IB Diploma Spanish B HL · Grammar backbone 10 of 10 — Essay & translation technique
IB Spanish B · HL
Essay & translation technique
The final backbone lesson turns grammar into marks. A strong IB Spanish B essay is glued together with connectives, argues with nuance (and the subjunctive), and avoids the classic translation traps. Master these and your writing reads like a fluent native's, not a word-for-word conversion. In IB Diploma Spanish B HL, this grammar powers your work across the five prescribed themes — Identities, Experiences, Human ingenuity, Social organization and Sharing the planet — and the two literary works you study, especially when you write across all five themes.
connect · nuance · translatesin embargo · no creo que sea · llevo tres años estudiando
Work through each screen and answer the questions — some ask you to recall a phrase, some to translate. Collect ⭐ and press Start.
Connectives · contrast
Markers of contrast
Sophisticated essays signpost every turn. To introduce a contrast, reach for:
sin embargo — however
no obstante — nevertheless
en cambio — on the other hand / by contrast
aunque — although
a pesar de — in spite of
Signpost, don't list: a well-placed sin embargo tells the examiner you are building an argument, not just piling up sentences.
Connectives · add & conclude
Addition, consequence & structure
Beyond contrast, you need markers to add, to show consequence, and to structure the essay:
Addition:además (moreover), asimismo (likewise), también (also).
Consequence:por lo tanto (therefore), por consiguiente (consequently), así que (so).
Structure:por un lado… por otro lado (on one hand… on the other), en primer lugar (firstly), en resumen (in short), para concluir (to conclude).
Frame your essay: open with en primer lugar, weigh both sides with por un lado… por otro lado, and close with en resumen / para concluir.
Quick check
"however"
?Which connective means "however"?
Sort it
Match the English connective
Opinion with nuance
creo que vs no creo que
Here the subjunctive earns you marks. An affirmed opinion takes the indicative; a denied one takes the subjunctive:
Creo quees verdad. — I think it's true. (indicative)
No creo quesea verdad. — I don't think it's true. (subjunctive)
Es evidente quetiene razón. — It's obvious he's right. (indicative)
Exam gold: writing no creo que sea… shows you can flip a certainty into doubt with the subjunctive — a reliable IB-level flourish.
Type it
Your turn — "however"
1Write the Spanish for "however" (the two-word connective).
Hint: two words — begins with sin.
Translation · false traps
Don't translate word-for-word
The biggest translation losses come from copying English directly. Watch these:
False friends: "actually" ≠ actualmente (that means "currently"). Use en realidad.
ser vs estar: choose by trait vs state.
por vs para: cause vs goal.
Gender & agreement: adjectives must agree.
Word order: Spanish is more flexible — don't force the English order.
Rule: translate the meaning, not the words. If it sounds like English in Spanish clothing, rework it.
Quick check
Translate "actually"
?How do you translate "actually" (meaning "in fact")?
Type it
Your turn — "therefore"
2Write the Spanish for "therefore" (three words, por…).
Hint: three words — begins with por lo.
Sort it
Contrast or addition/consequence?
Sort each connective by its function.
Contrast connective
Addition / consequence connective
Translation · time expressions
"I have been studying for 3 years"
English present-perfect-continuous with "for" does NOT map onto Spanish tenses directly. Use one of two structures:
Llevo tres años estudiando. — literally "I carry three years studying".
Estudio desde hace tres años. — literally "I study since three years ago".
Never use a past tense here — Spanish keeps the verb in the present for an action still going on.
Quick check
Opinion with nuance
?How do you say "I don't think it is true"?
Type it
Your turn — "although"
3Write the Spanish for "although" (one word).
Hint: one word — begins with aun-.
Game · Match
Match the connective to its English
Tap a Spanish connective on the left, then its English on the right.
SPANISH
sin embargo
además
por lo tanto
aunque
en resumen
por un lado
ENGLISH
although
however
on one hand
moreover
in short
therefore
Type it
Your turn — "on the other hand"
4Write the Spanish for "on the other hand" (three words, por…).
Hint: pairs with por un lado — this is por otro…
Quick check
Structuring the argument
?How do you say "on the one hand… on the other"?
Quick check
The "for X years" translation
?Translate "I have been studying for 3 years".
Type it
Your turn — "moreover / besides"
5Write the Spanish for "moreover / besides" (one word).
Hint: one word — an addition connective beginning with ad-.
Recap
Your essay & translation toolkit
Contrast:sin embargo, no obstante, en cambio, aunque, a pesar de.
Add / consequence:además, asimismo, por lo tanto, por consiguiente, así que.
Structure:por un lado… por otro lado, en primer lugar, en resumen, para concluir.
Nuanced opinion:creo que + indicative but no creo que + subjunctive (no creo que sea); es evidente que + indicative.
Translation traps: false friends (en realidad not actualmente), ser/estar, por/para, agreement, word order; ongoing time = llevo tres años estudiando / estudio desde hace tres años.
That completes the 10-part IB Diploma Spanish B HL grammar backbone. ¡Enhorabuena! Press Finish.
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That's all 10 grammar clusters complete — from tenses to translation technique. Well done!