Spanish Grammer

Front 1

Preterite endings (AR verbs)

Back 1

-AR verbs:
-é
-aste
-ó
-amos
-asteis
-aron

Example: hablé, hablaste, habló, hablamos, habláis, hablaron

Front 2

Preterite endings (IR/ER verbs)

Back 2

-ER/-IR verbs:
-í
-iste
-ió
-imos
-isteis
-ieron

Example: viví, viviste, vivió, vivimos, vivimos, vivisteis, vivieron

Front 3

Present Subjunctive

Back 3

first person singular present and then take off the '-o' and finally add the subjunctive endings.

Front 4

Present Subjunctive (AR verbs)

Back 4

Subjunctive Endings for -AR Verbs, with example

-e -emos
-es -éis
-e -en

hablar
hable hablemos
hables habléis
hable hablen

Front 5

Present Subjunctive (ER/IR verbs)

Back 5

Subjunctive Endings for -ER and -IR Verbs, with examples

-a -amos
-as -áis
-a -an

comer
coma comamos
comas comáis
coma coman

vivir
viva vivamos
vivas viváis
viva vivan

Front 6

El imperfecto de subjuntivo/Past Subjunctive

Back 6

third person plural form of the preterite minus -on.

-ra
-ras
-ra
-'ramos
-rais
-ran

Front 7

Cuando

(adverbial clauses: time)

Back 7

when

Front 8

Después (de)que

(adverbial clauses: time)

Back 8

after

Front 9

En cuanto

(adverbial clauses: time)

Back 9

as soon as

Front 10

hasta que

(adverbial clauses: time)

Back 10

until

Front 11

mientras (que)

(adverbial clauses: time)

Back 11

while, as long as

Front 12

tan pronto como

(adverbial clauses: time)

Back 12

as soon as

Front 13

Future, anticipated outcomes verses present, habitual actions

(adverbial clauses: time)

Back 13

1) When the actions of the main and subordinate clauses have not yet occured (that is, they represent a future action and an anticipated outcome), the subordinate clause introduced by these adverbial conjunctions uses the subjunctive
2) When the action of the subordinate clause happens all the time, the indicative is used.

Front 14

Past, anticipated/unknown outcomes vrs. past, known outcomes and past, habitual actions

(adverbial clauses: time)

Back 14

1) The past subjunctive is used when the action of the subordinate clause is viewed as an anticipated outcome from the point of view of the subject in the main clause, or as an unknown outcome from the point of view of the speaker.
2) The indicative (preterite or imperfect) is used when the action of the subordinate cluase represents a known outcome from the point of view of the speaker that took place subsequent to the action in the main clause.
3) Additionally, the indicative (imperfect) is used when the action of the subordinate clause refers to an action that occured several times in the past as a matter of habit.

Front 15

antes de que

(adverbial clauses: time)

Back 15

always followed by subjunctive because it introduces an anticipated outcome

Front 16

aunque

(adverbial clauses: manner and place)

Back 16

although, even if

Front 17

como

(adverbial clauses: manner and place)

Back 17

as, how

Front 18

de manera que

(adverbial clauses: manner and place)

Back 18

in such a way that

Front 19

de modo que

(adverbial clauses: manner and place)

Back 19

in such a way that

Front 20

donde

(adverbial clauses: manner and place)

Back 20

where

Front 21

adverbial clauses: manner and place

Back 21

the sunjunctive is used with the following conjunctions to express speculation about an action or situation that is unknown to the speaker. The indicative is used to express what is actually known or has been experienced by the speaker.

Front 22

Ahora que, puesto que, and ya que

(adverbial clauses: manner and place)

Back 22

Always followed by the indicative since they convey the speaker's perception of reality as being already completed or inevitable.

Front 23

a condición (de) que

(adverbial clauses: subjunctive)

Back 23

provided that

Front 24

a fin de que

(adverbial clauses: subjunctive)

Back 24

so that

Front 25

a menos que

(adverbial clauses: subjunctive)

Back 25

unless

Front 26

en caso (de) que

(adverbial clauses: subjunctive)

Back 26

in case

Front 27

para que

(adverbial clauses: subjunctive)

Back 27

so that, in order that

Front 28

sin que

(adverbial clauses: subjunctive)

Back 28

without

Front 29

adverbial clauses: subjunctive

Back 29

adverbial clauses of interdependence are always followed by the subjunctive when there is a change of subject.

When there is no change of subject, the que is usually dropped and replaced by the infinitive depending on which adverbial conjunction is being used.

Front 30

With para que and sin que, the que is always dropped

(adverbial clauses: subjunctive)

Back 30

:)

Front 31

With a condición (de) que, a fin de que, con tal (de) que, and en case (de) que, it is possible, though not necessary, to drop the que

(adverbial clauses: subjunctive)

Back 31

:)

Front 32

A menos que, the subjunctive is always used even when there is no change in subject

(adverbial clauses: subjunctive)

Back 32

:)

Front 33

Por

(cause and effect)

Back 33

expresses the motive for an action or the agent performing the action. points back toward the cause.

Front 34

Para

(cause and effect)

Back 34

expresses the goal of an action or the recipent of the action. points forward toward the effect.

Front 35

Por

(movement through verses movement toward)

Back 35

Of duration or movement through space or time with no desination specified.

Pablo va por el pueblo.
Estaremos en clase por la manana.
Ana estara en Mexico por tres dias.

Front 36

Para

(movement through verses movement toward)

Back 36

Movement toward an objective.

Pablo va para el pueblo.
Terminenlo para manana.
Ana estara en Mexico para el tres de junio.

Front 37

Por expresses in exchange for or per in unts of measurement, as well as the means by which an action is performed.

Back 37

Te doy cinco dolares por el libro.
El camion solo corre 20 kilometros por hora.
Lo mandaron por avion/barco.

Front 38

Para expresses in comparison with and also in the opinion of.

Back 38

Para (ser) perro, es muy listo.
Para mi, la fe tiene mucha importancia.

Front 39

The Process se

Back 39

The use of reflexive pronouns to signal inner feelings or processes, esp. changes in physical, emotional, or mental states or changes in position (location), is very frequent in Spanish. The processses are sometimes epxressed in English with become, get, or an -en suffix: to become bright, to get bright, to brighten.

Front 40

The Process se

Physical Change

Back 40

acostarse: to lie down, to go to bed
calentarse: to get warm, warm up
despertarse: to wake up, awaken
dormirse: to fall asleep
enfermarse: to get sick
enfriarse: to get cold, cool down
levantarse: to rise, get up
mojarse: to get wet
secarse: to become dry, dry out
sentarse: to sit down

Front 41

The Process se

Emotional or Mental Change

Back 41

alegrarse (de): to get happy about
asustarse (de): to become frightened (of)
casarse (con): to get married (to)
comprometerse (a): to make a commitment (to)
divertirse: to enjoy onself
divorciarse (de): to get divorced (from)
enamorarse (de): to fall in love (with)
enfadarse (con): to get angry (with)
enojarse (con): to get angry (with)
oponerse (a): to be opposed (to)
preocuparse (por): to worry (about)
quejarse (de): to complain (about)

Front 42

Subjunctive Terms and Uses:

Back 42

1) Must have two clauses, a main clause and dependent clause
2) Nonexperience: when the subordinate clause describes or refers to something that is unknown to the speaker, that is, beyong his or her experience, and is thus not considered real or factual
3) Subjunctive reaction: when the main clause makes a value judgment or expresses a subjective, emotional reaction
4) Interdependence: when the main clause describes the conditions under which the even in the subordinate clause will take place.

Front 43

Active voice

Back 43

subject/agent + verb + object/recipient

Front 44

Passive voice

Back 44

subject/recipient + to be (ser) + past participle + agent

La casa fue pintada por Laura.
Los exiliados han sido ayudados por el gobierno.
La ciudadania va a ser solicitada por los inmigrantes.

Front 45

The passive with ser

Back 45

a form of the verb ser followed by the past particple
the agent is introduced by por
The past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject

Front 46

The passive se

Back 46

se + third person verb + reciever (object) of the action

Front 47

The passive with ser vrs. the passive se

Back 47

1) Whenever the passive with ser is used, the agent of the action is either stated in the sentence or is very strongly implied.

In general, when the agent is known, spanish will use an active construction instead of the passive with ser

2) When the agent of the action is unknown or unimportant to the message, the idea should be expressed by using a passive se construction. In a passive se sentence, the speaker simply wants to commincate that an action is, was, or will be done to someone or something.

Front 48

Resultant State or Condition vs. Passive Voice

Back 48

Action: ser (use preterite)
-always has "por" to introduce independent clause
-La ventana fue rota por el ladrón

Condition: estar (imperfect)
-No puede abrir la ventana porque estaba rota.

Front 49

"No-Fault" se Constructions/El <<se inocente>>

Back 49

se + objecto indirecto + verbo 3rd persona + objecto directo (verbo y D.O. have to agree in number)
-A Elena se le perdieron los papeles.
-Se me olvidó el asunto.
-Se nos acabó la gasolina.

Front 50

Uses of A

Back 50

1) movement toward in a literal and figurative sense (specific point)
-Fue a la oficina.
-Les mandó el paquete a sus abuelos
-Common verbs that are followed by a: (acostumbrarse; adaptarse; aprender; asimilarse; ayudar; comenzar; empezar; ensenar; entrar; invitar; ir; llegar; salir; venir; volver)
2) By means of: occurs in a number of set phrases to indicate means of operation or locomotion, or how something was made. English often uses by or on to express the same idea.
-Está hecho a mano.
-Lo hicieron a máquina.
-Salió Ud. a pie, verdad?
3) A point in time or space, or on a scale: English "at" is expressed in Spanish by a when at expresses a particular point in time or on a scale or when a point in space means position relative to some physical object.
- Tengo clase a las ocho.
-Al principio, no quierian quedarse. Manejó a 90 millas por hora.
-Todos se sentaron a la mesa.

Front 51

Uses of En

Back 51

1) position on or within: En normally expresses English in, into, or on.
-Viven en una casa vieja.
-Los pusieron en la maleta.
-La carta esta en la mesa.
Expressing within:
-Lo hicimos en una hora.
-Tendremos el dinero en dos dias.
English sometimes uses the preposition at to express the idea of within an enclosure. Spanish uses en:
-Has estudiado en la universidad?
-Estaban en casa cuando occurrió el robo.
2) observation of, or participation in, an event: English distinguishes between being "at" an event as an observer and being "in" an event as a participant. Spanish does not, and uses en for both.
-Estuviste en la boda?
Estuvieron en el partido.
Common verbs that take the preposition en: consistir; convertirse; entrar; inscribirse; insistir; tardar

Front 52

Future tense endings

Back 52

The endings for all verbs are:
-é
-ás
-á
-emos
-éis
-án

Front 53

Future and Conditional tense irregular stems:

Back 53

Verbs with irregular future stems: (Remember that this same stem is used to form the conditional.)

decir dir- to say
haber habr- there to be [impersonal]; to have [helping verb]
hacer har- to make, do
poder podr- to be able
poner pondr- to put, place, set
querer querr- to want, love
saber sabr- to know [a fact], know how [+ infinitive]
salir saldr- to leave, go out
tener tendr- to have
valer valdr- to be worth
venir vendr- to come

Front 54

Conditional tense endings

Back 54

The same endings as for the imperfect of -er and -ir verbs:
-ía
-ías,
-ía
-íamos
-íais
-ían

Front 55

Uses of the Future tense

Back 55

1) the future describes an action that will take place sometime after a present reference point

Front 56

Uses of the Conditional tense

Back 56

1) The conditional describes an action that will take place sometime after a past reference point

Front 57

The simple future often implies a stonger commitment or sense of purpose on the part of the speaker than the ir a + infinitive contruction.
-Iré al concierto!
-Voy a ir al conierto esta noche.

Back 57

:)

Front 58

Resultant State or Condition vs. Passive Voice

Back 58

Action: ser (use preterite)
-always has "por" to introduce independent clause
-La ventana fue rota por el ladrón

Condition: estar (imperfect)
-No puede abrir la ventana porque estaba rota.

Front 59

"No-Fault" se Constructions/El <<se inocente>>

Back 59

se + objecto indirecto + verbo 3rd persona + objecto directo (verbo y D.O. have to agree in number)
-A Elena se le perdieron los papeles.
-Se me olvidó el asunto.
-Se nos acabó la gasolina.

Front 60

Uses of A

Back 60

1) movement toward in a literal and figurative sense (specific point)
-Fue a la oficina.
-Les mandó el paquete a sus abuelos
-Common verbs that are followed by a: (acostumbrarse; adaptarse; aprender; asimilarse; ayudar; comenzar; empezar; ensenar; entrar; invitar; ir; llegar; salir; venir; volver)
2) By means of: occurs in a number of set phrases to indicate means of operation or locomotion, or how something was made. English often uses by or on to express the same idea.
-Está hecho a mano.
-Lo hicieron a máquina.
-Salió Ud. a pie, verdad?
3) A point in time or space, or on a scale: English "at" is expressed in Spanish by a when at expresses a particular point in time or on a scale or when a point in space means position relative to some physical object.
- Tengo clase a las ocho.
-Al principio, no quierian quedarse. Manejó a 90 millas por hora.
-Todos se sentaron a la mesa.

Front 61

Uses of En

Back 61

1) position on or within: En normally expresses English in, into, or on.
-Viven en una casa vieja.
-Los pusieron en la maleta.
-La carta esta en la mesa.
Expressing within:
-Lo hicimos en una hora.
-Tendremos el dinero en dos dias.
English sometimes uses the preposition at to express the idea of within an enclosure. Spanish uses en:
-Has estudiado en la universidad?
-Estaban en casa cuando occurrió el robo.
2) observation of, or participation in, an event: English distinguishes between being "at" an event as an observer and being "in" an event as a participant. Spanish does not, and uses en for both.
-Estuviste en la boda?
Estuvieron en el partido.
Common verbs that take the preposition en: consistir; convertirse; entrar; inscribirse; insistir; tardar

Front 62

The future expresses uncertainty as probably + present tense
-Será la 1:00.

Back 62

:)

Front 63

The conditional expresses uncertainty as probably + past tense.
-Serían las 4:00 am.

Back 63

:)

Front 64

If Clauses with Simple Tenses

Back 64

1) Possible or probable situation: Indicative
IF CLAUSE:
Si + present indicative
RESULT CLAUSE:
Present indicative
Future
Command
-Si me llevas a las fiesta, te pago la gasolina.

2) Hypothetical situation: Past subjunctive
IF CLAUSE:
Si + Past subjunctive
RESULT CLAUSE:
Conditional
-Si tuviera mucho dinero, me comportaria mejor.

Front 65

Comparisons of Equality

Back 65

-tan + {adj or adv} + como
-tanto, tanta, tantos, tantas + noun + como
-tanto, tanta, tantos, tantas + verb + tanto como

1) For adjectives, it always agrees with the first noun memtioned. Adverbs do not agree.
2) For nouns, tanto agrees in number and gender of the noun.
3) For verbs, tanto como follows the verb.

Front 66

Comparisons of Inequality

Back 66

-más/menos + {adj, adv, noun} + que
-verb + más/menos + que

1)The adjective agrees with the first noun. Adverbs do not show agreement.
2) Subject pronouns are used after que.
3) When a number (including any form of the indefinite article un) follows an expression of inequality, que is replaced by de.
-Tienen menos de un dolar.
-Hay mas de 10 personas.

Front 67

Grande/Pequeno

Back 67

mas grande/mas pequeno (size)
mayor/ menor (importance or degree)

Front 68

Viejo

Back 68

mas viejo/mas nuevo (age of objects
mayor (age of people)

Front 69

Joven

Back 69

mas joven (appearance of people; age relative to another time)
manor (age of people)

Front 70

Bueno/Malo

Back 70

mas bueno/mas malo (moral behavior)
mejor/peor (quality; abilities)

Front 71

Superlatives

Back 71

article + noun + {mas/menos} + adjective

la profesora mas interesante

Irregular forms: mayor, menor, mejor, and peor prede rather than follow the noun

Front 72

Perfect Indicative: Pluscuamperfecto

Back 72

había juntado
habías juntado
había juntado
habíamos juntado
habíais juntado
habían juntado

(past participle!!)

Front 73

Perfect Indicative:
Futuro Perfecto

Back 73

habré
habrás
habrá
habremos
habréis
habrán

Front 74

Perfect Indicative:
Condicional Perfecto

Back 74

habría hablado
habrías hablado
habría hablado
habríamos hablado
habríais hablado
habrían hablado

Front 75

Perfect Subjunctive:
Presente Perfecto de Subjuntivo

Back 75

haya hablado
hayas hablado
haya hablado
hayamos hablado
hayáis hablado
hayan hablado

Front 76

Perfect Subjunctive:
pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo

Back 76

hubiera hablado
hubieras hablado
hubiera hablado
hubiéramos hablado hubierais hablado
hubieran hablado

Front 77

Sequence of tenses: Main verb present-> subordinate verb present

BEFORE

Back 77

Present --> Present Perfect Subjunctive

Espera que Diego --> ya le haya hablado.

Front 78

Sequence of tenses: Main verb present-> subordinate verb present

SIMULTANEOUS

Back 78

Present --> Present Subjunctive

Insiste en que Diego --> le hable todos los dias.

Front 79

Sequence of tenses: Main verb present-> subordinate verb present

AFTER

Back 79

Present Perfect, Future, Future Perfect, Command --> Present Subjunctive

{Ha insistido, Insistirá, Habrá insistido, Insista} en que Diego --> le hable manana.

Front 80

Main verb past --> subordinate verb past

BEFORE

Back 80

Imperfect --> Pluperfect Subjunctive

Era bueno que Diego --> ya le hubiera hablado.

Front 81

Main verb past --> subordinate verb past

SIMULTANEOUS

Back 81

Imperfect --> Imperfect Subjunctive

Era bueno que Diego --> le hablara todos los dias.

Front 82

Main verb past --> subordinate verb past

AFTER

Back 82

Preterite, Imperfect, Pluperfect, Condicional, Condicional Perfecto --> Imperfect Subjunctive

El lunes pidío que Diego, Pedía que Diego, El lunches había pedido que Diego, Pediría que Diego, Habría pedido que Diego --> le hablara luego.

Front 83

Progressive forms: Formation

Back 83

estar, seguir, ir + present participle (el gerundido)

cantando
corriendo
viviendo
cayendo
construyendo
leyendo
oyendo

Front 84

Progressive forms: Placement of Object Pronouns with Progressive Forms

Back 84

Object pronouns may precede the auxiliary verb or follow and be attached to the participle.

Front 85

Progressive forms: Uses of the Progressive Forms

Back 85

1) to indicate an action in progress at the moment of speaking
-No puede hablar con Us. porque está durmiendo
2) to describe an action that is different from what is normal or customary, whether or not it is in progress at the moment of speaking
-Este semestre estoy tomando cinco cursos.
-Estaba pasando las vacaciones en casa.
3) to add emotional impact to the narration of an ongoing story
-Que diablos estará pensando!
-Por fin estamos terminando este libro!

Front 86

Progressive forms: DO NOT USE the Progressive Forms when...

Back 86

NOT USED IN SPANISH:
1) to indicate a future or anticipated action; simple forms are used for this purpose
-Nos casamos en junio.
-Dijo que iban con Raul.
2) with the verbs ser, ir, venir, poder, and tener (except in very infrequent cases); use the simple forms with these verbs
-Tenemos muchos problemas ultimamente.
-Venian a la fiesta cuando ocurrio el choque.

Front 87

Restrictions on the Use of the -ndo Form: Present Participle vrs. Conjugated verb

Back 87

:)

Front 88

Restrictions on the Use of the -ndo Form

Back 88

:)