ABSTRACT
Most complicated for English speakers is the second person. Not only does Spanish distinguish singular and plural here, but there is also a distinction between polite and familiar forms of the second person which varies considerably between Spain and Latin America. In Spain, tú is extremely common, and tends to be used even between relative strangers unless there is some reason for marking respect. It is not at all unusual to be addressed as tú by a shop assistant or a bank clerk if you are the same age or younger than they are, and tú is often used in TV interviews in much the same way as first names are used in the English-speaking world. However, such prodigality in the use of the familiar form is not found in some parts of Latin America. You should therefore try and develop a sensitivity to how and when tú or vos are used here.
