In Spanish, statements can easily be changed into questions by simply adding questions marks — before and after — and changing the intonation into a question.

You can also form questions using the questions words dónde (where), qué (what/which), cuál (what/ which), cuándo (where), cuánto (how much), cuántos (how many), por qué (why). Use the word followed by the noun, and — if you choose to add it — the subject.

Most of the questions in this phrasebook are designed to elicit simple sí (see) yes or no (noh) no answers. If you find yourself in doubt of what patients say, you can ask ¿Sí o no? (see oh no), yes or no?

Now that you have read about the basic structure of Spanish, you should be ready to start communicating. This phrasebook is organized thematically and by skills. You can read through the chapters and acquire some basic skills in Spanish, or you can go directly to the relevant chapter to access the vocabulary you need most urgently and use it as a reference guide.