Sabina Clausen’s

Libro Gramatical

Table of Contents• Present tense• Stem changers• Irregular yo verbs• Saber vs. conocer• Reflexive verbs• “se” impersonal• Verbs like gustar• Irregular verbs ending in cer/cir, guir/uir, ger/gir.• Hacer expressions• Imperfect

•Irregulars-Trigger•Preterite tense - irregulars: car/gar/zar

-spock-cucaracha-snake-snakey

Trigger words•Comparatives•Superlatives•Future-irregularsTrigger words

• Future VS conditional• Por• Para• Por VS para• Preterite VS imperfect• Commands• DOP• Present Perfect• Adverbs• Subjunctive• Progressive

O

a

as

amos

anais

AR verbos

ER Verbos

o Emos

es

E en

IR Verbos

o

es

e

imos

en

Stem changers: o-ueIn some cases the stem of a word also changes when conjugating as well as the ending.

(Nosotros and Vosotros do not change)

contarcuentocuentascuentacontamoscontáiscuentan

almorzarto eat lunchmorirto dieaprobarto approvemostrarto showcolgarto hangmoverto move (an object)

Examples:

Common stem

changers

Stem changers : e-ieIn some cases the stem of a word also changes when conjugating as well as the ending. (Nosotros and Vosotros do not change)

cerrarcierrocierrascierracerramoscerráiscierran

acertarto guess, get rightencenderto light, kindleadvertirto advise, warnentenderto understandcerrarto close, shut

Common stem

changersExamples:

Stem changers: e-i(Nosotros and Vosotros do not change)

In some cases the stem of a word also changes when conjugating as well as the ending.

repetirrepitorepitesrepiterepetimosrepetísrepiten

bendecir to blessimpedirto impedecolegirto deducemaldecir (*)to cursecompetirto competemedirto measure

Common stem

changersExamples:

Irregular “yo”

In irregular yo verbs only the “yo” form changes when conjugated but the rest remain the same.

Another specific type of “ yo irregular” includes verbs whose yo form ends in -go even though there is not a single g in the infinitive. The simplest and most common -go verbs are regular in all forms except yo, so only the irregular yo form is listed below.

hacer (to make, to do) yo form: hago poner (to put) yo form: pongo valer (to be worth) yo form: valgo salir (to leave) yoform: salgo caer (to fall) yo form: caigo raer(to scrape, rub off) yo form: raigo traer (to bring) yo form: traigo

Sab

er

vs c

ocen

er

•To express knowledge or ignorance of a skill, or how to do something, use saber + infinitive•To say that you know something by heart, use saber

ExamplesMaría sabe conducir.Maria knows how to drive.No sé nadar muy bien.I don't know how to swim very well.

•Use when talking about knowing a person

Examples:Yo no conozco a María.I don't know (am not acquainted with) Maria.Alberto y Alfredo conocen Madrid.Alberto and Alfredo know (are acquainted with) Madrid.

Saber Cocener

REFLEXIVES

A verb is reflexive when the subject and the object are the same.

Example:I wash myself.subject: Iverb: washobject: myselfSince the subject and object are the same, the verb is reflexive.

When a verb is reflexive, the infinitive ends in "se.“Example:lavarto wash (non-reflexive)lavarseto wash oneself (reflexive)rascarto scratch (non-reflexive)rascarseto scratch oneself (reflexive)

The purpose of the reflexive object pronouns is to show that the action of the verb remains with the subject.Example:Juan se lava la cara.Juan washes his face. (reflexive)Juan lava su carro. (non-reflexive)Juan washes his car.Note: When referring to body parts, use the definite article, thus "la cara" not "su cara."

“Se” Impersonal

se is used in an impersonal sense with singular verbs to indicate that people in general, or no person in particular, performs the action.

Se maneja rápidamente en Lima.People drive fast in Lima.

Se puede encontrar cocos en el mercado.You can find coconuts in the market.

Muchas veces se tiene que estudiar para aprender.Often you have to study to learn.

Examples:

Diphthongs w

ith accentsThe vowels a, e, and o are strong in Spanish. They always form their own syllable wherever they appear. The vowels u and i are weak, and only form their own syllable when they are separate from other vowels. When a weak vowel is next to a strong vowel or another weak vowel, they AUTOMATICALLY form a diphthong, that is, just one syllable.

Strong vowels (a, e, o) always form their own syllables: o - tor - gar (3)

Weak vowels (i, u) form a their own syllable if they are "surrounded" by consonants: tri - bu (2)

Otherwise, weak vowels form a diphthong with the strong vowel that is next to them:

 lue - go (2

Verbs like ger/ gir Cer/cir uir/ guir• Verbs that end in -ger and -gir

change the g to j in the yo form• coger

cojocogescogecogemoscogéiscogen

• Verbs that end in -guir change the gu to g in the yo form

• conseguir (e:i)consigoconsiguesconsigueconseguimosconseguísconsiguen

Verbs that end in a consonant + -cer or -cir change the c to z in the yo form.coercerconvenzoconvencesconvenceconvencemosconvencéisconvencenVerbs that end in -uir (not guir) add y before o, e, and a.atribuiratribuyoatribuyesatribuyeatribuimosatribuísatribuyen

Hacer expressions• Hace + time + que + present tense form of the verb• Hace un año que estudio español.

I have been studying Spanish for one year.• Hace dos años que ellas estudian inglés.

They have been studying English for two years.•

Another way to use the verb "hacer" to express how long something has been taking place is to use the following formula:

• Present tense form of the verb + desde hace + time• Estudio español desde hace un año.

I have been studying Spanish for one year.

So, when it comes to using the verb "hacer" to express the length of time an action has been taking place, there are two ways to say the same thing:

• Estudio español desde hace un año.Hace un año que estudio español.I have been studying Spanish for one year.

Imperfect• Imperfect: regular ir/er• -ía

-ías-ía

• -íamos-íais

• -ían• Imperfect ar• aba

abasabaábamosabaisaban

The imperfect is used for past actions that are not seen as completed

The three irregular imperfects• Table 1. Imperfect Tense Forms of Sentir Singular• Plural• yo era (I was) • nosotros/nosotras éramos (we were) • tú eras (you [informal] were) • vosotros/vosotras erais (you [informal] were) • usted era (you [formal] were) • ustedes eran (you [formal] were) • él era (he was) • ellos eran (they were) • ella era (she was) • ellas eran (they were) • Table 2. Imperfect Tense Forms of the Verb Ir Singular• Plural• yo iba (I was going, used to go) • nosotros/nosotras íbamos (we were going, used to go) • tú ibas (you [informal] were going, used to go) • vosotros/vosotras ibais (you [informal] were going, used

to go) • usted iba (you [formal] were going, used to go) • ustedes iban (you [formal] were going, used to go) • él iba (he was going, used to go) • ellos iban (they were going, used to go) • ella iba (she was going, used to go) • ellas iban (they were going, used to go)

yo veía (I was seeing, used to see) nosotros/nosotras veíamos (we were seeing, used to see) tú veías (you [informal] were seeing, used to see) vosotros/vosotras veíais (you [informal] were seeing, used to see) usted veía (you [formal] were seeing, used to see) ustedes veían (you [formal] were seeing, used to see) él veía (he was seeing, used to see) ellos veían (they were seeing, used to see)

• a menudooften

a vecessometimes

cada díaevery day

cada añoevery year

con frecuenciafrequently

de vez en cuandofrom time to time

• todos los díasevery day

todo el tiempoall the time

varias vecesseveral times

Trigg

er W

ord

sfrecuentementefrequently

generalmenteusually

muchas vecesmany times

muchoa lot

por un ratofor awhile

siemprealways

todas las semanasevery week

PRETERITE• To conjugate regular -ar verbs in the preterite, simply drop the ending (-ar) and add one of the

following:• é

asteóamosasteisaron

•To conjugate regular -er and -ir verbs in the preterite, simply drop the ending (-er or -ir) and add one of the following:

• íisteióimosisteisieron

• The preterite is used for actions that can be viewed as single events.• Ella caminó por el parque.

She walked through the park.

• The preterite is used for past actions that are seen as completed.

irregulars: CAR GAR ZAR

• Verbs that end in -gar change g to guVerbs that end in -car change c to quVerbs that end in -zar change z to c

• Here are three examples:• yo jugué (jugar)

yo busqué (buscar)yo almorcé (almorzar)

SPOCK

IRSER

IR- to go SER- to be

Fui Fuimos

Fuiste Fuisteís

Fue Fueron DAR

VER

DAR- to give VER- to see

I Imos

Iste Isteís

Io Ieron

HACER

HACER…. TO MAKE OR DO

Hice Hicimos

Hiciste Hicisteís

Hito Hicieron

Cucaracha

• Endings for all are the same:

-e -imos

-iste -isteis

-o -ieron

Andar- aduvEstar- estuvPoder- pudPoner- pusQuerer- quisSaber- supTener- tuvVenir- vin

Conducir- condujProducir- produjTraducir- tradujDecir- dijTraer- traj

Cucaracha Verbs!

9. Snake

• In the 3rd person, the stem change occurs.• The stem change is to opposite vowel with the

first vowel.

Dormi Dormimos

Dormiste Dormisteis

Durmio Durmierion

10. Snakeys

• Follows same concept as SNAKE, but is more specific.

• In the 3rd person the stem change is the vowel “I” to the vowel “y”.

Lei Leimos

Leiste Leisteis

Leyo Leyeron

Leer

TRIGGERS

ayer preterito

pasado(a) preterito

esta preterito

entonces preterito

ayer preterito

anoche preterito

Comparatives• If two things are not equal, they are unequal.• We are not the same height.

You are taller than I.• The two items do not cost the same.

The camera is more expensive than the television.•

In Spanish, inequality is expressed by using one of the following formulae:• más (menos) + adjective + que

más (menos) + adverb + quemás (menos) + noun + que

• Here are some examples:• Tú eres más alto que yo. You are taller than I. Mónica habla más lentamente que Carmen.

Monica speaks more slowly than Carmen. Tengo menos libros que Arsenio. I have fewer books than Arsenio

SUPERLATIVES• There are two types of superlative: relative and absolute.• Relative: John is the smartest boy in the class.

Absolute: John is very smart.

The relative superlative describes a noun within the context of some larger group.• John is the smartest boy in the class.

Mary is the youngest person in the room.Of the three, Moe is the meanest.

•The absolute superlative does not describe the noun in the context of a larger group.

• John is very smart.The book is extremely expensive.The food is indescribably tasty.

The absolute superlative for adjectives has three possible forms.• muy + adjective

sumamente + adjectiveadjective + ísimo (-a, -os, -as)

conditional

• To conjugate regular -ar, -er and -ir verbs in the conditional, simply add one of the following to the infintive:

• íaíasíaíamosíaisían

•COULD, WOULD, SHOULD

FUTURE

The future tense is used to tell what "will" happen, or what "shall" happen.• I will go to the beach next month.

I shall write the letter next week.• But, the future tense is not used to express a willingness to do something. For this, use the

verb "querer."• ¿Quieres ir a la tienda?

Will you go to the store?• Regular verbs in the future tense are conjugated by adding the following endings to the

infinitive form of the verb: -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án.• hablaré

hablaráshablaráhablaremoshablaréishablarán

Future irregulars• There are twelve common verbs that are irregular in the future tense. Their endings are regular, but their stems

change. Since the endings are the same as all other future tense verbs, we show only the "yo" form, and have underlined the irregular stem. We have also grouped them according to their patterns of change.

• caberyo cabré

• poneryo pondré

• deciryo diré

• haberyo habré

• saliryo saldré

• haceryo haré

• poderyo podré

• teneryo tendré

• quereryo querré

• valeryo valdré

• saberyo sabré

• veniryo vendré

Trigger words

• Manana sera• La proxima semana• En marzo, en febrero, en agosta.. etc,.

FUTURE VS CONDITIONAL

• Future is I will do this, you will do that• Conditional is I should do this, you could do

that.

Por

• Portal• Portugal• Porever• Porpose• Import/export• I’m por• Transportation

Para

• Surprise paratay• Parangari• Paragotive• Comparason• paramedic

POR VS PARA• Used to indicate motion or a general

location. Around through along or by. Pasamos por el parque por el rio.

• Used to indicate duration of an action: for during in

• Reason or motive for an action because of on account of on behalf of.

• Lo hizo por su familia. • Object of a search: for or in search

of• Vengo porti a las ocho. • Means by which something is done

by.• ellos viajan por la autopiste.• Exchange or subtitution• Units of measure.• Used in expresions (aound here, for

example, finally)

Destination, deadline or specific time in the future, when para is followed by an infinitive is in order to. Describes the purpose of a noun “it’s a tire for the car”, is a recipient of something. Comparison with others or an opinion for. In the employ of.

• Preterite is used for past actions that are seen as completed, • imperfect is used to past actions

that are NOT seen as completed.

Preterite VS Imperfect

CommandsTu+ Tu- Ud Uds nosotros

Put in tu form, drop S

Put in YO form opposite vowel, add s

Yo form , Opposite Vowel

Opposite vowel, change stem, add N

No stem change

DOP• The direct object answers the question "what?" or "whom?" with regard to what the

subject of the sentence is doing.• Bill hit the ball.

Bill hit what?Bill hit the ball.

• Sherry hit Bill.Sherry hit whom?Sherry hit Bill.

• me (me)te (you-familiar)lo, la (him, her, it, you-formal)

• nos (us)os (you-all-familiar)los, las (them, you-all-formal)

• Tengo = I haveTengo la pluma. = I have the pen.La tengo. = I have it

Present Perfect

• hehashahemoshabéishan

•

i have studied, i have eaten

Adverbs

• Most Spanish adverbs are formed by adding -mente to the feminine singular form of the adjective. This ending corresponds to -ly in English.

• Ex. Clara• Claramente

Subjunctive• Mainly a mood, opposite of indicative• I want John to go to the store.

(The clause "I want" tells us that the speaker feels that there is uncertainty as to whether John goes to the store.)

• I hope that John goes to the store.(The clause "I hope" tells us that the speaker feels that there is uncertainty as to whether John goes to the store.)

• creer que ...to believe that ...

• no dudar que ...to not doubt that ...

• es cierto que ...it is certain that ...

• es claro que ...it is clear that ...

• es evidente que ...it is certain that ...

• es obvio que ...it is obvious that ...

progressive• In Spanish, the present progressive is only used to

describe an action that is in the process of taking place. It is not used for future actions.

• I am studying now.(use present progressive)

• I am studying with María tonight.(do not use present progressive)

estar• estoy

estásestáestamosestáisestán

•hablar: hablando(hablar - ar + ando)

• trabajar: trabajando(trabajar - ar + ando)

• estudiar: estudiando(estudiar - ar + ando)

comer: comiendo(comer - er + iendo)hacer: haciendo(hacer - er + iendo)vivir: viviendo(vivir - ir + iendo)escribir: escribiendo(escribir - ir + iendo)

Juan está comiendo pan.John is eating bread