Grammar/ Gramtica

Alphabet / Alfabeto
Vowels / Vocales
Diphthong / Diptongo
Triphthong / Triptongo
Pronunciation Tips/ Consejos para la pronunciacin
Greetings and Farewells/ Saludos Despedidas Cultural
!otes"
Courtes For#s/ Palabras de Cortes$a
To %e/ Ser estar
&nterrogati'es/ &nterrogati'os
Accentuation / Acentuacin
Gender and !u#ber/ G(nero !)#ero
Plural / Plural
Pronouns / Prono#bre
Definite Articles / Art$culos Definidos
De#ostrati'e / De#ostrati'o
Possessi'e / Posesi'o
&ndefinite Articles / Art$culos &ndefinidos
!euter Article/ Art$culo !eutro
Adjecti'e / Adjeti'o
Agree#ent of Articles* Adjecti'es and !ouns /
Concordancia de Art$culos* Adjeti'os Sustanti'os
+egular Verb / Verbo +egular
Present / Presente
Co#parati'e For#s / Co#paraciones
Conditional Tense / Condicional
Future tense / Futuro
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Contractions / Contracciones
Co##and for#s/ &#perati'o
!egation/ !egacin
Past / Pasado
Prefi,es des-, in-, and re- / Prefijos des-, in- re-
Di#inuti'e/ Dis#inuti'o
To -now/ Conocer saber
Gerund/ Gerundio
Progressi'e / Progresi'o
+efle,i'e / +efle,i'o
Prepositions / Preposiciones
Difference between Pedir and Preguntar .as/0
There is .are0 e,pressions/ 1a
2ust ha'e done so#ething"""/ Acabar de
&#perfect Tense/ &#perfecto
&rregular 'erb / Verbo &rregular
Subjuncti'e & / Subjunti'o
Passi'e Voice/ Vo3 Pasi'a
4eather 5,pressions/ 5,presiones de cli#a
To 6a/e* do/ 1acer
To 1a'e* possess/ Tener
To 7i/e/ Gustar
The Alphabet
The gender of letters is fe#inine* for e,a#ple* la "a"/ the "a"* la "eme"/ the "m".
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Letter/letra Name/nombre Example/ejemplo
A a Andr(s
% be larga o be alta %eatri3
C ce Carlos
C1 che Pancho
D de Dar$o
5 e 5lena
F efe Francisco
G ge Gusta'o
1 .alwas
silent0
ache 1ugo
& i &r#a
2 jota 2uan
- /a -arina
7 ele 7uis
77 elle Guiller#o
6 e#e 6arta
! ene !ora
8 e9e 8o9o
: o :scar
P pe Pablo
; cu ;uito
+ ere +osa
S ese Susana
T te Tito
< u =rsula
V 'e corta Vicente
4 doble 'e o doble u 4alter
> e?uis >a'ier
@ i griega o e @olanda
A 3eta Aule#a
SER & ESTAR/ TO BE
%oth 'erbs* ser and estar* are e?ui'alent to the 5nglish
'erb to beB howe'er* the ha'e 'er specific #eanings
and are NOT interchangeable" NOTE in the following
e,a#ples how the #eaning of a sentence changesC
7a 6iss <ni'erso es linda" /6iss <ni'erse is prett"
7a 6iss <ni'erso est linda" / 6iss <ni'erse loo/s prett .at
this specific #o#ent0"
5l ni9o es listo" / The child is s#art"
5l ni9o est listo" / The child is read"
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6i #adre es aburrida" / 6 #other is boring .she is a boring
person0"
6i #adre est aburrida" / 6 #other is bored"
6i hijito es 'i'o" / 6 little son is s#art"
6i hijito est 'i'o" / 6 little son is ali'e"
SER / TO BE
Pronoun
Presen
t
Past Future Conditional
o/ & so fui ser ser a
t)/ ou eres fuiste ser s ser as
(l* ella* <d"/
he* she* ou
es fue ser ser a
nos"/ we so#os fui#os ser emos ser amos
'os"/ou sois fuisteis ser is ser ais
ellos* <ds"/
the* ou
son fueron ser n ser an
D" Ser/ to be is used to describe essential or inherent
characteristics or ?ualitiesC
%asic aspectsC color* shape* #aterial of which so#ething is #ade out
of* si3e* phsical characteristics* and personalit"
EXAPLES
7a nie'e es blanca" / The snow is white"
7a tierra es redonda" / The earth is round"
5l saco es de lana" / The jac/et is wool"
@o soy alta" / & a# tall"
6i socio es e,tro'ertido" / 6 partner is outgoing"
E" Possession"
EXAPLE
5l auto es #$o" / The car is #ine"
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F" +elationship"
EXAPLE
5lla es #i pri#a" / She is # cousin"
G" Profession"
EXAPLE
Son cirujanos plHsticos" / The are plastic surgeons"
I" !ationalit"
EXAPLE
So argentina" / & a# Argentine"
J" :rigin"
EXAPLE
5l inter'entor es de 7a Pa3" / The auditor is fro# 7a Pa3"
K" Ser/ to be is used to indicate #arital status"
EXAPLE
5lla es di'orciada" / She is di'orced"
L" 5,pressions of ti#e and dates"
EXAPLES
5s la una" / &tMs one oMcloc/"
1o es jue'es" / Toda is Thursda"
N" 5'ents ta/ing place"
EXAPLE
7a fiesta es esta noche" / The part is tonight"
DO" Passi'e 'oice"
EXAPLE
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5
7a casa fue incendiada" / The house .was0 burned down"
DD" &#personal e,pressions"
EXAPLE
5s i#posible hablar con ellos" / &tMs i#possible tal/ing to the#"
DE" !oun and adjecti'e co#ple#ent .A co#ple#ent co#pletes the
sentence b describing or defining the subject0"
EXAPLES
6i suegra es una abuela #ara'illosa" / 6 #otherPinPlaw is a
wonderful grand#a"
5lla es Ana" / She is Ana"
5l co#pasi'o es (l" / The co#passionate one is he" .+e#e#ber
that the 'erb to be is transitorB therefore* he is used instead
of him"0
ESTAR / TO BE
Estar is used to e,press location* transitor aspects* and
characteristics that are !:T inherant propert of a noun* such as how
so#ething/so#eone loo/s* feels or tastes at a !i"en moment"
Pronoun
Presen
t
Past Future Conditional
o/ & esto estu'e estar estar a
t)/ ou estHs estu'iste estar s estar as
(l* ella* <d"/
he* she* ou
estH estu'o estar estar a
nos"/ we
esta#o
s
estu'i#os estar emos estar amos
'os"/ou estHis estu'isteis estar is estar ais
ellos* <ds"/
the* ou
estHn estu'ieron estar n estar an
D" 7ocation or position of people and things"
EXAPLES
5l restaurante estH en la es?uina" / The restaurant is at the
corner"
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7os in'ersores estarHn en Vene3uela" / The in'estors will be in
Vene3uela"
E" Transitor* unusual* recentl changed or constantl changing state
or condition"
EXAPLES
Pablo estu'o enfer#o" / Pablo was sic/"
5l caf( estH fr$o" / The coffee is cold"
F" +esults of an action"
EXAPLE
!uestros proble#as estarHn resueltos pronto" / :ur proble#s
will be sol'ed soon"
G" State or condition of a subject"
EXAPLE
5l reh(n estH 'i'o" / The hostage is ali'e"
I" Progressi'e tenses"
EXAPLE
5l lunes estare#os celebrando nuestro triunfo" / :n 6onda
weMll be celebrating our triu#ph"
J" 4eather e,pressions"
EXAPLE
5stH llo'iendo" / &tMs raining"
#$#OAT#C EXPRESS#ONS
Estar acostu#brado / to be accusto#ed to
Estar confor#e / to be satisfied* in agree#ent
Estar de acuerdo / to be in agree#ent
Estar de buen .#al0 hu#or/ to be in a good .bad0 #ood
Estar apurado .a0/ to be in a hurr
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Estar de 'acaciones / to be on 'acation
Estar de 'uelta / to be bac/
Estar listo .a0/ to be read
Estar de #oda / to be in fashion
Estar de 'iaje / to be on a trip
Estar e#bara3ada / to be pregnant
Estar de rodillas / to be /neeling
PREGUNTAS/ QUEST!NS
&n Spanish there are % &a's of as/ing a
?uestion to elicit a yes or no answer*
and the are the followingC
D" Verb Q pronoun """<nli/e 5nglish* the
au,iliaries do and does are not used"
( Quieren ustedes aprender
espa9ol ) / Do ou want to learn
SpanishR
NOTE* That interrogati'e ?uestions ha'e
an openin! .(0 ?uestion #ar/ and also a
+losin! one ,)-.
E" Pronoun Q verb"""The intonation
#a/es the sentence interrogati'e"
S Ustedes quieren aprender
espa9olR/ Do ou want to learn
SpanishR
F" Verb Q"""Q pronoun" The pronoun
goes last"
S Quieren aprender espa9ol
ustedes R / Do ou want to learn
SpanishR
PALABRAS #NTERRO/AT#0AS/
&!T5++:GAT&V5 4:+DS
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"
NOTE* These words are AL1A2S
graphicall accentuated* whether the are
used to for#ulate a direct or indirect
?uestion"
S Qu hora esR / 4hat ti#e is itR
,dire+t-
Di#e qu hora es" / Tell #e what
ti#e it is" ,indire+t-
SA ?u( hora"""R 4hat ti#e"""R
SDndeR 4hereR
SDe dndeR Fro# whereR
SPor dndeR 4hich directionR
SA dndeR To whereR
SC#oR 1owR
SCuHl/PesR 4hich one/PsR
SCuHndoR 4henR
SCuHnto/PaR 1ow #uchR
SCuHntos/PasR 1ow #anR
S;u(R 4hatR
SPara ?u(R For what reasonR
SPor ?u(R 4hR
S;ui(n/PesR 4hoR
SA ?ui(nR To who#R
SPara ?ui(nR For who#
SDe ?ui(n/PesR 4hoseR
Ace#t$aci%#/ Acce#t$ati&#
Spanish words are classified into G categories*
auda, rave, esdr!"ula and sobresdr!"ula*
depending on where the words are stressed"
A &ritten a++ent indicates where a word is stressedB
howe'er* not all words ha'e the written accent" Therefore* the
following rules will be helpful"
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#$U%#
#udas are stressed in the last sllable" All words that do not
ha'e a written accent and end in a consonant other n or s*
the stress is on the last s'llable"
EXAPLES*
a 3ul / blue
a'es tru3 /
ostrich
#udas are graphicall accentuated onl if the
words $O end in n* s or a vo&el"
EXAPLES*
ra t4n / #ouse
inte r5s /
interest
ac n5 / acne
$'#VE
$raves are stressed in the se+ond to t6e last .penulti#ate0
sllable" All words that do NOT ha'e a written accent and end
in n, s or a vo&el* the stress is on the penulti#ate sllable"
EXAPLES*
mo no /#on/e a 'e /bird pa to /duc/
$raves are graphicall accentuated onl if the
words do NOT end in n* s or a vo&els" !ote that
raves ha'e opposite rules to audas"
EXAPLES*
l pi( / pe#cil )i f cil / )i**ic$lt til /$+e*$l
ES%'()U*#
Esdr!"ulas are stressed in the t6ird 7rom last
.antepenulti#ate0 sllable" The are al&a's graphicall
accentuated"
EXAPLES*
r8 pido / ?uic/ p8 jaro / bird
A m5 rica /
A#erica
S+,'ES%'()U*#
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1,
Sobresdr!"ulas are stressed in the 7ourt69 7i7t69 sixt69 et+.
7rom last sllable" The are al&a's graphicall accentuated"
Generall* sobresdr)julas are ad'erbs* which end in mente-
EXAPLES*
r8 pida mente /
?uic/ly
78 cil mente /
easily
G-#er& . N/mer&/ Ge#)er a#) N$mber
&n Spanish* all nouns* including those denoting nonPli'ing
things and abstract concepts* are either #asculine or fe#inine
and singular or plural"
Therefore* the articles and adjecti'es change according to the
gra##atical !ender and aree in number with the nouns
the #odif"
/EN$ER
The following are so#e rules to deter#ine the genderB
howe'er* the gender of so#e nouns #ust be learned b
#e#ori3ation"
The gender of li'ing beings* such as people or ani#als*
deter#ines their gra##atical gender"
A noun that refers to a #ale is #asculineB a noun that refers
to a fe#ale is fe#inine"
FE#N#NE NO:NS
D" 6ost nouns that end in -a are fe#inine"
EXAPLES*
la cara/ the face
la cabe3a/ the head
EXCEPT#ONS* The following words end in aB
howe'er* the are #asculineC
el d$a/ the da
el sofH/ the sofa
el #a9ana/ the to#orrow* the future .!ote that
la ma.ana #eans mornin!.0
E" 6an fe#ale nouns that end in -a ha'e a
corresponding #ale for# that end in -o-
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/ender !ato/ +at perro/ do!
6asculine el gato el perro
Fe#inine la gata la perra
F" !ouns that end in -ista #a be mas+uline or
7eminine. &n these instances* the article deter#ines
the gender of the person"
/ender dentista/ dentist electricista/ electrician
6asculine el dentista el electricista
Fe#inine la dentista la electricista
G" !ouns ending in -i/n, -d, -e0, and -umbre are
generall fe#inine"
EXAPLES*
*a tele'isi/n/ TV
la co#unicaci/n/ co##unication
la oportunidad/ opportunit
la aptitud / aptitude
la 'eje0/ old age
la costumbre/ custo#
I" The letters of the alphabet are 7eminine.
EXAPLES*
la l/ l
la a/ a
J" The following are nouns that can onl refer to
fe#ales despite of the endingC
la actri3/ actress
la #ujer/ wo#an
K" The following nouns refer to fe#ales when the article
is fe#inineC
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la beb(/ fe#ale bab
la cliente/ fe#ale client
la psi?uiatra/ fe#ale pschiatric
la colu#nista/ fe#ale colu#nist
L" !ouns of Gree/ origin that end in -ma, -pa, and -ta
are #asculine"
EXAPLES*
el programa/ progra#
el #apa/ #ap
el poeta/ poet
el planeta/ planet
el idioma/ language
el sistema/ sste#
el telegrama/ telegra#
el problema/ proble#
el clima/ cli#ate
el drama/ dra#a
el co#eta/ co#et
el diploma/ diplo#a
el tema/ the#e
ASC:L#NE NO:NS
D"6ost of the #asculine nouns end in -o"
EXAPLES*
el libro/ boo/
el so#brero/ hat
EXCEPT#ONS* So#e nouns that end in a are
#asculine"
EXAPLES*
la #ano/ hand
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la foto/ photo
E" Colors9 numbers* and da's of the wee/ are
#asculine"
EXAPLES*
el 'erde/ green
el rojo/ red
el uno/ one
el cien/ hundred
el lunes/ 6onda
el #artes/ Tuesda
F" The following are nouns that refer to #ales*
re!ardless of the endingC
el ho#bre/ #an
el profesor/ #ale professor
el jue3/ #ale judge
el polic$a/ #ale police officer
el doctor/ #ale doctor
G" Compound nouns are alwas #asculine and plural"
EXAPLES*
el abrelatas/ can opener
el sacacorchos/ bottle opener
N:BER
!u#ber identifies words as singular or plural" To #a/e a noun*
plural follow the rules belowC
D" Add -s to a noun ending in a 'owel* as in huevo/ egg and
uva/ grape"
/ender Sin!ular Plural
6asculine el hue'o los hue'os
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Fe#inine la u'a las u'as
E" Add -es to a noun ending in a consonant"
1ord Sin!ular Plural
cereal el cereal los cereales
e,a#en el e,a#en los e,H#enes
NOTE* At ti#es* it is necessar to add or drop a &ritten
a++ent when a word is #ade plural because the stress of
their sin!ular for# is maintained in their plural for#"
1ord Sin!ular Plural
water #elon el #eln los #elon es
e,a# el e,a#en los e,H#enes
F" For the nouns that end in -0, change the 3 to 1es"
1ord Sin!ular Plural
rice el arro0 los arro1es
walnut la nue0 las nue1es
G" !ouns ending in -es and -is do !:T change in the plural"
1ord Sin!ular Plural
6onda el lunes los lunes
crisis la crisis las crisis
I" Co#pound nouns ha'e the sa#e for# in the singular and
plural for#s"
1ord Sin!ular Plural
can opener el abrelatas los abrelatas
bottle opener el sacacorchos los sacacorchos
Pr&#&mbre+/ Pr&#&$#+
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10 Prono#bres personales/ Personal pronouns
E" Diferencias con el ingl(s/ Differences with 5nglish
F" Posesi'o/ Possessi'e
G" De#ostrati'o/ De#onstrati'e
PRONOBRES PERSONALES/ Personal pronouns
Personal pronouns can be used as subjects of a sentence" The
replace a noun"
Sin!ular Plural
yo/ 2
nosotros .#as"0* nosotras .fe#"0/
&e
t! .infor#al0* usted
.for#al0/ you
vosotros .#as"0,vosotras .fe#"0,
ustedes/ you
l/ he, ella/ she ellos, ellas/ they
3! is the singular in4ormal for# of you- &t is used to address
fa#il #e#bers* children* and friends"
Ud- is the abbre'iation of usted and is the singular 4ormal
for# of you" &t is preferable to use Ud" in all other instances"
Vosotros is the fa#iliar plural for# of you that is onl' used
in Spain" &n all other 7atin A#erican countries* ustedes is
used" NOTE* That ustedes is used for both in7ormal and
polite plural"
5osotros, vosotros, ellos are used to refer to a male group
or a group of mixed gender" 1owe'er* nosotras, vosotras
and ellas refer to onl' a group of fe#ales"
D&F5+5!C&AS C:! 57 &!G7TS/ $i77eren+es &it6 En!lis6
D" &n Spanish* 'erb endings indicate the subject" Therefore*
subject pronouns are often o#itted"
EXAPLES*
Abri#os a las ocho"/ 4e open at eight"
Cierran pri#ero"/ The close first"
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E" &n order to e#phasi3e the subject* a pronoun is
used" 4hen used* it precedes the 'erb"
EXAPLE*
@o so el #ejor"/ & a# the best"
F" A pronoun is used in order to a'oid confusion when
'erb for#s present a#biguit"
'o/ &
:d./ ou
5l/ he
ella/ she
hac$a ejercicios"/ was or were e,ercising"
G" Pronouns are al&a's used when there are E 'erbs
and E subjects"
EXAPLE*
@o so feli3* (l no lo es"/ & a# happ* but he is
not"
I" The pronoun it is rarel used"
EXAPLES*
5s posible alcan3ar esa #eta"/ &t is possible to
reach that goal"
5stH llo'iendo"/ &tMs raining"
J" &n a ?uestion* subject pronouns can precede or
follow the 'erb"
S<d" es el
presidenteR
Are ou the
presidentR
S5s <d" el
presidenteR
K" <nli/e 5nglish* personal pronouns are used in the
following constructionsC
6omo ella* (l* ellos* ellas/ li7e her* hi#* the#
Entre t) o/ bet&een ou and #e
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17
E81epto ella* (l* ellos* ellas / e81ept her* hi#*
the#
2n1luso/ in1luyendo ella* (l* ellos* ellas /
in1ludin her* hi#* the#
Se!n ella* (l* ellos* ellas / a11ordin to her*
hi#* the#
Article
10 Art$culo definido/ Definite articleC rules when to use it"
E" Art$culo definido/ Definite articleC rules when !:T to use it"
F" Contracciones/ Contractions
G" 5l art $culo neutro/ The neuter article
I" Art$culo indefinido/ &ndefinite articleC rules when to use it"
J" Art$culo indefinido/ &ndefinite articleC rules when !:T to use
it"
ART;C:LO $EF#N#$O/ $e7inite Arti+le
&n Spanish* there are < 7orms that are e?ui'alent to the
5nglish definite article the" The agree in number and
!ender with the noun the #odif"
/ender Sin!ular Plural
6asculine el los
Fe#inine la las
EXAPLES*
el banc o /the ban/
los banc os / the ban/s
la cas a / the house
las cas as / the houses
Rules &6en to use t6e de7inite arti+le*
D"The definite article is used when the noun is determined"
EXAPLES*
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1"
1a una casa en el bos?ue" *a casa es blanca" /
There is a house in the forest" 3he house is white"
E" The definite article is used also with nouns that refer to
the totalit'9 abstra+t sense9 essen+e9 or !eneral idea.
EXAPLES*
*a libertad es esencial" / 7ibert is essential"
El a#or es in#ortal" / 7o'e is i##ortal"
F" The definite article is used with the meals of the da
and with the time"
EXAPLES*
@o co#pro la cena" / & bu the dinner"
Son las dos" / &tMs E oMcloc/"
G" &t is also used with da's of the wee/"
EXAPLES*
Te lla#ar( el lunes" /&Mll call ou on 6onda"
!os 'e#os el #artes" / 4eMll see each other on
Tuesda"
Ex+eption to the abo'e rule is with the 'erb ser/ to
beB the article is !:T re?uired"
EXAPLES*
Aer 4ue sHbado" / @esterda was Saturda"
1o es jue'es" / Toda is Thursda"
I" The definite article is used with na#es of bod' parts
and pieces of +lot6in!" &n 5nglish* possessi"e
adje+ti"es are used instead"
EXAPLES*
@o saco el bra3o" / & ta/e out my ar#"
5lla se la'a la ca#isa" / She washes her shirt"
J" The definite article is used with the following titles
that are followed b the na#e of the personC
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1'
$e7inite arti+le used Example
se.or 9Sr-:/ ;r-
El Sr- 7pe3 es feli3" / ;r- 7ope3 is
happ"
se.ora 9Sra-:/ ;rs-
*a Sra- de 7pe3 saluda"/ ;rs- 7ope3
greets"
se.orita 9Srta-:/ ;iss
*a Srta- P(re3 co#e" / ;iss Pere3
eats"
do1tor 9%r-:/ %r- 9male:
El %r- +oberto 7ee es #u bueno" / %r-
+obert 7ee is 'er good"
do1tora 9%ra-:/ %r-
94emale:
*a %ra- Ana Aguilar es #ejor" / %r-
Ana Aguilar is better"
The following titles $O NOT re?uire the definite articleC
NO de7inite arti+le
used
Example
don .used with first
na#e0/ ;r-
6e saluda don 2uan" / ;r- 2uan is
greeting #e"
do.a .used with first
na#e0/ ;rs-
@ do.a 6arina llora" / And ;rs- 6arina
cries"
San/ St-
Va#os a 'er a San Pablo" / 7etMs go to
see St- Paul"
Santo/ holy or St-
5llos creen en Santo Do#ingo" / The
belie'e in Saint Do#inic"
Santa/ holy
Santa 6adre &glesia / <oly 6other
Church
4ray/ ,rother
= ray 7uis es un luchador" / ,rother 7uis
is a fighter"
NOTE* That NO articles are used when tal/ing dire+tl'
to the person"
EXAPLE*
%r- Perera* d$ga#e por fa'or" / %r- Perera* tell
#e please"
K" The definite article is used with #ost names of
o+eans9 seas9 ri"ers9 la=es9 mountains"
EXAPLES*
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2,
*os Alpes estHn lejos" / The Alps are far awa"
El AtlHntico es in#enso" / The Atlantic is
i##ense"
El Titicaca estH en %oli'ia" / The Titicaca is in
%oli'ia"
$O NOT use t6e de7inite arti+le in t6e 7ollo&in!
situations*
D" The definite article is NOT used with nouns that e,press an
undetermined amount"
EXAPLES*
5l gerente tiene dinero" / The #anager has #one"
!ecesito pan ?ueso" / & need bread and cheese"
E" The definite article is NOT used with lan!ua!es if the
are followed i##ediatel b the 'erb hablar and the
prepositions de and en"
NO de7inite arti+le
used
Example
hablar/ to spea/ 1ablan coreano"/ The spea/ -orean"
de/ of
@o ?uiero hablar de ingl(s" / & want to
tal/ about 5nglish .language0"
en/ in
5lla habla en chino 1on su padre- / She
spea/s Chinese with her father"
1owe'er* if the lan!ua!es go after the 'erbs aprender*
estudiar* and es1ribir* the use of a definite article is
optional"
Optional use o7
de7inite arti+le
Example
aprender/to learn
;uiero aprender 9el: espa9ol" / & want to
learn Spanish"
estudiar/to stud 5studio 9el: espa9ol" / & stud Spanish"
es1ribir/ to write
7eo escribo 9el: ingl(s"/ & read and
write 5nglish"
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21
NOTE* &f there is an ad'erb after a 'erb* the article is
re?uired for the succeeding noun"
EXAPLE*
1ablan 4ludamente el coreano" / The spea/
4luently -orean"
F" The definite article is NOT used with roman
numbers that denote the nu#erical order of a ponti77
or so"erei!n"
EXAPLES*
2uan Pablo 22 / 2ohn Paul the se1ond
Victoria 222 / Victoria the third
NOTE* &t is incorrect to add an article before an
personMs na#e"
#n+orre+tC la 2uana or el Pedro
G" 6ost +ountr' names do NOT re?uire an article*
howe'er* when the word 'ep!bli1a/ 'epubli1 is
o#itted* the article is re?uiredC
ART#CLE RE>:#RE$ NO ART#CLE RE>:#RE$
*a Argentina !icaragua
El %rasil +usia
*os 5stados <nidos
.<S0
5spa9a .Spain0
El CanadH &ndonesia
El 5cuador Australia
El 2apn &nglaterra
*a China Chile
*a &ndia 6(jico .6(,ico can also be spelt with ,0
NOTE* &f a geographic na#e is #odified b an
adjecti'e* an article is needed"
EXAPLE*
El Chile prehistrico es i#portante" / The
prehistoric Chile is i#portant"
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22
T?E NE:TER ART#CLE LO
This neuter article is used to e,press a ?ualit or an abstract
idea"
EXAPLES*
*o i#portante es ?ue 2uan es feli3" / The i#portant
thing is that 2uan is happ"
*o bueno de 'i'ir en CanadH es""" / The good thing
to li'e in Canada is"""
NOTE* That *o > ad"e1tive or adverb > que is
e?ui'alent to the 5nglish e,pression ho&"
EXAPLES*
5l presidente sabe lo di41il que es la situacin
econ#ica"/ The President /nows ho& difficult
the econo#ic situation is"
5ntiendo lo malo que es fu#ar" / & understand
ho& bad s#o/ing is"

ART;C:LO #N$EF#N#$O/ inde7inite arti+le
&n Spanish* there are G for#s of indefinite articles that are
e?ui'alent to a, an, and some"
/ender Sin!ular Plural
6asculine un unos
Fe#inine una unas
EXAPLES*
Un ho#br e / a #an
Unos che?u es / some chec/s
Una puert a / a door
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23
Unas 'entan as / some windows
.Top of de page0
NOTE* Un is used instead of una* when the nouns are
fe#inine and start with a- or ha- that are stressed in
that sllable"
EXAPLES*
un ala / a wing unas ala s / some wings
un hacha / an
a,e
unas hacha s / some a,es
Rules &6en to use t6e inde7inite arti+le*
D" The indefinite article is used when the noun is
undetermined"
EXAPLE*
6Hnde#e un reporte" / Send #e a report"
E" Unas and unos e,press an undeter#ined ?uantit"
4hen the are used with nouns or nu#bers* the are
e?ui'alent to some or about in 5nglish"
EXAPLES*
Vendi#os unos productos" / 4e sold some
products"
Co#i#os unas 'einte #an3anas" / 4e ate about
EO apples"
F" The indefinite article is used to indicate a @ualit'
t6at +6ara+teri3es the #odified noun"
&n the following sentence* la0iness is the #ain
characteristic of this person"
EXAPLE*
2uan es un haragHn" / 2uan is la3"
$O NOT use t6e inde7inite arti+le in t6e 7ollo&in!
situations*
D" The indefinite article is NOT used with the following
wordsC
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24
NO ART#CLE
RE>:#RE$
EXAPLE
tal/ such
Pedro no dijo tal cosa" / Pedro didnMt sa su1h
a thing"
otro/another
;uiero ca#biarla por otra billetera" / & want to
e,change it for another wallet"
1ien/ hundred
Deposito 1ien dlares" / & deposit a hundred
dollars"
mil/ thousand
5l che?ue es por mil pesos" / The chec/ is for a
thousand pesos"
qu---?/ what"""U VQu ni9oU / @hat a childU
E" The indefinite article is NOT used when stating the
pro7ession9 nationalit'9 politi+al a77iliation9or
reli!ion of a person"
1owe'er* if the noun is being #odified* the indefinite
article is used"
>:AL#T2
NO ART#CLE
RE>:#RE$
ART#CLE RE>:#RE$
pro7essio
n
So doctor"/ & a# a
doctor"
So un doctor
espe+iali3ado "/ & a# a
speciali3ed doctor"
nationalit
'
5lla es francesa"/ She
is French"
5lla es una francesa tpi1a "/
She is a tpical French"
politi+al
a77iliation
Tl es peronista"/ 1e is a
Peronist"
Tl es un 'erdadero
peronista "/ 1e is a true
Peronist"
reli!ion
5lla es catlica"/ She is
a catholic"
5lla es una catlica
dedi1ada "/ She is a
dedicated catholic"
1em&#+trati2e
4hen a de#onstrati'e adjecti'e .DA0 functions as a noun* it is
called a de#onstrati'e pronoun .DP0"
DA and DP are used to indicate distan+e or proximit' in
space or in ti#e"
D" Adjeti'os de#ostrati'os/ De#onstrati'e adjecti'es
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25
E" Prono#bres de#ostrati'os/ De#onstrati'e pronouns
F" For#as neutras/ !euter for#s
AD25T&V:S D56:ST+AT&V:S/ De#onstrati'e adjecti'es .DA0
DA point out nouns* such as people* places* or things" DA are
more spe+i7i+ than definite or indefinite articles"
$em. Adje+ti"es /ender Sin!ular Plural
this/ these
6asculine este estos
Fe#inine esta estas
that/ those .nearb0
6asculine ese esos
Fe#inine esa esas
that/ those .far awa0
6asculine aquel aquellos
Fe#inine aquella aquellas
EXAPLES*
El auto/ the car
Un auto/ a car
Este auto/ this car
NOTE* As s6o&n in t6e abo"e examples9 $A a!ree
in !ender and number &it6 t6e nouns t6e' modi7'9
and $A pre+ede t6e nouns.
ES3E and all its for#s indicate pro,i#it to the
spea/er"
Este sobre estH abierto"/ 3his en'elope is open"
ESE and all its for#s indicate pro,i#it to the listener"
Esa flor .?ue t) tienes0 es linda"/ 3hat flower
.that ou are holding0 is prett"
#QUE* and all its for#s indicate distan+e fro# both
the spea/er and the listener or 7ar a&a' fro# the
spea/er"
#quel Hrbol .a dos cuadras0 es 'erde"/ 3hat
tree .two bloc/s awa0 is green"
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26
PRONOBRES $EOSTRAT#0OS/ De#onstrati'e
pronouns .DP0
DP replace a noun" The ha'e the sa#e for# as DA*
but the ha'e written accents that distinguish the#
fro# DA"
$em. Pronouns /ender Sin!ular Plural
this/ these
6asculine ste stos
Fe#inine sta stas
that/ those .nearb0
6asculine se sos
Fe#inine sa sas
that/ those .far awa0
6asculine aqul aqullos
Fe#inine aqulla aqullas
EXAPLES*
5sta casa es 'ieja* pero sa es #oderna/ This
house is old* but that one is #odern"
5sos Hrboles son bajos pero stos son altos/
Those trees are short* but these are tall"
AS3E and all its for#s replace the latter noun in a
sentence" #qul and all its for#s replace the for#er
noun"
EXAPLE*
Chi'as es #Hs a9ejo ?ue 2"4al/er" Aste es de G
a9os" #qul es de K a9os"/ Chi'as has been
aged longer than 2"4al/er" This is G ears old"
That is K ears old" .Aste refers to 2" 4al/erB
#qul refers to Chi'as0
NOTE* DP also agree in gender and nu#ber"
F:+6AS !5<T+AS/ !euter for#s
There are F neuter DP* sto, so and aqullo" The
are used to refer to abstract ideas* concepts* or
situations* and unidentified or undeter#ined objects"
EXAPLES*
Pregunta sto al profesor"/ As/ about this
.#atter0 to the professor"
Aso es i#posible"/ That is i#possible"
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27
#qullo es #$ni#o" Tsto es #ejor"/ That is
#ini#al" This is better"
Pr&#&$#+
10 Prono#bres personales/ Personal pronouns
E" Diferencias con el ingl(s/ Differences with 5nglish
F" Posesi'o/ Possessi'e
G" De#ostrati'o/ De#onstrati'e
PRONOBRES PERSONALES/ Personal pronouns
Personal pronouns can be used as subjects of a sentence" The
replace a noun"
Sin!ular Plural
yo/ 2
nosotros .#as"0* nosotras .fe#"0/
&e
t! .infor#al0* usted
.for#al0/ you
vosotros .#as"0,vosotras .fe#"0,
ustedes/ you
l/ he, ella/ she ellos, ellas/ they
3! is the singular in4ormal for# of you- &t is used to address
fa#il #e#bers* children* and friends"
Ud- is the abbre'iation of usted and is the singular 4ormal
for# of you" &t is preferable to use Ud" in all other instances"
Vosotros is the fa#iliar plural for# of you that is onl' used
in Spain" &n all other 7atin A#erican countries* ustedes is
used" NOTE* That ustedes is used for both in7ormal and
polite plural"
5osotros, vosotros, ellos are used to refer to a male group
or a group of mixed gender" 1owe'er* nosotras, vosotras
and ellas refer to onl' a group of fe#ales"
D&F5+5!C&AS C:! 57 &!G7TS/ $i77eren+es &it6 En!lis6
D" &n Spanish* 'erb endings indicate the subject" Therefore*
subject pronouns are often o#itted"
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2"
EXAPLES*
Abri#os a las ocho"/ 4e open at eight"
Cierran pri#ero"/ The close first"
E" &n order to e#phasi3e the subject* a pronoun is
used" 4hen used* it precedes the 'erb"
EXAPLE*
@o so el #ejor"/ & a# the best"
F" A pronoun is used in order to a'oid confusion when
'erb for#s present a#biguit"
'o/ &
:d./ ou
5l/ he
ella/ she
hac$a ejercicios"/ was or were e,ercising"
G" Pronouns are al&a's used when there are E 'erbs
and E subjects"
EXAPLE*
@o so feli3* (l no lo es"/ & a# happ* but he is
not"
I" The pronoun it is rarel used"
EXAPLES*
5s posible alcan3ar esa #eta"/ &t is possible to
reach that goal"
5stH llo'iendo"/ &tMs raining"
J" &n a ?uestion* subject pronouns can precede or
follow the 'erb"
S<d" es el
presidenteR
Are ou the
presidentR
S5s <d" el
presidenteR
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2'
K" <nli/e 5nglish* personal pronouns are used in the
following constructionsC
6omo ella* (l* ellos* ellas/ li7e her* hi#* the#
Entre t) o/ bet&een ou and #e
E81epto ella* (l* ellos* ellas / e81ept her* hi#*
the#
2n1luso/ in1luyendo ella* (l* ellos* ellas /
in1ludin her* hi#* the#
Se!n ella* (l* ellos* ellas / a11ordin to her*
hi#* the#
A)3ecti2e+
A:$#OC Clic/ on an underlined word for audioB to
hear the word again* clic/ on the PLA2 button of the
audio plaer to #a,i#i3e the use of our co#puterMs
resources" 6ore info"
Adjecti'es are words that describe a noun or a pronoun"
Adjecti'es that are attributes or nationalit generall 7ollo& a
noun"
EXAPLES
leccin 78+il
/ eas'
lesson
cielo a3ul /
blue s/
co#ida
+6ina /
C6inese
food
EXCEPT#ONS are possessi"e9 demonstrati"e9 or numeri+al
adjecti'es" As in 5nglish* the pre+ede the noun"
EXAPLES
mi casa /
m' house
ese libro /
t6at boo/
siete sillas /
www .franklang .ru
3,
se"en
chairs
4!R5S !4 A16E7T8ES 9A:reeme#t;
D" 6ost adjecti'es +6an!e for#* depending upon whether the
noun the #odif is #asculine or fe#inine and singular or
plural" For words that end in o, a, and e* their endings are the
followingC
/ender Sin!ular Plural
6asculine -o -os
Fe#inine -a -as
6asc" or Fe#" Pe Pes
E" &n Spanish* adjecti'es #ust correspond in number and
!ender to the article and noun the #odif" &n 5nglish*
adjecti'es do NOT change"
EXAPLES
/en
der
Sin!ular Plural
6asc
uline
el gat o blanc o / the white
cat
los gat os blanc os / the white
cats
Fe#i
nine
la gat a blanc a / the white
cat
las gat as blanc as / the white
cats
6asc
uline
el ho#br e inteligent e / the
intelligent #an
los ho#br es inteligent es / the
intelligent #en
Fe#i
nine
la #uje r inteligent e / the
intelligent wo#an
las #uje res inteligent es / the
intelligent wo#en
F" Generall* words that end in a consonant, -es is added to
for# their pluralB howe'er* the ending, -es, re#ains constant
despite of the gender of the noun the #odif"
EXAPLES
/ende
r
Sin!ular Plural
6asculi
ne
El libro a3ul / The blue
boo/
Los libros a3ules / The blue
boo/s
Fe#ini La caja a3ul / The blue Las cajas a3ules / The blue
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31
ne bo, bo,es
NOTE* That adjecti'es are #ade plural b adding -s, -esB
howe'er* when words end in 0, it changes to -1es-
EXAPLES
el ho#br e cap a0 /
the +apable #an
los ho#br es
capa 1es / the
+apable #en"
Pre+e#t Te#+e
A 'erb e,presses an action or indicates a state or +ondition"
An infiniti'e is the for# of a 'erb that shows no subject or
nu#ber* such as comprar/ to buy, vender/ to sell, recibir/ to
receive.
Verbs consist of a ste#* such as 1ompr in co#prar* vend in
'ender* re1ib in recibir * and an ending* such as Par, -er, -ir"
Ste#s of regular 'erbs do not change* but ste#s of irregular
'erbs so#eti#es do change"
Clasi7i+a+i4n de los "erbos/ Classification of 'erbs
&n Spanish* 'erbs are classified according to the endings of
their infiniti'e"
D" First +onju!ationC 'erbs ending in -ar
E" Se+ond +onju!ationC 'erbs ending in -er
F" T6ird +onju!ationC 'erbs ending in -ir
:nli=e En!lis69 ea+6 subje+t 6as a distin+t "erb
endin!.
F#RST CONA:/AT#ON*
Comprar/ to bu
yo co#pro/ & bu
t! co#pras/ ou bu
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32
l, ella, usted co#pra/ he* she* ou .for#al0 bu.s0
nosotros co#pra#os/ we bu
vosotros co#pris/ ou bu
ellos, ustedes co#pran/ the* ou bu
SECON$ AN$ T?#R$ CONA:/AT#ONS*
The endings for the second and third groups are
identical e,cept for the nosotros and vosotros"
0ender/ to
sell
Re+ibir/ to recei'e
o 'endo
t) 'endes
(l 'ende
nos"'endemos
'os" 'endis
ellos 'enden
o recibo
t) recibes
(l recibe
nos" recibimos
'os" recibs
ellos reciben
NOTE* &n the abo'e e,a#ples* to conjugate a 'erb* the
ending of the infiniti'e 9-ar, -er, -ir: is re#o'ed and
an appropriate ending is added"
:se t6e present tense in t6e 7ollo&in! situations*
The Spanish present tense is e?ui'alent to following <
for#s in 5nglishC
Co 4irmo el
1ontra1to-
& sin the contract"
& do sin the contract"
& am sinin the contract"
& &ill sin the contract" .in the i##ediate future0
D" #t is used to indi+ate &6at is 6appenin! no&.
EXAPLE*
@o co#o ahora"/ & a# eating right now"
E" T6e present tense is also used to express an
a+tion t6at &ill ta=e pla+e in t6e immediate 7uture*
EXAPLE*
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33
=irmo el contracto #a9ana"/ 2 &ill sin the
contract to#orrow"
F" #t is also used to ma=e a re@uest or as= 7or
instru+tions*
EXAPLES*
SQuieren cenar con#igoR @ill you ha'e dinner
with #eR
SEs1ribo el che?ueR/ Shall 2 write the chec/R
G" T6is tense is used to indi+ate 6abitual a+tions*
EXAPLES*
7os Argentinos 1enan alrededor de las DO de la
noche"/ Argentines eat dinner around DO P"6"
7os espa9oles duermen una siesta despu(s de
al#or3ar"/ Spanish people ta7e a nap after
lunch"
NOTE* Since the 'erb endings indicate who the subject
is* the subject pronouns are fre?uentl o#ittedB
howe'er* it is AL1A2S used when there are B
subje+ts and B "erbs.
EXAPLES*
CorrectC Co to#o* ella co#e"/ & drin/* and she
eats"
&ncorrectC To#o co#e"/ & drin/* and she eats"
7&mparati2e+
Co#parati'es allow the co#parison of e?ual and une?ual
degrees of ?ualities* attributes and characteristics"
There are C le'els of co#parisonC
10 e@ualit'
B. in7eriorit'
%. superiorit'
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34
40 superlati"e
50 irre!ular
#/:AL$A$/ E>:AL#T2
D" 4hen co#paring adje+ti"es and ad"erbs* tanD1omo/
as---as is used" 3an ne'er changes in the co#parison or
contrast of ?ualities"
EXAPLES*
7a a#orti3acin es tan i#portante 1omo los
gastos"/ The depreciation is as i#portant as
e,penses"
5l porcentaje de inter(s es tan bajo 1omo las
ganancias"/ The interest rate is as low as the
profits"
E" 4hen e?uating ?uantities or co#paring nouns*
tantoD1omo .as #uch as* as #an as0 is used" 3anto
changes to tanta, tantas, tantos to agree with the
nounMs gender and nu#ber"
/ender Sin!ular Plural
6asculine tanto tantos
Fe#inine tanta tantas
EXAPLES*
5sta co#pa9$a no tiene tanto dinero 1omo su
co#peticin"/ This co#pan doesnMt ha'e as
#uch #one as its co#petition"
Sin e#bargo s$ tiene tantos autos 1omo su
co#peticin"/ 1owe'er* it does ha'e as #an
cars as its co#petition"
$ES#/:AL$A$/ #NE>:AL#T2
&n Spanish* the co#parati'e of #ost adjecti'es* ad'erbs* and
nouns is for#ed b using msD que/ more---than for
superiorit and menosDque/ less---than for inferiorit"
NOTE* That the words ms and menos do NOT change with
gender or nu#ber"
EXAPLES*
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35
7a tasa de inter(s al consu#idor es menos atracti'a
que la interbancaria"/ The consu#erMs interest rate
is less attracti'e than that of the interban/Ms"
Tengo ms inter(s en las finan3as que en la
#ercadotecnia"/ & ha'e more interest in finance
than in #ar/eting"
NOTE* %e is used instead of que before an e,pression
of ?uantit or a#ount"
EXAPLES*
1a ms de F co#petidores"/ There are more
than F co#petitors"
Tengo menos de FO #inutos para ter#inar la
leccin"/ & ha'e less than FO #inutes to finish
the lesson"
S:PERLAT#0OS/ S:PERLAT#0ES
The e,press the 6i!6est or lo&est degree of co#parison
when co#paring t&o or more things"
There are B #ain was to e,press a superlati'e idea" &ts
construction is si#ilar to that of the co#parati'e for#C
D" Superlati'es are for#ed b placing the definite article
before the noun being co#pared* and note that the words
ms and menos do NOT change with gender or nu#ber" &n
these instances* the article deter#ines the gender and the
nu#ber of the subject"
Degree /ender Sin!ular Plural
1ighest
6asculine el ms/ the #ost los ms/ the #ost
Fe#inine la ms/ the #ost las ms/ the #ost
7owest
6asculine
el menos/ the
least
los menos/ the
least
Fe#inine
la menos/ the
least
las menos/ the
least
EXAPLES*
5ste banco es el ms grande del pa$s"/ This ban/ is
the largest in the countr"
5stos bancos son los ms grandes del pa$s"/ These
ban/s are the largest in the countr"
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36
7a casa es la ms grande en la cuadra"/ The
house is the largest in the bloc/"
7as casas son las ms grandes en la cuadra"/
The houses are the largest in the bloc/"
5l 'icepresidente es el menos pagado en la
co#pa9$a"/ The Vice President is the least paid
in the co#pan"
7os 'icepresidentes son los menos pagados"/
The Vice Presidents are the least paid"
7a 'icepresidenta es la menos pagada"/ The
Vice Presidente .fe#ale0 is the least paid"
7as 'icepresidentas son las menos pagadas"/
The Vice Presidents .fe#ale0 are the least paid"
E" Superlati'es are also for#ed b adding the suffi,
-simo .-a* -os* -as0 to an adjecti'e or an ad'erb"
/ender Sin!ular Plural
6asculine -simo -simos
Fe#inine -sima -simas
EXAPLES*
2uan es inteligentsimo-/ 2uan is extremel'
intelligent"
2uan Ana son inteligentsimos-/ 2uan and Ana
are extremel' intelligent"
Ana es inteligentsima-/ Ana is extremel'
intelligent"
Ana +osa son inteligentsimas"/ Ana and +osa
are extremel' intelligent"
#RRE/:LAR/ #RRE/:LAR
The following are adje+ti"es and ad"erbs with irregular
co#parati'e for#sC
Adje+ti"es and ad"erbs
Comparati"e
7orm
bueno/ good mejor/better
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37
bien/well mejor/better
malo/bad peor/worse
mal/badl peor/worse
"iejo/old .when referring to people onl0 ma'or/older
jo"en/oung .when referring to people onl0 menor/ounger
7&#)iti&#al Te#+e
The conditional tense in Spanish is e?ui'alent to the
conditional tense in 5nglish* &ould D "erb"
To for# this tense* add the endings -a, -as, -a, -amos,
ais, an to an infiniti'e" These roots are used for all three
conjugations* -ar, -er, and -ir"
Note that all for#s ha'e a &ritten a++ent"
EXAPLES*
Pronoun Calcular/ to calculate
Co#er/ to
eat
5scribir/ to write
yo calculara co#era escribira
t! calcularas co#eras escribiras
l, ella,
Ud-
calculara co#era escribira
nosotros calcularamos
co#eramo
s
escribiramos
vosotros calcularais co#erais escribirais
ellos, Uds- calcularan co#eran escribiran
#RRE/:LAR CON$#T#ONAL FORS
The following 'erbs ha'e irre!ular +onditional ste#s to
which are added the conditional endings" These for#s are the
same as their 7uture tense stems"
#n7initi"e/ Conditional/ En!lis6
Salir / saldr$a /to go out
Venir/ 'endr$a/to co#e
Tener/tendr$a/ to ha'e
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3"
Poner/ pondr$a/to put
Poder/podr$a/ to be able
Valer/ 'aldr$a/ to be worth
1aber/ habr$a/ to be
Saber/ sabr$a/ to /now
Caber/ cabr$a/ to fit
1acer/ harEa/to do
Decir/ dirEa/to sa
;uerer/ ?uerrEa/ to want
4$t$r&/ 4$t$re Te#+e
The future tense in Spanish is e?ui'alent to the future tense in
5nglish* &ill or shall Q verb"
There are F was to e,press a future actionC
40 T6e present tense C &ndicati'e #ode"
50 2r D a D in4inity C going to Q 'erb"
60 T6e 7uture tense C includes irregular for#s"
T15 P+5S5!T T5!S5
This tense can be used to e,press an action ta/ing place in
the near future"
EXAPLES*
5sta tarde #i hija va al concierto"/ This
afternoon # daughter &ill o to the concert"
Estoy en la oficina todo el d$a"/ &Ell be in the
office all da"
The construction ir Q a Q in4initive
This construction is e?ui'alent to the 5nglish e,pression
oin to > verb" &t is fre?uentl used to e,press a
future action"
2r / to go
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3'
Co voy/ & a# going
t! vas/ ou are going
l, ella, 9Ud-: va/ he* she* .ou are0 is going
nosotros vamos/ we are going
vosotros vais/ ou are going
Uds-, ellos, ellas van/ ou* the are going
EXAPLES*
Voy a aprender espa9ol"/ 2 am oin to learn
Spanish"
Vamos a abrir un negocio propio"/ @e are
oin to open our own business"
T15 F<T<+5
To for# the future* add these endings to the infiniti'e*
which ser'es as the ste# of al#ost all Spanish 'erbsC
-, -s, -, -emos, -is, -n" The endings are the
sa#e for all F conjugations"
co#prar/ to
bu
'ender/ to
sell
recebir/ to recei'e
@o/ &
T)* <d"* / ou
(l* ella/ he* she
!osotros/ we
Vosotros/ ou
<ds"* ellos* ellas/ ou*
the
co#prar
co#prars
co#prar
co#praremos
co#praris
co#prarn
'ender
'enders
'ender
'enderemos
'enderis
'endern
recibir
recibirs
recibir
recibiremos
recibiris
recibirn
&++5G<7A+ V5+%S
So#e 'erbs ha'e irregular future ste#s* which are the
sa#e as their irregular conditional ste#s" Add the
future endings to the#"
<se the future tense in the following situationsC
D" To e,press probabilit'9 +onje+ture or doubt of an
action* condition or state* in the present or future ti#e*
the future tense is used" &t is e?ui'alent to the 5nglish
e,pressionsC .probably, &onder, suppose, uess0"
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4,
EXAPLES*
1o no #e puse el reloj" S;u( hora serHR/ Toda
& a# not wearing # watch" & wonder what ti#e
it isR .4hat ti#e could it beR0
SerHn las dos pico"/ &t #ust be a little after
two"
S;ui(nes estarHn afueraR SSerHn los ni9osR / &
wonder who are outsideR The #ust be the
children" .The are probabl the children"0
E" To e,press the willingness to do so#ething* the
'erbs desear or querer are used instead of the future
tense"
EXAPLE*
S;ui(ren cenar con#igoR/ 4ill ou ha'e dinner
with #eR
NOTE* The Spanish future tense is NOT used to #a/e
re?uests* as it is in 5nglish"
F" The future tense is also used to e,press orders or
+ommands"
EXAPLES*
;andars estos folletos esta tarde"/ Send these
pa#phlets this afternoon"
!i9os* no irn al cine"/ Children* donEt o
.wonMt0 to the #o'ies"
7&#tracci&#e+/ 7&#tracti&#+
&n Spanish* there are onl E contractions* al and del"
The prepositions a .to* toward0 and de .fro#* of0 co#bine with
the definite article el to for# al .a Q el W al0 and del .de Q el
W del0"
EXAPLES*
Vo al hotel"/ & a# going to the hotel"
Vengo del colegio"/ & a# co#ing 4rom college"
NOTE* That the pronoun l does NOT contract"
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EXAPLE*
Decile a l ?ue 'enga"/ Tell hi# to co#e"
NOTE* That no other definite articles 9la, las, los:
for# contractions when co#bined with de"
EXAPLES*
7a 'entana de la casa estH sucia"/ The
window o4 the house is dirt"
7as hipotecas de las casas"/ The #ortgages
o4 the houses"
7os e#pleados de los bancos"/ The
e#ploees o4 the ban/s"
El mperati2&/ mperati2e 4&rm
The i#perati'e for# is used to gi'e an order* direction* or
co##and"
RE/:LAR 0ERBS
To for# the co##and* drop the -o of the first person present
7orm .indicati'e #ode0 of the 'erb and add the following
endingsC
Verbs ending in -ar* such as 1obrar/ to collect #oneC
Positi'e &#perati'e !egati'e &#perati'e
cobra .t)0
cobre .<d"0
cobremos
.nosotros0
cobrad .'osotros0
cobren .<ds"* ellos0
no cobres
no cobre
no cobremos
no cobris
no cobren
Verbs ending in -er and -ir* such as prender/ to turn-on and
es1ribir/ to &rite* ha'e the sa#e endings* e,cept for
vosotros"
&++5G<7A+ V5+%S PC:66A!DS
The same endin!s #entioned abo'e are used for
irre!ular "erbs for the i#perati'e for#"
#n7initi"e TF :d.9 5l Nos. 0os. :ds.9 ellos
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pensar/ to thin/
1ontar/ to count
1ono1er/ to
/now
poner/to put
Piensa
Cuenta
Conocepo
n
Piense
Cuente
cono3c
a
ponga
Pensemos
Contemos
cono3camo
s
pongamos
Pensad
Contad
conoce
d
poned
piensen
cuenten
cono3can
pongan
#RRE/:LAR FORS PC:66A!DS
D" The following ha'e irre!ular +ommand 7orms for the
pronoun t!C
#n7initi"e
Pos.
#mper.
Ne!. #mper.
Ser/to be
3ener/ to ha'e
Venir/ to co#e
%e1ir/ to sa
Salir/ to go
out
<a1er/ to do
2r/ to go
Poner/ to put
s5 ,tF-
ten ,tF-
"en ,tF-
di ,tF-
sal ,tF-
6a3 ,tF-
"e ,tF-
pon ,tF-
no seas
no tengas
no 'engas
no digas
no salgas
no hagas
no 'aas
no pongas
E" The following 'erbs ha'e irre!ular ne!ati"e co##and
for#sC
#n7initi"e
Pos.
#mper.
Ne!. #mper.
%ar/ to gi'e
Estar/ to be
Saber/ to
/now
da ,tF-
estH ,tF-
sabe ,tF-
no des
no est5s
no sepas
Although subject pronouns are rarel used with co##ands*
the can be placed after the 'erb for emp6asis or
+ourtes'.
EXAPLES*
Co#an Uds- sin falta"/ +e#e#ber to eat"
Fir#e Ud- a?u$* por fa'or"/ Please* sign here"
T?E EXPRESS#ON *E3ES---
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D" This 5nglish e,pression is e?ui'alent to the
co##and for# corresponding to nosotros"
EXAPLES*
Abramos el 'ino"/LetGs open the wine"
No tomemos tanto"/ LetGs not drin= too #uch"
E" The e,pression letEs can also be e,pressed using
vamos a Q in4initive"
EXAPLES*
Vamos a abrir el 'ino"/ *etEs open the wine"
5o vayamos a to#ar tanto"/ *etEs not drin/
too #uch"
E<pre+i&#e+ Ne:ati2a+ . A*irmati2a+/ Ne:ati2e a#)
A**irmati2e E<pre++i&#+
The #ost co##on wa to #a/e a sentence negati'e is to
place no before the 'erb"
The 5nglish au,iliaries do and does are not used in Spanish"
EXAPLES*
2uan abre una cuenta bancaria"/ 2uan opens a
chec/ing account"
2uan no abre la cuenta bancaria"/ 2uan does not
open the chec/ing account"
A77irmati"e and ne!ati"e expressions
NOTE* &n Spanish* double negation is 'er +ommon* as
stated in the e,a#ples below"
#*$+ 5#%#/ So#ething and nothing
#lo and nada are in'ariable and refer to t6in!s and
obje+ts"
EXAPLES*
1a alo afuera"/ There is somethin outside"
5o ha nada en el refrigerador"/ There is
nothin in the refrigerator"
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#*$U2E5 y 5#%2E / So#eone and no one
#luien and nadie are in'ariable and refer to people"
4hen aluien, nadie, aluno and ninuno are direct
objects* the #ust be preceded b the personal a when
the refer to a person"
EXAPLES*
&n'it( a aluien a salir"/ & as/ed someone out"
!o defiendo a nadie./ & donMt defend anybody-
#*$U5+ .so#eone or so#e0 525$U5+ .no one or
none0
#luno and ninuno can refer to people or t6in!s"
Further#ore* aluno and ninuno drop the final -o
before #asculine singular nouns si#ilarl* uno/one
shortens to un* and bueno/ good to buen"
EXAPLES*
#l!n d$a 'endere#os #illones"/ Some da
weMll sell #illions"
5in!n producto estH fallado"/ 5one of the
products is da#aged"
NOTE* 5inuno is ne'er used in a plural for#"
#*$U5# VEF/ 5'er
#luna ve0 is e?ui'alent to ever-
EXAPLE*
S1as dise9ado aluna ve0 un logotipoR/ 1a'e
ou ever designed a logoR
T?E :SE OF :LT#PLE NE/AT#0E*
D" 4hene'er the negati'e words nada, nadie, nun1a,
tampo1o, "ams, follow the 'erb* no #ust precede the
'erb* which produces a #ultiple negati'e construction"
EXAPLE*
5o co#o nun1a espinaca"/ & never eat spinach"
B. The negati'e word can be placed at the end of the
sentence"
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EXAPLE*
5o co#o espinaca nun1a-/ & never eat spinach"
%. 4hen the negati'e word precedes the 'erb* the word
no is NOT used"
EXAPLE*
5un1a co#o espinaca"/ & never eat spinach"
$O:BLE 5+
4hen the ans&er to a ?uestion is ne!ati"e* the word
no appears t&i+e" &t appears at the beginning of the
sentence and also in front of the 'erb"
EXAPLE*
2uanC SAbren ahoraR/ Are ou going to open
nowR
Cler/C 5o, no abri#os hasta las die3"/ 5o* we
donEt open until ten"
NOTE* <suall the subject pronoun is o#itted in the
answer because the 'erb ending identifies the subject*
as in the e,a#ple abo'e"
5U56# )#;GS/ ne'er again
5un1a "ams is one of the stron!est negati'e for#s
that is e?ui'alent to never ever or never aain-
EXAPLE*
5un1a "ams ganarHn"/ TheMll never ever
win"
5U56# ;GS/ !e'er again
5un1a ms is e?ui'alent to never aain"
EXAPLE*
5un1a ms 'i a Ana"/ & ha'e not seen Ana
ever aain
)#;GS/ 5'er
)ams is used as a superlati'e and is e?ui'alent to
ever"
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EXAPLE*
5ste projecto es el #Hs intenso ?ue "ams he
e#predido"/ This project is the #ost intense that
& ha'e ever underta/en"
3#;,2A5/ Also or too
3ambin e,presses the union of t&o a77irmati"e
sentences" 3ambin #eans also or too-
EXAPLES*
@o ?uiero co#erB tambin ellos ?uieren co#er"/
& want to eatB the want to eat too"
!osotros tambin gana#os la co#petencia"/ 4e
also won the co#petition"
3#;P+6+/ !either
3ampo1o #eans neither and is used to unite
ne!ati"e sentences"
EXAPLE*
Victoria no co#i* o tampo1o-/ Victoria
didnEt eat and neither did &"
52/ !or
5i connects t&o ne!ati"e constructions"
EXAPLE*
5o ?uiero ni co#er ni beber"/ & donEt want to
eat or drin/"
5i siquiera and so#eti#es ni are e?ui'alent to not
even-
EXAPLES*
Pedro ni siquiera #e salud"/ Pedro did not
even greet #e"
Pedro no ?uiere ni saludar#e"/ Pedro doesnEt
even want to greet #e"
PAST TENSE
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&n Spanish there are E si#ple past tenses* t6e preterite and
t6e imper7e+t" A si#ple tense is one that does not need an
au,iliar 'erb* such as to have"
10 5l pret(rito/ The preterite
20 5l i#perfecto/ The i#perfect
EL PRETHR#TO/ T?E PRETER#T
The preterite is used to refer to an action* state or
condition that is considered full co#pleted in the past" &t
is for#ed b re#o'ing the infiniti'e endings -ar, -er, and
-ir and adding the appropriate endings as followsC
NOTE* The endings of 'erbs ending in -er and -ir are
identical"
Pronoun Comprar/ to bu' 0ender/ to sell Re+ibir/ to re+ei"e
o/ & co#pr 'end recib
t)/ ou co#pr aste 'end iste recib iste
(l* ella* <d"/ he* she* ou co#pr / 'end i/ recib i/
nos"/ we co#pr amos 'end imos recib imos
'os"/ou co#pr asteis 'end isteis recib isteis
ellos* <ds"/ the* ou co#pr aron 'end ieron recib ieron
NOTE* The first person ,yo0* the third person , l, ella- and
Ud- re?uire written accents" 4ithout the accents* these words
#ean so#ething else" For instance* 1ompro .without the
accent0 is the present tense for the first person" For
accentuation rules* clic/ here"
EL :SO $EL PRETHR#TO/ T?E :SE OF T?E PRETER#T
D" The preterite tense is used to report the beginning or the
end of an action"
EXAPLES
Ana abri4 la puerta sali4 'olando" / Ana opened the
door and le7t swiftl"
5sta #a9ana empe34 a llo'er" / This #orning it
started to rain"
E" The Spanish preterite has E e?ui'alents in 5nglish"
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4"
EXAPLE
Llo"i4
aer"
&t rained esterda"
&t did rain esterda"
NOTEC There is !: e?ui'alent for the 5nglish au,iliar did"
Therefore* to for#ulate a ?uestion in preterite tense* the
subject and the 'erb are in'erted or the interrogati'e
intonation is used"
EXAPLE
(Subi4 el
inter(sR
S5l inter(s subi4 R
$id the interest in+reaseR
F" The preterite can be used to interrupt an action in the
imper7e+t tense ,#T-"
EXAPLE
Trabaj8bamos ,#T- intensa#ente cuando anun+iaron
los despidos #asi'os"/ 4e &ere &or=in! intensel
when the announ+ed the #assi'e laPoffs"
CASOS #RRE/:LARES/ #RRE/:LAR CASES
D" &n order to preser'e the sound of the infiniti'e* regular
'erbs that end in -1ar, -ar, and -0ar ha'e spelling changes
in the first person 9yo: as followsC
C6an!
e
EXAPLES
&nfiniti'e Preterit
1 to qu bus 1ar / to loo/ for bus qu / & loo/ed for
sa 1ar / to pull out sa qu / & pulled out
ata 1ar / to attac/ ata qu / & attac/ed
to u lle ar / to arri'e lle u / & arri'ed
pa ar / to pa pa u / & paid
apa ar / to turnPoff apa u / & turnedPoff
0 to 1 e#pe 0ar / to start e#pe 1 / & started
co#en 0ar / to
co##ence
co#en 1 / & co##enced
al#or 0ar / to eat lunch al#or 1 / & ate lunch
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E" Verbs ending in "o&el D ir and "o&el D er* such as 1aer/
to fall* the preterite ending -i/ .which is for l, ella, Ud-0 and
-ieron .which is for ellos, Uds-0* change to -y/ and -yeron
respecti'el"
EXAPLES
#n7initi"e l, ella, Ud- ellos, Uds-
leer / to read le y/ .le/0 le yeron
or/ to hear o y/ o yeron
c aer / to fall ca y/ ca yeron
constr uir / construct constru y/ constru yeron
Ot6er "erbs* contribuir/ to contribute* destruir/ to destro*
incluir/ to include* atribuir/ to attribute* creer/ to belie'e* huir/ to
run awa"
F" The following e,a#ples ha'e irregular endings for yo and
Ud" The endings are -e and -o instead of - and -i/" NOTE* !:
written accent is re?uired"
EXAPLES
#n7initi"e yo Ud-
andar/ to go* to wal/ andu' e andu' o
caber/ to be contained cup e cup o
estar/ to be estu' e estu' o
hacer/ to #a/e hic e hi3 o
haber/ to ha'e .au,iliar0 hub e hub o
poder/ to be able* can pud e pud o
poner/ to put pus e pus o
saber/ to /now sup e sup o
tener/ to ha'e tu' e tu' o
?uerer/ to want ?uis e ?uis o
'enir/ to co#e 'in e 'in o
G" Verbs that end in -de1ir and -du1ir, " is used as followsC
EXCEPT#ONC The 'erb traer/ to bring is in this categor"
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5,
EXAPLES
Pronoun
de1ir/ to
tell
redu1ir/ to
redu+e
traer/ to
brin!
o/ & di "e redu "e tra "e
t)/ ou di "i ste redu "i ste tra "i ste
(l* ella* <d"/ he* she*
ou
di "o redu "o tra "o
nos"/ we di "i #os redu "i #os tra "i #os
'os"/ou di "i steis redu "i steis tra "i steis
ellos* <ds"/ the* ou di "e ron redu "e ron tra "e ron
Prefixes des-, in-, and re-
D" The prefi,es desP and inP are used to indicate the opposite
#eaning to the word that the #odif"
EXAPLES
1OR$ ANTON2
A+uerdo/
agree#ent
desa+uerdo/
disagree#ent
?a+er/ to do des6a+er/ to undo
?eredar/ to
inherit
des6eredar/ disinherit
0estirse/ to get
dressed
des"estirse/ to get
undressed
Cons+iente/
conscious
in+ons+iente/
unconscious
Itil/ useful inFtil/ useless
Experto/
e,pert
inexperto/ uns/illed*
ine,pert
Feli3/ happ #n7eli3/ unhapp
E" The prefi, reP is used to e#phasi3e or increase the #eaning of the
word that it #odifies" &f reP is added to a 'erb* it #eans to repeat the
sa#e action" Further#ore* if reP #odifies an adjecti'e* it #eans
very"
NOTEC &n Spanish* there are two slan! prefi,es* requeteP and
superP* that are #ore intense than Pre* but !:T as intense as
superlati'e for#s of adjecti'es" The #ean pra+ti+all' t6e most"
Further#ore* the can #odif :!7@ adjecti'es"
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EXAPLES
1OR$ REJ RE>:ETEJK S:PERJ
1acer/ to do rehacer/ to redo !A
dif$cil/ difficult
redif$cil/ 'er
difficult
requetedif$cil* superdif$cil
linda/ prett
relinda/ 'er
prett
requetelinda* superlinda
DISMINUTIO/ DIMINUTIE
Di#inuti'es are used to e,press s#allness or
affection"
5nglish has a few co##on di#inuti'es* such as
=itt'* do!!'9 sonn'9 also so#e proper na#es ha'e
di#inuti'e for#s* such as Bobb'9 0i+='9 etc" &n
Spanish* #ost nouns and adjecti'es ha'e di#inuti'e
for#s* which is the e?ui'alent to #odifing a word
with little" The #ost co##on di#inuti'e suffi,es
are the followingC
SIN!U"AR P"URA"
MAS#U"INE -ito, -1ito -itos, -1itos
$EMININE -ita,-1ita -itas, -1itas
The following di#inuti'e suffi,es are less co##onl usedC
SIN!U"AR P"URA"
MAS#U"INE -illo -illos
$EMININE -illa -illas
D" Generall* when words end in -a * -o or -te* the 'owel is
dropped and -ito9s: or -ita9s: is added" For the other words
-1ito9s:, -1ita9s: are used" 1owe'er* these are NOT rules"
The are onl guides because there are #an 'ariations"
5>A6P75S
NOUN DIMINUTIE
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52
dedo/ finger dedito
cabe3a/ head cabecita
elefante/
elephant
elefantito
peine/ co#b peinecito
ca#in/ truc/ ca#ion+ito
#ujer/ wo#an #ujer+ita
sol/ sun sol+ito
lunar/ #ole lunar+ito
solo/ alone*
lonel
solito
NOTE* 4hen loo/ing up a word in a dictionar* be aware of
di#inuti'es* which are !:T listed" Therefore* tr to find the
base word"
E" There are #an words that end in -illa9s:, -illo9s:,
-1illa9s:, -1illo9s: that are !:T di#inuti'esC
1OR$ $##N:T#0E
martillo/ ha##er #artillito
ladrillo/ bric/ ladrillito
po+illo/ de#iPtasse .s#all cup0 pocillito
platillo/ saucer or dish .food preparation0 n/a
bo+adillo/ finger food bocadillito
bolsillo/ poc/et bolsillito
silla/ chair sillita
#%n%&er & Sa'er/ (% )n%*
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&n Spanish* there are two 'erbs that are e?ui'alent to the
5nglish 'erb to 7no&H 1ono1er and saber" The are used to
e,press distinct tpes of /nowledgeB the are NOT
interchangeable"
#ONO#ER/ TO +NO,
Pronoun Present Past Future Conditional
'o/ # cono3co conoc$ conocer( conocer$a
tF/ 'ou conoces conociste conocerHs conocer$as
5l9 ella9 :d./
6e9 s6e9 'ou
conoce conoci conocerH conocer$a
nos./ &e
conoce#
os
conoci#os
conocere#o
s
conocer$a#os
"os./'ou conoc(is conocisteis conocer(is conocer$ais
ellos9 :ds./
t6e'9 'ou
conocen conocieron conocerHn conocer$an
D" 6ono1er is used to e,press fa#iliarit or ac?uaintance with
a person9 a pla+e9 or a t6in!.
EXAPLES
Cono3co a tu #a#H" / & /now our #other" .person0
5lla conoce %ariloche #u bien" / She /nows %ariloche
'er well" .place0
Ana conoce el idio#a" / Ana /nows the language".thing0
NOTEC The preposition a is re?uired before a direct object
noun .#a#H0 onl when that noun is a person* but a is !:T
re?uired when referring to a place or thing .%ariloche* idio#a0"
E" 6ono1er #eans to #eet for the first ti#e or to #a/e
so#eoneMs ac?uaintance"
EXAPLES
Conoc$ a tu #a#H" / & #et our #other"
Vo a conocer a los padres de #i pro#etido" / & a#
going to #eet # fianc(eMs parents"
NOTEC &n Spanish* the past tense of 1ono1er e,presses the
#eaning of #eeting so#eone for the first ti#e"
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54
SABER/ TO LNO1
Pronoun Present Past Future Conditional
'o/ # s( supe sabr( sabr$a
tF/ 'ou sabes supiste sabrHs sabr$as
5l9 ella9 :d./
6e9 s6e9 'ou
sabe supo sabrH sabr$a
nos./ &e sabe#os supi#os sabre#os sabr$a#os
"os./'ou sab(is supisteis sabr(is sabr$ais
ellos9 :ds./
t6e'9 'ou
saben supieron sabrHn sabr$an
D" Saber is used to e,press /nowledge of factual infor#ation"
EXAPLES
S( dnde ?ueda %uenos Aires" / & /now where %uenos
Aires is"
Pedro sabe de ?u( habla#os" / Pedro /nows about what
we tal/ed"
E" Saber #eans to /now so#ething b heart"
EXAPLES
S( esa cancin .de #e#oria0"/ & /now that song .b
heart0"
Sab$a#os todas las peras" / 4e used to /now all of the
operas"
F" Saber > in4initive-
This construction is used to indicate /nowledge of how to do
so#ething"
EXAPLE
!osotros sabe#os cocinar" / 4e /now how to coo/"
6i hijo sabe nadar" / 6 son /nows how to swi#"
!ERUNDIO/ !ERUND
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The gerund is also called the present participleB howe'er* the
gerund is !:T the e?ui'alent to the 5nglish gerund" &t #a
!:T be used as a noun as in 5nglish" The 5nglish gerund is
nor#all translated into Spanish as an infiniti'e"
EXAPLES
K" Saludar con un beso es habitual en la Argentina"/
/reetin! with a /iss is custo#ar in Argentina"
"0 Abrir los negocios los do#ingos es raro"/ Openin! the
stores on Sundas is rare"
?O1 TO FOR T?E /ER:N$
D" The gerund is for#ed b re#o'ing the infiniti'e endings*
-ar, -er, and -ir and b adding -ando to -ar and -iendo to
-er and -ir as followsC
&nfiniti'
e
Cancelar/ to cancel 'ender/ to sell salir/ to go out
Gerund
Cancelando/
cancelin!
'endiendo/
sellin!
saliendo/ goin!
out
E" &f the -er or -ir 'erb ste# ends in a 'owel* add -yendo
instead of -iendo to for# the gerund as followsC
&nfiniti'e Gerund
or/ to hear oendo/ listening
caer/ to fall caendo/ falling
0ERBOS #RRE/:LARES / #rre!ular 0erbs
There are #an irregular 'erbs* but we are going to list onl
the followingC
&nfiniti'e Gerund
decir/ to tell diciendo
dor#ir/ to sleep dur#iendo
pedir/ to re?uest pidiendo
'enir/ to co#e 'iniendo
ir/ to go endo
poder/ to be able pudiendo
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sentir/ to feel sintiendo
#entir/ to lie #intiendo
preferir/ to prefer prefiriendo
ser'ir/ to ser'e sir'iendo
repetir/ to repeat repitiendo
seguir/ to continue siguiendo
re$r/ to laugh riendo
1?EN TO :SE T?E /ER:N$*
D" The gerund is used in the present progressi'e"
EXAPLES
Estoy estudiando"/ & am stud'in!"
Ana est durmiendo"/ Ana is sleepin!"
E" The gerund is used as an ad'erb to describe another 'erb"
EXAPLES
Ter#ina#os nuestro proecto ritando"/ S+reamin!9
we finished our project"
!uestro cliente nos pag sonriendo"/ Smilin!9 our
client paid us"
F" The gerund is used to e,press how so#ething is done and
also as a #odifing phrase that is subordinate to another 'erb"
EXAPLES
,a"ando los precios ganare#os la co#petencia"/ B'
lo&erin! the prices* weMll beat the co#petition"
#briendo #Hs sucursales tendre#os #Hs clientes"/ B'
openin! #ore branches* weMll ha'e #ore custo#ers"
NOTEC 4hen a sentence begins with a 'erbal phrase and is
positi'e* the gerund is used" 1owe'er* to for# the negati'e of
a sentence beginning with a 'erbal phrase* the preposition sin
is used instead of the word no" Also note that sin needs to be
followed b an infiniti'e .ba"ar and abrir0
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Sin ba"ar los precios no ganare#os la co#petencia"/
@ithout lo&erin the prices* we cannot beat the
co#petition"
Sin abrir #Hs sucursales no tendre#os #Hs clientes"/
@ithout openin! #ore branches* we wonMt ha'e #ore
custo#ers"
G" To e,press a continuous action* the gerund is used with the
'erbs 1ontinuar/ to continue and seuir/ to follow"
EXAPLES
5l acusado seua hablando aun?ue el jue3 se lo hab$a
prohibido"/ The accused =ept on tal=in! although the
judge had prohibited hi# to do so"
7as ganancias 1ontinuaron in1rementando durante la
recesin" / The profits +ontinued to in+rease during
the recession"
I" To describe an action in progress* the gerund is used with
the 'erbs andar/ to go or wal/ and ir/ to go"
EXAPLES
5l reportero anda di7amando #i persona"/ The
reporter !oes around slanderin! # character"
7a sociedad "a destru'endo el #edio a#biente"/ The
societ !oes on destro'in! the en'iron#ent"
PRESENTE PR!GRES8!/ Pre+e#t pr&:re++i2e
<nli/e the present indicati'e* which can e,press #an different
actions* the present progressi'e is 'er specific" &t onl e,presses an
action that is in progress at the #o#ent" For instance* in the
following e,a#pleC
Present
1ablo
& spea/ .in general0
& do spea/ .e'er da0
& will spea/ .i##ediate future0
Progressi'e
5sto hablando & a# spea/ing .right now0
The present progressi'e is for#ed with the present tense of estar Q
!erund .Jin! for#0" +e'iew how to for# G5+<!D"
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EXAPLES
7a co#pa9$a estH re'elando los secretos"/ The co#pan is
re'ealing the secrets"
5l gerente estH arriesgando su puesto"/ The #anager is ris/ing
his job"
<stedes estHn cosiendo la ropa"/ @ou are sewing the clothes"
7os e#pleados se estHn suscribiendo al 5cono#ista"/ The
e#ploees are signing up for the 5cono#ist"
6e esto endo a #i casa"/ & a# on # wa ho#e"
5l caso estH siendo in'estigado"/ The case is being
in'estigated"
NOTE* &n Spanish* the present progressi'e is ne"er used to e,press
a future action" The present tense is used in e,pressions that would
re?uire the present participle in 5nglish"
EXAPLES
5l inter'entor sale #a9ana para 6(jico .6(,ico can also be spelt
with ,0" / The auditor is lea'ing to#orrow to 6e,ico"
7os pasajeros llegan #a9ana a la #a9ana"/ The passengers
are arri'ing to#orrow #orning"
RE$"E-IO/ RE$"E-IE
+efle,i'e 'erbs e,press that the subject of the sentence does
the action to hi#self/herself .e"g"* & introduced #self to the
class"0 &n Spanish* -se at the end of an infiniti'e indicates that
the 'erb is refle,i'e .le'antarse/ to get up0" 4hen conjugated*
the 'erb is followed b a refle,i'e pronoun"
Note t6at ea+6 subje+t o7 t6e "erb 6as a +orrespondin!
re7lexi"e pronoun as 7ollo&s*
V5ST&+S5/ T: G5T D+5SS5D
@o me 'isto"/& get dressed* & dress mysel4-
T) te 'istes"/ @ou get dressed* ou dress yoursel4"
<sted se 'iste"/ @ou get dressed* ou dress yoursel4-
Tl se 'iste"/ 1e gets dressed* he dresses himsel4-
5lla se 'iste"/ She gets dressed* she dresses hersel4"
!osotros nos 'esti#os"/ 4e get dressed* we dress
ourselves"
Vosotros os 'est$s"/ @ou get dressed* ou dress yourselves"
5llos se 'isten"/ The get dressed* the dress themselves-
<ds" se 'isten"/ @ou get dressed* ou dress yourselves-
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5'
&" +efle,i'e pronouns are positioned in a sentence in the
following #annersB /eep in #ind that in 5nglish* #an 'erbs
ha'e refle,i'e #eanings that are not e,pressed* but
understoodC
M. Be7ore a +onju!ated "erb
2uan se @ueda en la reunin"/ 2uan stas in the
#eeting"
B. Be7ore a "erb in ne!ati"e +ommand
!o te @uedes en la reunin"/ DonMt sta in the
#eeting"
%. A7ter a !erund or be7ore t6e "erb estar
2uan estH +omi5ndose una #an3ana"/ 2uan is
eating an apple"
2uan se estH +omiendo una #an3ana"/ 2uan is
eating an apple"
<. A7ter an in7initi"e or be7ore t6e main "erb
!o ?uer$a le"antarme esta #a9ana"/ & didnMt
want to get up this #orning"
!o me ?uer$a le"antar esta #a9ana"/ & didnMt
want to get up this #orning"
C. At t6e end o7 t6e "erb in an a77irmati"e
+ommand
Si5ntense* ni9os"/ Children* sit down"
NOTE* &n co##ands addressed to nosotros* the final
-s is o#itted and -nos is added"
Alegr(#onos"/ 7etMs rejoice"
!o nos alegre#os"/ 7etMs not rejoice"
N. Be7ore a dire+t obje+t pronoun*
Te la'aste las #anosR S$* me las la'("/ Did ou
wash our handsR @es* & did wash the#"
&&" &n a refle,i'e construction* since the refle,i'e pronoun
identifies who does the action* possession is understoodB
therefore* the definiti'e article is used rather than the
possessi'e adjecti'e* which is the case in 5nglish"
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EXAPLES
Tienes ?ue +ortarte el pelo"/ @ou need to get cut 'our
hair .@ou need a haircut0"
6i esposo se baOa se la"e la cara"/ 6 husband
bathes .hi#self0 and washes 6is face"
&&&" Sentir 9se:/ to 4eel is refle,i'e when used with an
adjecti'e and nonPrefle,i'e when used with a noun"
EXAPLES
6i #adre se siente aburrida"/ 6 #other feels bored"
6i #adre siente aburri#iento"/ 6 #other feel
boredo#"
&V" The following 'erbs are tpicall used in a refle,i'e
constructionC
+5F75>&V5
Acostarse/ to go to bed
Afeitarse o rasurarse/ to sha'e
%a9arse/ to bathe
Callarse/ to stop tal/ing
Despertarse/ to wa/e up
Ducharse/ to ta/e a shower
7e'antarse/ to get up
Peinarse/ to co#b oneMs hair
Ponerse/ to put on
Probarse/ to tr on
;uedarse/ to re#ain* to sta
;uitarse o sacarse/ to ta/e off
Sentarse/ to sit down
V" The following 'erbs ha'e slightl different #eanings when
used in their refle,i'e for#C
!:!P+5F75>&V5 +5F75>&V5
Abonar/ to pa abonarse/to subscribe
Acordar/ to agree to acordarse/ to re#e#ber
Acostar/ to put* to bed acostarse/ to go to bed
Alegrar/ to cheer up alegrarse/ to be glad* to rejoice
%urlar/ to decei'e burlarse/ to #a/e fun of
Casar/ to #arr casarse/ to get #arried
Conducir/ to dri'e conducirse/ to beha'e
Despedir/ to dis#iss despedirse/ to sa goodbe
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Detener/ to detain detenerse/ to stop
Dirigir/ to direct dirigirse/ to address
Dor#ir/ to sleep dor#irse/ to fall asleep
5ncontrar/ to find
encontrarse/ to be located* to
#eet
1acer/ to #a/e hacerse/ to be
&r/ to go irse/ to lea'e
7e'antar/ to lift le'antarse/ to get up
7la#ar/ to call lla#arse/ to be na#ed
7le'ar/ to carr* ta/e lle'arse/ to ta/e awa
!egar/ to den negarse/ to refuse
Parecer/ to see#* appear parecerse/ to loo/ li/e
Poner/ to place* to put
ponerse/ to wear* to put on* to
beco#e
Probar/ to taste probarse/ to tr on
;uitar/ to ta/e awa ?uitarse/ to ta/e off
Vol'er/ to return
'ol'erse/ to beco#e* to turn
around
V&" The following 'erbs are used with a refle,i'e pronoun but
do not ha'e a refle,i'e #eaningC
!:!P+5F75>&V5 65A!&!G
Arrepentirse .de0/ to repent
Aso#arse / to loo/ out of
Atre'erse .a0/ to dare
Darse cuenta .de0/ to reali3e
5#pe9arse .en0/ to insist on
5nterarse .de0/ to find out .about0
5?ui'ocarse/ to #a/e a #ista/e
Portarse bien/ to beha'e
Portarse #al/ to #isbeha'e
;uejarse .de0/ to co#plain
Tratarse .de0/ to be related to an issue
.This is onl for the Frd person0
+esignarse/ to resign
V&&" &n Spanish there are F different was of e,pressing the
5nglish to be1ome or to be"
D" Volverse/ to be1ome is used to refer to a change
in phsical or e#otional state* but it denotes a sudden
change"
EXAPLES
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7a #adre se "ol"i4 loca cuando el hijo fue asesinado"/
The #other .beca#e0 &ent cra3 when her son was
/illed"
5l cielo se "ol"i4 negro antes de llo'er"/ The s/
.beca#e dar/0 dar=ened before raining"
E" Ponerse / to be, to be1ome is used refer to
phsical or e#otional changes"
EXAPLES
Nos pusimos contentos cuando gana#os el partido"/
4e .beca#e0 &ere happ when we won the ga#e"
Sof$a se puso triste cuando el no'io se fue a la
Argentina"/ Sof$a .beca#e0 &as sad when her
bofriend left to Argentina"
F" <a1erse/ to be, be1ome is used to indicate
personal effort"
EXAPLES
e 6ar5 fa#oso despu(s de esta pel$cula"/ &Gll be+ome
fa#ous after this #o'ie"
7iliana se 6ar8 doctora despu(s de tanto estudiar"/
7iliana &ill .beco#e0 be a doctor after so #uch
studing"
PREPOSI#IONES/ PREPOSITIONS
&n Spanish there are DN prepositions and se'eral
prepositional phrases" And the are used to e,press a
relationship between two words" As it is in 5nglish* the
use of prepositions is fairl arbitrar"
Prep" Translations Prep" Translations
A at* b* on* to ?a+ia toward* towards* to
Ante before ?asta until
Bajo under* below Para for* to
Cabe beside* ne,t to Por for
Con with Se!Fn according to
Contra against Sin without
$e of* about* fro#* to So on* under
$esde fro# Sobre o'er* on
En
in * at* into* on* inside*
o'er
Tras after
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Entre between* a#ong
USE O$ PREPOSITION
Certain 'erbs in 5nglish re?uire a
preposition to follow the 'erbB howe'er*
in Spanish the preposition is !:T alwas
re?uired"
NOTE that the preposition a goes before an indirect
object"
M. Bus+ar/ to loo= 7or
%us?ue#os un lugar fresco" / 7etMs loo/ for a
cool place"
5lla busca trabajo en %ariloche" / She loo/s
for a job in %ariloche"
%us?ue#os a Ana" / 7etMs loo/ for Ana"
B. Es+u+6ar/ to listen to
7a audiencia escucha la #)sica" / The
audience listens to the #usic"
7os alu#nos escuchan a la #aestra" / The
students listen to the teacher"
%. Esperar/ to &ait 7or
5sto esperando el tren de las cinco" / & a#
waiting for the I oMcloc/ train"
5spero a Susana ?ue 'iene en el tren" / & a#
waiting for Susana who is co#ing b the
train"
Te espero hasta las seis" / &Mll wait for ou
until si,"
<. irar/ to loo= at
6iran las pinturas de Picasso" / The loo/ at
PicassoMs paintings"
6iran al futuro" / The loo/ at the future"
C. Pa!ar/ to pa' 7or
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7os subsidiarios de las co#pa9$as
estadounidenses pagan los beneficios
#(dicos"/ A#erican subsidiaries pa for
#edical benefits"
7os subsidiarios de las co#pa9$as
estadounidenses pagan por los beneficios
#(dicos"/ A#erican subsidiaries pa for
#edical benefits"
N. Pedir/ to as= 7or
7e ped$ el n)#ero de tel(fono" / & as/ed for
her phone nu#ber"
USE !4 PREP!ST!N= General +ules"
A
Ant
e
Ba
jo
Ca
be
Co
n
Cont
ra
$
e
$e
sde
E
n
Ent
re
?a+
ia
?a
sta
Pa
ra
P
or
Se!
Fn
Si
n
S
o
So
bre
Tr
as
#. # / at9 b'9 on9 to
a" # is used with 'erbs that e,press direction or
#o'e#entC
EXAPLES
5l ca#in 'a a la estacin" / The truc/ goes to
the station"
5l ca#in lleg a l destino" / The truc/ arri'ed at
its destination"
b" # is used to indicate a specific ti#e in which
an action occursB a is e?ui'alent to atC
EXAPLES
5l concierto e#pie3a a las ocho" / The concert
starts at eight oMcloc/"
7os artistas llegaron a las seis" / The artists
arri'ed at si, oMcloc/"
c" # is used with the direct and indirect objectC
EXAPLES
Visita#os a l presidente de nuestra co#pa9$a" /
4e 'isited the president of our co#pan"
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65
7e regalo a #i her#ano las entradas del
concierto"/ & gi'e awa the concert tic/ets to #
brother"
d" # is used in idio#atic e,pressions that
indicate how so#ething is #adeC
EXAPLES
5l pul'er estH hecho a #ano" / The sweater is
hand #ade"
5l pul'er fue tejido a #H?uina" / The sweater
was #achine wo'en"
e" # > quien is e?ui'alent to &homC
EXAPLES
S # quin 'iste en el conciertoR / @hom did ou
see at the concertR
Paula* a quien le 'end$ #i auto* se fue a Par$s" /
Paula* &hom & sold # car to* left to Paris"
f" Estar > a indicates a distance between a point
in reference to another oneC
EXAPLES
6ar del Plata estH a GOO /il#etros de %uenos
Aires"/ 6ar del Plata is GOO /ilo#eters awa
fro# %uenos Aires"
5sto a dos cuadradas del colegio" / & a# two
bloc/s awa fro# school"
g" # is used after the 'erbs enseOar/ to teach*
aprender/ to learn* +omen3ar9 empe3ar/ to
startB these 'erbs are followed b an infiniti'eC
EXAPLES
;uiero ?ue #e ense9es a 6ablar el espa9ol" / &
want ou to teach #e how to spea/ Spanish"
Victoria estH aprendiendo a manejar "/ Victoria
is learning how to dri'e"
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5ste a9o e#pe3are#os a publi+ar #Hs libros" /
This ear weMll start to publish #ore boo/s"
DI$. BET,EEN PEDIR & PRE!UNTAR
The 'erb pedir #eans to as7 o4 or request somethin
as in the following e,a#plesC
6is hijos #e piden ?ue 'aa#os al par?ue" / 6 children as/
#e to go to the par/"
5l gerente #e pidi #i opinin" / The #anager as/ed for #
opinion"
:n the other hand* the 'erb preuntar #eans to as7 a
question"
EXAPLES
6is hijos #e preguntaron si o ?uer$a ir al par?ue" / 6
children as/ed #e .the ?uestion0 whether & wanted to go to
the par/"
5l gerente #e pregunt #i opinin" / The #anager as/ed .a
?uestion0 about # opinion"
/A0 / T/ERE IS 1ARE2
<ay is a conjugated for# of the au,iliar 'erb haber/ to
have" &t is used to e,press both there is and there are
depending on the conte,t of a sentence" Further#ore* it
has no subject"
EXAPLES
1a #ucho es#og en 7os Angeles" / There is a lot of s#og in
7os Angeles"
1a #uchos a'iones en el aeropuerto" / There are #an planes
at the airport"
NOTEC &t is i#portant not to confuse hay with es .it is0 and son
.the are0"
ore Expressions o7 Existen+e
The following conjugations of haber are also used to e,press
e,istenceC
N" hubo* hab$a / there was .were0
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67
1,0 cuando haa/ whene'er there is .are0
110 tiene ?ue haber/ there has .ha'e0 to be
120 'a a haber/ there is .are0 going to be
EXAPLES
1ubo un debate entre los e#pleados" / There was a debate
a#ong e#ploees"
Cuando haa nie'e ire#os a es?uiar" / 4hene'er there is snow*
weMll go s/iing"
Tiene ?ue haber refugiados en la frontera" / There ha'e to be
refugees at the border"
Va a haber #ucha gente en la fiesta" / There is going to be a
lot of people at the part"
T6e Expression <ay que/ one 9&e: must or need to
<ay que is e?ui'alent to one must .in a general sense0 in 5nglish"
This is an in'ariable e,pression* and no subject is re?uired"
EXAPLES
1a ?ue ser sincero" / :ne #ust be sincere"
1a ?ue tener co#pasin para los desafortunados" / 4e need
to be co#passionate to the unfortunate ones"
NOTEC <ay que has to be followed b an infiniti'e"
Subje+t D a+abar de D in7initi"e.
#1abar de is e?ui'alent to the 5nglish e,pression to
have "ust done somethin-
EXAPLES
Acabo de ter#inar el reporte" / & ha'e just finished the report"
1ab$a#os acabado de llegar cuando 'ino el chofer" / 4e had
just arri'ed when the dri'er ca#e"
NOTEC An infiniti'e follows the preposition de"
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6"
IMPER$E#TO/ IMPER$E#T TENSE
The i#perfect is the other past tense in Spanish" &ts uses
are different fro# those of the preterit" The are used in
different conte,ts and e#phasi3e the continuation of an
action in the past" To for# the i#perfect tense* re#o'e
the infiniti'e endings .-ar, -er, and -ir0 and add the
following conjugated endingsC
Pronoun
Comprar/ to
bu'
0ender/ to sell
Re+ibir/ to
re+ei"e
'o/ # co#praba 'endEa recibEa
tF/ 'ou co#prabas 'endEas recibEas
5l9 ella9 :d./
6e9 s6e9 'ou
co#praba 'endEa recibEa
nosotros/
&e
co#pr8bamos 'endEamos recibEamos
"osotros/
'ou
co#prabais 'endEais recibEais
ellos/ t6e' co#praban 'endEan recibEan
USES !4 T>E 5PER4E7T TENSE
D" The Spanish i#perfect tense has se'eral #eanings in 5nglishB the
Spanish i#perfect is used to describe actions that occurred repeatedl
or habituall in the past" To co##unicate the sa#e idea in 5nglish*
the phrases used to or &ould* past 1ontinuous* or simple past are
used"
5l gerente ne!o+iaba con
los 'endedores"
The #anager used to ,&ould- negotiate with
the 'endors"
The #anager &as ne!otiatin! .in the process
of0 with the 'endors"XXX
The #anager ne!otiated .repeatedl0 with the
'endors"
NOTE in the abo'e e,a#ple* the i#perfect is also used to describe a
past action* which is still going on in the past* or an action whose
beginning and ending are !:T specified or i#portant" XXXThe
e?ui'alent in 5nglish is &as or &ere > present parti1iple"
E" The i#perfect tense is used to describe phsical conditions or
characteristics of people and things in the pastC
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EXAPLES
7a co#pa9$a tenEa #uchos proble#as econ#icos" / The
co#pan 6ad a lot of econo#ic proble#s"
5l hijo de Susana era #u inteligente" / SusanMs son &as 'er
intelligent"
F" &t is also used to e,press ongoing e#otional or #ental states*
desires and opinions in the pastC
EXAPLES
!uestra casa #atri3 @uerEa fusionar nuestra sucursal con otra
co#pa9$a"/ :ur parent co#pan &anted to #erge our branch
with another co#pan"
7os trabajadores se sentEan felices con el nue'o jefe" / The
wor/ers &ere happ with their new boss"
!osotros cre$a#os ?ue la fusin no 7un+ionaba "/ 4e belie'ed
that the #erger &as not &or=in!"
G" The i#perfect is used to e,press ti#e or age in the pastC
EXAPLES
Eran las tres de la tarde" / &t &as F oMcloc/ in the afternoon"
TenEa un a9o cuando nos #uda#os a la Argentina" / & &as a
earPold when we #o'ed to Argentina"
I" The i#perfect is used with the conjunction mientras/ while to
e,press E or #ore ongoing and si#ultaneous actionsC
EXAPLE
7a e#presa ?uer$a e,pandir el #ercado #ientras ?ue el
departa#ento de justicias la demandaba "/ The co#pan was
tring to e,pand its #ar/et while the 2ustice Depart#ent &as
suin! the#"
J" &t is also used to describe a scene in the pastC
EXAPLES
7a noche estaba calurosa" / The night &as hot"
5l paisaje era #ara'illoso" / The scener &as #ar'elous"
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7,
NOTE that the following e,pressions reflect a habitual or repeated
action* which often re?uire the use of the i#perfect tenseC siempre/
alwas* 1on 4re1uen1ia/ with fre?uenc* eneralmente/ generall*
todos los das 9horas, meses, a.os:/ e'er da .hour* #onth*
ear0* and por lo eneral/ in general"
EXAPLES
Sie#pre llo"Ea en 7ondres" / &t alwas rained in 7ondon"
PedEamos pr(sta#os con frecuencia" / Fre?uentl* we &ould
as= for loans"
General#ente me sa+aba un die3 .DO0 en #ate#Hticas" /
Generall* & used to !et an A in #ath"
Todos los d$as* tom8bamos #ate en la Argentina" / 5'er da
we used to drin= green tea in Argentina"
Por lo general* "endEamos #ucho antes de !a'idad" / &n
general* we used to sell a lot before Christ#as"
K" &#perfect TenseC &rregular Verbs"
Pronoun #R/ to !o SER/ to be 0ER/ to see
'o/ # iba era 'e$a
tF/ 'ou ibas eras 'e$as
5l9 ella9
:d./ 6e9
s6e9 'ou
iba era 'e$a
nosotros/
&e
$ba#os (ra#os 'e$a#os
"osotros/
'ou
ibais erais 'e$ais
ellos/ t6e' iban eran 'e$an
14EREN7ES ?ET@EEN T>E PRETERT AN1 T>E
5PER4E7T
The following 'erbs co##unicate different ideas when said in the
preterit and the i#perfect tenseC
Poder/ to be able to
5l in#igrante ilegal podEa trabajar a escondidas" / The illegal
i##igrant &as able to wor/ secretl"
Tl pudo trabajar" / 1e did mana!e to wor/" .&t adds #ore
e#phasis0
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71
6ono1er/ to meet
5l socio +ono+Ea a todos los e#pleados" / The partner used to
=no& all of the e#ploees"
Tl +ono+i4 a todos los e#pleados el #es pasado" / 1e met all
of the e#ploees last #onth"
Saber/ to =no&
SabEa la cla'e de acceso" / & =ne& the password"
Supe la cla'e de acceso" / & 7ound out the password"
Querer/ to &ant9 desire
6i cu9ada no @uerEa #udarse a los 5stados <nidos" / 6
sisterPinPlaw did not &ant to #o'e to the <S"
5lla no @uiso #udarse" / She re7used to #o'e"
1!5AT7 USES !4 T>E 5PER4E7T
The i#perfect is used to for# idio#atic e,pressions* such as a1abar
de and ha1a > time > que > imper4e1t tenseC
D" #1abar de describes an action that Y6ad just been doneCY
AcabHba#os de co#er asado" / 4e had just eaten so#e
barbecue"
E" ha1a > time > que > imper4e1t tense is used in ti#e
e,pressionC
1ac$a unos a9os ?ue no $ba#os al 3oolgico" / For #an ears*
we had not been going to the 3oo"
ERBOS IRRE!U"ARES/ IRRE!U"AR ERBS
Ste#Pchanging 'erbsC e to ie
Spanish 'erbs are co#posed of a ste# and a root .-ar,
-er and -ir0" So#e irregular 'erbs change their ste# in
the present tense* indicati'e #ode" 4hen a 'erb is
conjugated* and e is the last ste# 'owel* and itMs
stressed* e changes to ie" 1owe'er* in the third
.nosotros0 and secondPperson .vosotros0 plural for#s*
there is !: ste# change because the stress does not fall
on the ste# that contains e" For a 7ull' +onju!ated list9 +li+=
on an underlined Spanis6 "erb.
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72
NOTE t6eir endin!s are re!ular in all 7orms.
Pronoun
P ens ar / to
t6in=
>u er er / to
&ant
Pr e7er ir / to
pre7er
'o/ #
pienso ?uiero prefiero
tF/ 'ou
piensas ?uieres prefieres
5l9 ella9 :d./
6e9 s6e9 'ou
piensa ?uiere prefiere
nosotros/
&e
pensa#os ?uere#os preferi#os
"osotros/
'ou
pensHis ?uer(is prefer$s
ellos/ t6e'
piensan ?uieren prefieren
Ot6er "erbs in t6e same +ate!or'*
For a 7ull +onju!ation9
+li+= on a "erb
Cerrar/ to +lose9
+omen3ar/ to start9
empe3ar/ to be!in9
entender/ to understand9
mentir/ to lie9
ne!ar/ to den'9
perder/ to lose.
Ste#Pchanging 'erbsC o to ue
Certain 'erbs change their ste# in the present tense"
4hen the last ste# 'owel is a stressed o* it changes to
ue" Also note that ste# 'owel is !:T stressed in
nosotros and vosotrosB therefore* the o does !:T
change to ue" Their endings are regular in all for#s" For a
7ull' +onju!ated list9 +li+= on an underlined Spanis6 "erb.
Pronoun
Alm or3 ar / to
6a"e lun+6
P od er / to be
able
$ orm ir / to
sleep
'o/ #
al#uer3o puedo duer#o
tF/ 'ou
al#uer3as puedes duer#es
5l9 ella9
:d./ 6e9
s6e9 'ou
al#uer3a puede duer#e
nosotros/
&e
al#or3a#os pode#os dor#i#os
"osotros/
'ou
al#or3His pod(is dor#$s
ellos/ t6e'
al#uer3an pueden duer#en
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73
Ot6er "erbs in t6e same +ate!or'*
For a 7ull
+onju!ation9 +li+=
on a "erb
+ontar/ to +ount9
+ostar/ to +ost .&tMs conjugated
onl in Frd persons0
de"ol"er/ to return somet6in!9
morir/ to die9
mostrar/ to s6o&9
re+ordar/ to remember9
soOar/ to dream about9
sonar/ to rin!9 sound9
"olar/ to 7l'.
Ste#Pchanging 'erbsC e to i
Verbs of the third conjugation group* -ir* change the ste#
'owel fro# e to i in the present tense* indicati'e #ode"
For these 'erbs* when e is stressed* and itMs the last ste#
'owel* it changes to i" 1owe'er* in nosotros and
vosotros there is !: change" For a 7ull' +onju!ated list9
+li+= on an underlined Spanis6 "erb.
Pronoun Comp et ir / to +ompete S e!u ir / to +ontinue9 7ollo&
'o/ #
co#pito sigo
tF/ 'ou
co#pites sigues
5l9 ella9
:d./ 6e9
s6e9 'ou
co#pite sigue
nosotros/
&e
co#peti#os segui#os
"osotros/
'ou
co#pet$s segu$s
ellos/ t6e'
co#piten siguen
Ot6er "erbs in t6e same +ate!or'*
For a 7ull
+onju!ation9 +li+=
on a "erb
+onse!uir/ to obtain9
+orre!ir/ to +orre+t9
de+ir/ to sa'9 tell9
ele!ir/ to ele+t9 +6oose9
impedir/ to pre"ent9
pedir/ to as= 7or9
repetir/ to repeat9
ser"ir/ to ser"e
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74
&rregular Dst person for#s
The following 'erbs are irregular onl in the first person
singular of the present tense* indicati'e #ode" The other
conjugations .persons0 are regular" For a 7ull' +onju!ated
list9 +li+= on an underlined Spanis6 "erb.
Full
+onju!ati
on
Present9 #ndi+ati"e ode
Condu+ir
/ to dri"e
condu3+o* conduces* conduce* conducimos* conducEs*
conducen
Cono+er/
to =no&
cono3+o* conoces* conoce* conocemos* conoc5is*
conocen
Tradu+ir/
to
translate
tradu3+o* traduces* traduce* traducimos* traducEs*
traducen
?a+er/ to
do9 ma=e
ha!o* haces* hace* hacemos* hac5is* hacen
Poner/ to
put9 pla+e
pon!o* pones* pone* ponemos* pon5is* ponen
Salir/ to
!o out
sal!o* sales* sale* salimos* salEs* salen
Traer/ to
brin!
trai!o* traes* trae* traemos* tra5is* traen
OEr/ to
6ear
oi!o* oes* oe* o$mos* oEs* oen
0er/ to
see
'eo* 'es* 'e* 'emos* 'eis* 'en
Saber/ to
=no&
s5* sabes* sabe* sabemos* sab5is* saben
SUB3UNTIO/ SUB3UN#TIE
The subjuncti'e #ode is used to e,press conjecture* e#otion*
uncertaint* subjecti'it* influence* doubt* probabilit* or hpothesis
that is et un/nown" 7i/e Spanish* 5nglish has a subjuncti'e #ode
too" 1owe'er* #an spea/ers do !:T notice it because #ost of its
for#s are identical to the infiniti'e" There is a difference between the
subjuncti'e and the indicati'e onl in the singular s6e/6e for#s"
NOTE that the present indicati'e of the 'erb study is studies* but
the present subjuncti'e is study* the for# does !:T change spelling"
EXAPLE
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75
Present &ndicati'eC Did ou /now that 2uan studies e'er
daR/ Sab$as ?ue 2uan estudia todos los d$asR
Present Subjuncti'eC &t is necessar that 2uan study e'er
da"/ 5s necesario ?ue 2uan estudie todos los d$as"
?O1 TO FOR T?E S:BA:NCT#0E O$E*
+egular 'erbs
To for# the present subjuncti'e* re#o'e the final -o fro# the first
person singular .yo0 of the present .indicati'e #ode0 and add the
following endingsC
Pronoun
CComprar / to
bu'
0ender/ to sell
Re+ibir / to
re+ei"e
'o/ # co#pre 'enda reciba
tF/ 'ou co#pres 'endas recibas
5l9 ella9 :d./
6e9 s6e9 'ou
co#pre 'enda reciba
nosotros/
&e
co#premos 'endamos recibamos
"osotros/
'ou
co#pris 'endis recibis
ellos/ t6e' co#pren 'endan reciban
&++5G<7A+ V5+%S
a" NOTE that the irregular for# in the first person singular .present
tense* Subjuncti'e #ode0 is #aintained throughout the entire
conjugation as followsB that is the reason wh the present tense is
used instead of the infiniti'e for#"
#n7initi"e Conju!ated
Condu+ir/
to dri"e
condu3ca* condu3cas* condu3ca* condu3ca#os*
condu3cHis* condu3can
Cono+er/
to =no&
cono3ca* cono3cas* cono3ca* cono3ca#os* cono3cHis*
cono3can
Tradu+ir/
to translate
tradu3ca* tradu3cas* tradu3ca* tradu3ca#os*
tradu3cHis* tradu3can
?a+er/ to
do9 ma=e
haga* hagas* haga* haga#os* hagHis* hagan
Poner/ to
put9 pla+e
ponga* pongas* ponga* ponga#os* pongHis* pongan
Salir/ to !o
out
salga* salgas* salga* salga#os* salgHis* salgan
Traer/ to
brin!
traiga* traigas* traiga* traiga#os* traigHis* traigan
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76
OEr/ to 6ear oiga* oigas* oiga* oiga#os* oigHis* oigan
0er/ to see 'ea* 'eas* 'ea* 'ea#os* 'eHis* 'ean
b" Ste#Pchanging 'erbs that end in -ir and ha'e a diphthong . eHie,
oHue0 ha'e an additional change .eHi, oHu0 in nosotros and
vosotros for#s .NOTE that in the present of the indicati'e #ode*
the do !:T change0
Pronoun Sentir/ to 7eel
$ormir/ to
sleep
'o/ # sienta duer#a
tF/ 'ou sientas duer#es
5l9 ella9
:d./ 6e9
s6e9 'ou
sienta duer#a
nosotros/
&e
sinta#os dur#a#os
"osotros/
'ou
sintHis dur#His
ellos/ t6e' sientan duer#an
c" The following are irregular 'erbs in the present subjuncti'eC
#n7initi"e Conju!ated
Saber/ to
=no&
sepa* sepas* sepa* sepa#os* sepHis* sepan
Ser/ to be sea* seas* sea* sea#os* seHis* sean
#r/ to !o 'aa* 'aas* 'aa* 'aa#os* 'aHis* 'aan
?aber/ to
6a"e
,auxiliar'-
haa* haas* haa* haa#os* haHis* haan
$ar/ to !i"e d(* des* d(* de#os* deis* den
Estar/ to be est(* est(s* est(* este#os* est(is* est(n
d" Verbs that end in -1ar, -ar, and -0ar ha'e spelling change in the
subjuncti'e to #aintain the original sound of the consonant as
followsC
Pronoun
Cbus1ar / to
loo= 7or ,+*@u-
llear/ to arri"e
,!*!u-
+ru0ar / to
+ross ,3*+-
'o/ # bus@ue lle!ue cru+e
tF/ 'ou bus@ues lle!ues cru+es
5l9 ella9 :d./
6e9 s6e9 'ou
bus@ue lle!ue cru+e
nosotros/
bus@uemos lle!uemos cru+emos
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77
&e
"osotros/
'ou
bus@u5is lle!u5is cru+5is
ellos/ t6e' bus@uen lle!uen cru+en
e" Ste#Pchanging 'erbs that end in -ar and -er ha'e the same
changes in the subjuncti'e #ode as in the present indicati'e" !:T5
that ste#s do !:T change in nosotros and vosotros"
Pronoun
Cpensar / to
t6in=
"ol"er/ to +ome
ba+=
'o/ # piense 'uel'a
tF/ 'ou pienses 'uel'as
5l9 ella9 :d./
6e9 s6e9 'ou
peinse 'uel'a
nosotros/
&e
pense#os 'ol'a#os
"osotros/
'ou
pens(is 'ol'His
ellos/ t6e' piensen 'uel'an
f" Ste#Pchanging 'erbs that end in -ir and ha'e eHi change in the
entire conjugation as followsC
#n7initi"e Conju!ated
Pedir/ to as= pida* pidas* pida* pida#os* pidHis* pidan
<S5S :F T15 S<%2<!CT&V5
D" 5,cept for its use in the #ain clauses to e,press co##ands* the
Spanish subjuncti'e is used in a sentence that has at least E clauses*
a #ain and a subordinate or dependent clause" The 'erb in the #ain
clause deter#ines the use of subjuncti'e or indicati'e #ode in the
subordinate clause" The #ost co##on conjunction used to join the
two clauses is que ,t6at-"
EXAPLES
5spero @ue +ambiemos el pro'eedor"/ & hope .t6at0 we
s&it+6 supplier"
5l gerente duda @ue podamos ca#biarlo"/ The #anager
doubts .t6at0 we +an switch hi#"
E" Generall the subjects of the #ain clause and the dependant
clauses are different" 1owe'er* if the subject of both clauses is the
sa#e* the infiniti'e is used instead of the subjuncti'e"
EXAPLES
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7"
5l presidente espera @ue nosotros "a'amos./ The
president hopes t6at we !o"
5l presidente espera ir"/ The president 6opes to !o"
O4 PASIA/ PASSIE OI#E
SUB3E#T 5 SER5 PAST PARTI#IP"E 5 POR 1 DE**) 5
A!ENT
The a+ti"e "oi+e is the #ost co##onl used in ordinar
con'ersation* and it indicates that the subject perfor#s
the action as in the following e,a#plesC
5l contador prepar el for#ulario" / The accountant prepared
the for#"
7e paga#os al corredor su co#isin" / 4e paid the bro/er his
co##ission"
The passi"e "oi+e is not fre?uentl used in ordinar
con'ersation* but it is used in writing* such as news
broadcasting* newspapers* and for#al speeches" &n a
passi'e sentence* the subject recei'es the action as in the
following e,a#plesC
5l for#ulario fue preparado por el contador" / The for# was
prepared b the accountant"
7a co#isin fue pagada por nosotros" / The co##ission was
paid b us"
1:4 T: F:+6 T15 PASS&V5 V:&C5
To for# the passi'e 'oice* the 'erb ser/to be is used"
The past participle functions as an adjecti'eB therefore* it
agrees with the gender and nu#ber of the subject it
#odifies"
S<%25CT Q SE' Q PAST PA+T&C&P75 Q P+' , %EII: Q
AG5!T
7a co#id a Q fue Q preparad a Q por Q el cocinero" / The food
was prepared b the coo/"
7as co#id as Q fueron Q preparad as Q por Q el cocinero" / The
foods were prepared b the coo/"
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7'
5l oleoduct o Q serH Q construid o Q por Q Shell" / The pipeline
will be constructed b Shell"
7os oleoduct os Q serHn Q construid os Q por Q Shell" / The
pipelines will be constructed b Shell"
XX!:T5C 4hen the superlati'e is used* the preposition de
is used instead of por-
EXAPLE
6adre Teresa fue la m8s a#ada de todos" / 6other Teresa was
t6e most lo'ed by e'erone"
:S#N/ T?E 0ERB ES3#'
To describe an action* the 'erb ser is used in the passi'eB
howe'er* to e,press the result of an action* the 'erb
estar is used instead"
EXAPLES
5l contrato 7ue es+rito en ingl(s" / The contract &as &ritten
in 5nglish .b so#eone0"
5l libro est8 es+rito en ingl(s" / The boo/ is &ritten in 5nglish
.published in 5nglish0"
SE CONSTR:CT#ON FOR PASS#0E 0O#CE
Se Q verb 1on"uated in the Jrd person sinular or
plural construction for passi'e 'oice is #uch #ore
fre?uentl used in con'ersations" This construction is
e?ui'alent to the 5nglish construction to be > past
parti1iple" <suall the 'erb precedes the subject"
EXAPLES
Se recaudarH el i#puesto al tabaco en todos los estados" /
Tobacco ta, will be collected in all states"
Se ha aprobado el au#ento al i#puesto al alcohol" / The
increase to the alcohol ta, has been appro'ed"
&n Spanish* so#e sentences conjugated in the third person
plural are e?ui'alent to the passi'e se construction" 5'en
though the following sentence is in acti'e 'oice* ellos/
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",
they i#plies passi'e 'oice" 3hey is used in a general
sense"
EXAPLE
Dicen ?ue llo'erH" / The sa that it will rain"
/A#ER/ TO DO, MA+E
Generall ha1er #eans to do or to ma7e" &t is conjugated as a
regular -er 'erb* e,cept for yo, which ends in -o"
Pronoun
Presen
t
Past Future Conditional
o/ & hago hice har har a
t)/ ou haces hiciste har s har as
(l* ella* <d"/
he* she* ou
hace hi3o har har a
nosotros/ we
hace#o
s
hici#os har emos har amos
'osotros/ou hac(is hicisteis har is har ais
ellos* <ds"/
the* ou
hacen hicieron har n har an
EXAPLES
S;u( hacen despu(s de trabajarR / 4hat do ou do after wor/R
7os ni9os hacen la tarea" / The children are doing their
ho#ewor/"
5sto haciendo la co#ida" / & a# #a/ing food"
5llos hacen la torta" / The are #a/ing the ca/e"
TO /AE
3ener is e?ui'alent to the 'erb to have or to possess- &t
follows the pattern of eHie ste#Pchanging 'erbs * with the
e,ception of yo/ 2* which ends in Po"
Pronoun
Presen
t
Past Future Conditional
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"1
o/ & tengo tu'e tendr tendr a
t)/ ou tienes tu'iste tendr s tendr as
(l* ella* <d"/
he* she* ou
tiene tu'o tendr tendr a
nos"/ we
tene#o
s
tu'i#os tendr emos tendr amos
'os"/ou teneis tu'isteis tendr is tendr ais
ellos* <ds"/
the* ou
tienen tu'ieron tendr n tendr an
M. 3ener > que
This e,pression is e?ui'alent to the 5nglish e,pression to
have to 9do somethin:-
EXAPLES
Tengo ?ue repetir cada eje#plo" / & ha'e to repeat
each e,a#ple"
Tu'i#os ?ue +on"en+er a los in'ersionistas" / 4e had
to +on"in+e the in'estors"
NOTE* 3ener que is followed b an infiniti'e"
B. T6e simplest &a' o7 expressin! possession is b' usin!
tener/ to have-
EXAPLES
6i jefe tiene #ucha e,periencia" / 6 boss has a lot of
e,perience"
Tu'i#os #uchos fondos para in'ertir" / 4e had a lot of
funds to in'est"
%. #n Spanis69 tener is used 7or indi+atin! a!e. On t6e
ot6er 6and9 in En!lis6 t6e "erb to be is used 7or tellin!
a!e.
EXAPLES
Tengo EF a9os" / & a# EF ears old"
6i abuela ten$a LL a9os cuando falleci" / 6 grandP
#other was LL ears old when she passed awa"
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"2
K- 3ener > noun
This e,pression is used for describing states* but in 5nglish to
be is co##onl used"
a" Tener calor/ to be hot
Tengo #ucho calor" / & a# 'er hot"
b" Tener (,ito/ to be successful
7os productos i#portados tu'ieron #ucho (,ito" /
&#ported goods were successful"
c" Tener fr$o/ to be cold
Tu'i#os #ucho fr$o en las #onta9as" / 4e were 'er
cold in the #ountains"
d" Tener celos/ to be jealous
6i no'io tiene celos de #i" / 6 bofriend is jealous of
#e"
e" Tener cuidado/ to be careful
Ten cuidado por las noches" / %e careful at night"
f" Tener ha#bre/ to be hungr
Tengo tanta ha#bre ?ue #e co#er$a un caballo" / & a#
so hungr that & could eat a horse"
g" Tener la culpa/ to be at fault
@o tengo la culpa" / & a# at fault"
h" Tener #iedo/ to be afraid* scared
Tengo #iedo de ir al dentista" / & a# scared of going to
the dentist"
i" Tener paciencia/ to be patient
6i her#ano tiene #ucha paciencia" / 6 brother is 'er
patient"
j" Tener presente/ to /eep in #ind
Ten presente el consejo de #a#H"/ -eep in #ind
#otherMs ad'ice"
/" Tener prisa/ to be in a hurr
Ap)rense ?ue tengo #ucha prisa" / 1urr up* & a# in a
big hurr"
l" Tener ra3n/ to be right* correct
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"3
Tiene ra3n" / @ouMre right"
#" Tener sed/ to be thirst
Tengo #ucha sed" / & a# 'er thrist"
n" Tener sue9o/ to be sleep
5l beb( tiene sue9o" / The bab is sleep"
o" Tener suerte/ to be luc/
Tienes #ucha suerte" / @ou are 'er luc/"
p" Tener 'ergZen3a/ to be asha#ed
Tengo 'ergZen3a de pedir cosas prestadas" / & a#
asha#ed of borrowing things"
ore expressions*
D" Tener ?ue 'er con/ to ha'e to do with
!o tengo nada ?ue 'er con tus proble#as" / & ha'e
nothing to do with our proble#s"
E" Tener catarro* resfr$o/ to ha'e a cold
Tengo un resfr$o terrible" / & ha'e a terrible cold"
F" Tener derecho/ to ha'e the right
Tiene derecho a un abogado" / @ou ha'e the right to an
attorne"
G" Tener en cuenta/ to ta/e into account
Vo a tener en cuenta lo ?ue #e dijiste" / & will ta/e into
account what ou told #e"
I" Tener lugar/ to ta/e place* to ha'e space
5l concierto 'a a tener lugar en 7a Pa3" / The concert is
going to ta/e place in 7a Pa3"
Tengo lugar para ti en #i auto" / & ha'e space for ou in
# car"
J" Tener ganas de .Q infiniti'e0/ to feel li/e
Tengo ganas de co#er helado" / & feel li/e eating iceP
crea#"
!USTAR / TO "I+E
The 'erb ustar is used to e,press li=es and disli=es" &ts
literal translation is to be pleasin" The #ost co##on
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conjugation for ustar and other 'erbs in the sa#e categor
.listed below0 is the third person singular or plural" <suall*
these tpes of 'erbs re?uire the indirect object pronoun .#OP0
at the beginning"
Sin!ular
&
:
P
Plural
&
:
P
yo/ 2
m
e
nosotros .#as"0* nosotras
.fe#"0/ &e
n
o
s
t! / you .infor#al0
t
e
vosotros .#as"0,vosotras
.fe#"0, ustedes/ you
le
s
l/ he, ella/ she, usted
,7ormal-/ you
l
e
ellos, ellas/ they
le
s
EXAPLES
e gusta la #)sica" / # li/e #usic"
Te gustan las al#endras" / 2ou li/e al#onds"
A ella le gustan los #ariscos" / S6e li/es seafood"
Nos gustan los beb(s" / 1e li/e babies"
Les gusta bro#ear" / T6e' li/e to jo/e around"
T) me gustas #ucho" / # li/e ou 'er #uch"
NOTE* &t is co##on to place the direct object or
infiniti'e after the 'erb ustar* which agrees with the
person or thing being li/ed" Further#ore* the person
who does the li/ing is the indirect object"
L- # > pronoun or noun
This e,pression is used to +lari7' the #eaning of a
sentence when le is used* or to emp6asi3e the indirect
objects when there is duplication of indirect objects"
5>A6P75S
A #a#H le gusta cocinar" / 6o# li/es to coo/"
.*e is used for she, he, and Ud-B therefore* to
clarif the #eaning of the sentence #> mam is
used"0
A #i pri#a a #$ nos gusta dor#ir" / 6 cousin
and & li/e sleeping"
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M- $ustar > re4le8ive verb
&f ustar/ to li7e is followed b a refle,i'e 'erb* the
corresponding refle,i'e pronoun is added to the
infiniti'e" .Clic/ here for #ore info" about refle,i'e
'erbs"0
5>A6P75S
!os gusta le'antar nos tarde" / 4e li/e to get up
late"
6e gusta sepillar me el pelo" / & li/e to brush #
hair"
J- $ustar > 25=25232VES
4hen ustar / to li7e is followed b one or #ore
infiniti'es .'erbs not conjugated0* the third person
singular conjugation is used for ustar"
5>A6P75S
A #i perro le !usta correr* nadar saltar" / 6
dog li/es to run* swi# and ju#p"
A #i s perro s les !usta co#er* do#ir ladrar" /
6 dogs li/e to eat* sleep and bar/"
K- +ther verbs in the same 1ateory are 4ollo&inH
10 Aburrir / to bore
E" Asustar / to scare
30 Disgustar / to upset
40 Di'ertir / to ha'e fun
50 Doler / to hurt
J" 5ncantar / to delight* lo'e
70 5nojar / to get #ad
"0 5#ocionar / to be #o'ed* touched
N" Faltar / to lac/* be #issing
DO" Fascinar / to fascinate
110 1acer falta / to be necessar* to be in
need of
120 &#portar / to #atter
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130 &nteresar / to interest
DG" 6olestar / to bother* anno
DI" Parecer / to see#
160 Preocupar / to worr
170 ;uedar / to re#ain* sta
DL" Sobrar / to ha'e e,tra
1'0 Sorprender / to surprise
2,0 Tocar / to be oneMs turn* to touch
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