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B2.19 - Import and export

Focalisers: particularmente, especialmente...

Focalizers are adverbs that reinforce an idea.

What these words do: “focalizers” (focus adverbs)

Words like particularmente, especialmente, totalmente, realmente help you highlight or intensify one part of the message.

  • They don’t add new information; they show what matters most or how strong something is.
  • They are very common in professional Spanish (reports, negotiations, emails).

Two main meanings (so you choose the right one)

Type Typical words Meaning in English Example
Focus on a subset particularmente, especialmente, precisamente particularly / especially / precisely Nos dirigimos particularmente al comercio internacional.
Degree / intensity totalmente, absolutamente, realmente, verdaderamente, ligeramente totally / absolutely / really / truly / slightly Este documento es absolutamente obligatorio.

Where to place them (the patterns you’ll actually use)

  • Before an adjective: especialmente competitiva
  • Before a participle / state: totalmente preparados
  • After the verb (common with action verbs): El arancel aumentó ligeramente.
  • At the beginning to stress “exactly this”: Precisamente esa certificación necesitamos.

Practical rule: place the focalizer as close as possible to the word/idea you want to highlight.

Avoid the classic mistake: adverb vs adjective

In Spanish, these focalizers are adverbs (often ending in -mente). Don’t replace them with the adjective form.

Correct Incorrect
La oferta es especialmente competitiva. La oferta es especial competitiva.
Estamos totalmente preparados. Estamos total preparados.
Es absolutamente obligatorio. Es absoluto obligatorio.

Meaning nuances that matter at B2

  • particularmente / especialmente: “in particular”, “above all” (focus). Often interchangeable, but especialmente is slightly more “stands out”.
  • precisamente: “exactly”, often correcting or pinpointing: Necesitamos precisamente esa versión.
  • realmente / verdaderamente: “really/truly”. Realmente is more neutral and frequent; verdaderamente can sound more emphatic/formal.
  • totalmente / absolutamente: both mean “completely”. Absolutamente is very strong and common in requirements: absolutamente obligatorio.
  • ligeramente: “slightly” (useful for neutral business reporting): aumentó ligeramente.

Frequent fixed combinations (learn as chunks)

Some combinations are so common that you should store them as ready-made phrases:

  • totalmente de acuerdo (not total de acuerdo)
  • realmente bueno
  • verdaderamente bien

Self-check: did you place it correctly?

  1. What do I want to highlight? (a detail vs. degree)
  2. Put the focalizer next to that word: adjective / participle / verb.
  3. Check the form: it should be the adverb (usually -mente), not the adjective.
  4. Read it aloud: does it sound like natural emphasis, not like a new piece of information?
FocalizadorEjemplo
ParticularmenteNos dirigimos particularmente al comercio internacional con América Latina. (We focus particularly on international trade with Latin America.)
EspecialmenteLa tarifa es especialmente competitiva para el transporte marítimo. (The rate is especially competitive for maritime transport.)
TotalmenteEstamos totalmente preparados para el despacho de aduana. (We are fully prepared for customs clearance.)
RealmenteLa factura proforma es realmente útil para negociar el precio. (The proforma invoice is really useful for negotiating the price.)
VerdaderamenteEl régimen aduanero es verdaderamente complejo en este país. (The customs regime is truly complex in this country.)
PrecisamenteNecesitamos precisamente esa certificación de origen. (We need exactly that certificate of origin.)
LigeramenteEl arancel aumentó ligeramente este trimestre. (The tariff increased slightly this quarter.)
AbsolutamenteEste documento es absolutamente obligatorio para exportar. (This document is absolutely mandatory for exporting.)

Exceptions!

  1. Some very common combinations are ⇒ totalmente de acuerdo, realmente bueno, verdaderamente bien.

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

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1. Nos dirigimos ________ a las pymes que importan desde Asia, porque suelen tener más dudas con el despacho de aduana. Nos dirigimos particularmente a las pymes que importan desde Asia, porque suelen tener más dudas con el despacho de aduana.

We address ourselves ________ to SMEs that import from Asia, because they usually have more questions about customs clearance.

2. La tarifa es ________ competitiva si el envío va por transporte marítimo y el volumen supera los 2 m³. La tarifa es especialmente competitiva si el envío va por transporte marítimo y el volumen supera los 2 m³.

The rate is ________ competitive if the shipment goes by sea transport and the volume exceeds 2 m³.

3. Este documento es ________ obligatorio para declarar mercancías en la aduana española. Este documento es absolutamente obligatorio para declarar mercancías en la aduana española.

This document is ________ mandatory to declare goods at Spanish customs.

4. ________ esa certificación de origen es la que nos pide el cliente para aplicar el arancel reducido. Precisamente esa certificación de origen es la que nos pide el cliente para aplicar el arancel reducido.

________ that certificate of origin is what the client asks us for in order to apply the reduced tariff.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite each sentence inserting the focuser in parentheses in the most natural position (without changing the rest of the information).

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  1. (Totalmente) La empresa está preparada para el despacho de aduana.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    La empresa está (totalmente) preparada para el despacho de aduana.
    (The company is (completely) prepared for customs clearance.)
  2. (Especialmente) La tarifa es competitiva para el transporte marítimo.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    La tarifa es (especialmente) competitiva para el transporte marítimo.
    (The rate is (especially) competitive for maritime transport.)
  3. (Absolutamente) Este documento es obligatorio para exportar.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Este documento es (absolutamente) obligatorio para exportar.
    (This document is (absolutely) mandatory for exporting.)
  4. (Realmente) La factura proforma es útil para negociar el precio con el proveedor.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    La factura proforma es (realmente) útil para negociar el precio con el proveedor.
    (The pro forma invoice is (really) useful for negotiating the price with the supplier.)

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence.

Fetching your corrections... Please don't close this page yet.

1.
“Special” is an adjective, not a focusing adverb; “especially” should be used.
2.
“Total” does not function as an adverb here; the correct form is “totally agree”.
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Alessia Amoroso

Master of Languages, Cultures, Communication

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

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Last Updated:

Wednesday, 24/06/2026 07:23