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Expressing the positive and the negative (bien/bueno, mal, malo,...)

When we want to express if something is positive or negative in Spanish, we use expressions like "está bien" or "es bueno" for the positive and "está mal" or "es malo" for the negative.

Gramática: Expresar lo positivo y lo negativo (bien/bueno, mal, malo,...)

A2 Spanish Expressing positive and negative

Level: A2

Module 6: En el trabajo (At work)

Lesson 40: De la oficina de correos al correo electrónico (From post office to email)

Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Audio and video

Audio with translations
Audio with translations

  1. Use "está bien" or "está mal" to express judgments about specific situations or actions.
  2. Use "es bueno" or "es malo" to express general opinions about something.
  3. Use these expressions followed by an infinitive verb or by a subordinate clause.
ExpresiónEjemplo
está bienHacer un intercambio está bien porque tienes la oportunidad de estudiar un nuevo idioma. (Doing an exchange is good because you have the opportunity to study a new language.)
está malEstá mal mandar documentos importantes sin leerlos primero. (It's wrong to send important documents without reading them first.)
es buenoEs bueno mandar los documentos a tiempo. (It is good to send the documents on time.)
es maloEs malo no usar oportunidades importantes. (It's bad not to take important opportunities.)

Exceptions!

  1. We cannot use the verb "ser" with "bien" or "mal" nor the verb "estar" with "bueno" or "malo".

Exercise 1: Expresar lo positivo y lo negativo (bien/bueno, mal, malo,...)

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Está mal, Es bueno, Está bien

1. Negativo (estar):
... viajar sin confirmar la reserva de tu alojamiento.
(It's bad to travel without confirming your accommodation booking.)
2. Positivo (estar):
... mandar un correo de agradecimiento después de recibir la beca.
(It's fine to send a thank you email after receiving the scholarship.)
3. Positivo (estar):
... aprovechar la oportunidad de la beca para estudiar en el extranjero.
(It's good to take advantage of the scholarship opportunity to study abroad.)
4. Negativo (estar):
... no comunicarte con tus compañeros de intercambio sobre los planes de la aventura.
(It is wrong not to communicate with your exchange partners about the adventure plans.)
5. Positivo (estar):
... aprender un nuevo idioma antes de participar en un intercambio cultural.
(It's good to learn a new language before participating in a cultural exchange.)
6. Positivo (estar):
... aprovechar cada oportunidad de hacer nuevos amigos durante tu aventura en el extranjero.
(It's good to take advantage of every opportunity to make new friends during your adventure abroad.)
7. Positivo (ser):
... probar nuevas comidas cuando estás en un intercambio cultural.
(It is good to try new foods when you are in a cultural exchange.)
8. Negativo (estar):
... no prepararse antes de una aventura en un país extranjero.
(It's bad not to prepare before going on an adventure in a foreign country.)

Exercise 2: Translate and use in a sentence

Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.

1

Está mal

It is wrong

2

Es malo

It is bad

3

Es bueno

It is good

4

Está bien

It's alright

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