder may be less than the $300,000. This type of legal ploy can save a partial bit of the social security taxes which is an additional 15. 3%. There will be regular income tax on this as well. Issue d) Do I get better tax benefits for paying the lease on office space or for buying the building? What are the differences? Before filing a separate return, there are times where separate f iling can reduce the amount of tax paid in total. For example the capital gain rate can be less in separate returns or income may be low, but the individual may have high medical expenses. Tax programs are designed to test this theory when all the income and expenses items are labeled to each person. 2. Jane Smith tax issues: Issue a) What are the different tax consequences between paying down the mortgage (debt) and assuming a new mortgage (debt) for federal income tax purposes? The difference between paying down the mortgage and assuming a new mortgage for federal income tax purposes is the amount of deductible mortgage interest paid during a year. Since both are considered a deductible and both are the same kind of debt, the calculation would be the amount of interest multiplies by the tax rate of the taxpayers. Mortgage interest has a limit of $1,000,000 of deduction. Issue b) Can John and Jane Smith utilize a 1031 tax exchange to buy a more expensive house using additional money from Johns case? No, John and Jane Smith cannot utilize a 1031 tax exchange to buy more expensive house using additional money from John’s case because Section 1031 exchanges are used for business assets, not personal residences. Using the money for a new house would not have been taxable event, but it will have been taxed at the source. The gain on personal residences is nontaxable nder Section 121, but there are limitations as well. Issue c) Does Jane has a business or hobby? Why is this distinction important? Jane has a business, not a hobby. The distinction is important because it relates to business losses. If the small business should suffer a loss, Section 183 classifies it as a hobby. Hobby loss is not deductible and business income is taxable. Issue d) Would Jane (and John) realize better tax benefi ts if she had a separate business for her jewelry-making activities? Jane should have a separate business for her jewelry, but it doesn’t necessarily mean â€Å"separate†. She can use Schedule C that is part of the Form 1040 in joint filing. Separate can also mean LLC which does report separately. Tax on the income will be part of their joint return, whether using a Schedule C or LLC. Issue e) What tax benefits would John realize if he invested $15,000 in Janes jewelry making? Looking at John’s income, there would be no tax benefits. Jane, however there is. Using the $15,000 for purchasing equipment could produce tax benefits that would become part of their joint return. John would benefit indirectly from his investment in Jane’s business, but Jane would have to use the fund for deductible purposes. If the funds were to just stay in the bank account, no benefit would come from that. Issue f) Can Jane depreciates her vehicle or jewelry-making equipment? How? Jane can depreciate her vehicle by declaring the depreciation and auto expense to the extent of the business use based on the mileage. Jane could keep a record of her miles use for her business and use the standard mileage rate. The equipment can be depreciated under Section179. This allows for a full write off in a year of acquisition. Another way the equipment can be depreciated is using the MACRS depreciation. This allows a systematic write off of equipment based on the type of assets. 3. John and Jane Smith tax issue: Issue a) Should John and Jane file separate or joint tax returns? No, John and Jane should not file separately. They should file a joint tax return because of the high income of the attorney and the additional income from business. Both of them will have to pay self employment taxes. .

The legacy of Pharaonic EgyptThe Legacy of Pharaonic Egypt essays

The legacy of Pharaonic EgyptThe Legacy of Pharaonic Egypt essays In his scholarly work,The Legacy of Pharaonic Egypt, G. Mokhtar investigates individuals expanded the scope of their intellectual and technical abilities by contributing significantly to the following areas: astronomy, mathematics, and architecture. Ancient Egyptians used astronomy for making their calendars, positioning the pryamids, and telling time at night. Ancient Egyptians used astronomy in their calendars because there life revolved around the annual flooding of the Nile. This resulted in three seasons, the flooding, the subsistence of the river, and harvesting. Astronomy was also used in positioning the pyramids. They were aligned very accurately, the eastern and western sides ran north and the southern and northern sides ran west. The pyramids were probably originally aligned by finding north or south, and then using the midpoint as east or west. This is because it was possible to find north and south by watching stars rise and set. Ancient Egyptians also used astronomy to create a catalogue of the universe in which five constellations were recognized. They also were able to discover 36 groups of stars called decans. These decans allowed them to tell time at night because the decans would rise 40 minutes la ter each night. The mathematics of Egypt, especially arithmetic and geometry, enabled Ancient Egyptians to be able to count the number of bricks that would be needed to build a pryamid. It also allowed them to find the area of a field, the volume of grain in a silo. Knowledge of arthimetic, algebra, and geometry also proved to be of great importantance in calculating the area of land eroded or added each year by flooding. Probably the most famous architectural structure in all of Egypt, the pyramids are still one of the worlds best architectural achievement, even though they were built many centuries ago. These structures can be as tall as 482 feet (147 m) high. The Pyramid towers over ...

Spanish Short-Form Possessive Determiners or Adjectives

Spanish Short-Form Possessive Determiners or Adjectives Possessive adjectives of Spanish, like those of English, are a way of indicating who owns or is in possession of something. Their use is straightforward, although they (like other adjectives) must match the nouns they modify in both number and gender. Basics About the Short-Form Possessives Unlike English, Spanish has two forms of possessive adjectives, a short form that is used before nouns, and a long-form possessive adjective that is used after nouns. They are often known as the possessive determiners. Here are the short-form possessive adjectives (sometimes known as possessive determiners): mi, mis - my - Compra mi piano. (She is buying my piano.)tu, tus - your (singular familiar) - Quiero comprar tu coche. (I want to buy your car.)su, sus - your (singular or plural formal), its, his, her, their - Voy a su oficina. (I am going to his/her/your/their office.)nuestro, nuestra, nuestros, nuestras - our - Es nuestra casa. (It is our house.)vuestro, vuestra, vuestros, vuestras - your (plural familiar) -  ¿Dà ³nde estn vuestros hijos? (Where are your children?) Note that the possessive adjectives vary by number and gender. The change is with the nouns they modify, not with the person(s) who own or possess the object. Thus you would say his book and her book in the same way: su libro. Some examples: Es nuestro coche. (It is our car.)Es nuestra casa. (It is our house.)Son nuestros coches. (They are our cars.)Son nuestras casas. (They are our houses.) As you might imagine, su and sus can be ambiguous, since they can mean his, her, its, your, or their. If the use of su or sus doesnt make the sentence clear, you can use de followed by a prepositional pronoun instead: Quiero comprar su casa. (I want to buy his/her/your/their house.)Quiero comprar la casa de à ©l. (I want to buy his house.)Quiero comprar la casa de ella. (I want to buy her house.)Quiero comprar la casa de usted. (I want to buy your house.)Quiero comprar la casa de ellos. (I want to buy their house.) In some areas, de à ©l, de ella, and de ellos are preferred over su and sus for saying his, her, and their, even where no ambiguity is present. Different Forms of ‘Your’ One source of confusion for Spanish students is that there are eight words that can be translated as your, and they arent interchangeable. The come in only three groups, however, because of the distinctions Spanish makes for number and gender: tu/tus, su/sus, and vuestro/vuestra/vuestros/vuestras. The main rule here is that possessives can be classified as either familiar or formal in the same way the pronouns for you are. So tu and tus correspond in usage to tà º (not the written accent on the pronoun), vuestro and its numbered and gendered forms correspond with vosotros, and su corresponds with usted and ustedes. So if you were talking with someone about her car, you might use tu coche if she is a friend or relative but su coche if she is a stranger. Grammar Involving the Possessive Forms There are two common problems that English speakers often encounter with these adjectives: Overuse of the Possessive Adjectives The possessive adjectives are used in most cases in the same way as they are used in English. However, you should be aware that in many instances- especially when speaking of body parts, clothing and items intimately associated with an individual- Spanish uses the definite article (el, la, los or las), the equivalent of the, instead of possessive adjectives. Sam arregla el pelo. (Sam is combing his hair.)Ella juntà ³ las manos para orar. (She joined her hands to pray.)Ricardo rompià ³ los anteojos. (Ricardo broke his glasses.) Repetition of Possessive Adjectives: In English, it is common to use a single possessive adjective to refer to more than one noun. In Spanish, a single possessive adjective can refer to only one noun, unless the multiple nouns refer to the same persons or objects. For example, son mis amigos y hermanos would mean they are my friends and siblings (with the friends and the siblings being identical persons), while son mis amigos y mis hermanos would mean they are my friends and siblings (the friends not being the same people as the siblings). Similarly, my cats and dogs would be translated as mis gatos y mis perros. Key Takeaways The possessive adjectives (also known as possessive determiners) are used to indicate who owns or is in possession of something.The possessive adjectives are distinguished in number and sometimes gender of what is possessed.The possessive forms su and sus can mean his, hers, its, or your, so you must rely on context when translating.