When might you shift from informal to formal address in Spanish?

• A. Use tú for familiar relationships; usted for respect or unfamiliar adults.
• B. Always use tú with everyone and never use usted.
• C. Shift toward tú after establishing rapport or when invited to use tú; assess context, cues, and school policy.
• D. You should never use tú in school settings.

Answer: (C)

In Spanish, choosing between informal tú and formal usted depends on the relationship, setting, and cues you receive. You typically move toward informal when you’ve established rapport or when the other person invites you to tutear, and you should assess the context, the cues from the other person, and any school policy before deciding which form to use.

The best option reflects that flexibility: shift toward tú after rapport is established or when invited to use tú, and always gauge the situation and any guidelines at hand. Start formal when you’re unsure or when authority figures or unfamiliar adults are involved, and adjust only if invited or if the relationship clearly allows it.

Options that push for always using tú or never using tú ignore the real-world need to read social cues and institutional norms, so they don’t fit as well.