libro de gramática
TRANSCRIPT
Libro de Gramática
El presente Verbos Irregulares
Los verbos con cambios de raíz Los irregulares en la forma de “yo” Los otros irregulares
Verbos como gustar Ser y estar Pretérito vs Imperfecto Subjuntivo
En cláusulas nominales En cláusulas adjetivos
Mandatos Los pronombres Adjetivos posesivos + pronouns/ demonstrative adjectives + pronouns Verbos reflexivos Por/ para To become- hacerse, ponerse, volverse, llegar a ser
Índice de Materials
El Presente
-AR•o•as•a•amos•aís•an
-ER•o•es•e•emos•eís•en
-IR•o•es•e•imos•ís•en
Los Verbos Irregulares en el Presente
Con Cambios de Raíz
“u” to “ue”
•Juego•Jueges•Juega•Jugamos•Juegan
“e” to “ie”
•Entiendo•Entiendes•Entiende•Entendemos•Entienden
“o” to “ue”
•Puedo•Puedes•Puede•Podemos•Pueden
“e” to “i”
•Visto•Vistes•Viste•Vestimos•Visten
Los verbos no cambian en las formas de vosotros y nosotros.
En la Forma de “Yo”-cer y -cir
• Cambia a –zco. Pongo “z” en la frente del “c”
-ger y -gir
• Cambia a –jo. Cambia “g” a “j”
-guir
• Cambia a –go. Cambia “gu” a “g”
verbo
caber
caer
hacer
poner
salir
valer
saber
traer
En “yo”
quepo
caigo
hago
pongo
salgo
valgo
sé
traigo
Verbos como “gustar”
Ejemplos de los verbos
• gustar• aburrir• Caer mal/bien• Disgustar• Doler• Encantar• Faltar• Fascinar• Hacer falta• Importar• Interesar• Molestar• Preocupar• Quedar• sorprender
me nos
te vos
Le/se los
Los objetivos
Ser y Estar
Cuando Usar
Ser•Descripciones•Origen•Características•Tiempo•Ocupaciones•Relaciones•Posesión•Eventos•Fechas
Estar•Salud•Emocionados•Posición•Condición•Acción en el momento
Pretérito y Imperfecto
Pretérito v. Imperfecto
Pretérito•Acciones terminados•Tiempo especifica•Hacer uno tiempo•Interruptoras•El principio y final•Cuando hablando sobre un serie de acciones en el pasado
Imperfecto•Acciones continuados•Período de tiempo prolongado•Es un habito•Descripción de una condición•El tiempo/clima•El tiempo/horas•locación
El pretérito
Verbos de –AR
habléhablastehablóhablamoshablasteishablaron
Verbos de –ER, IR
comícomistecomiócomimoscomisteiscomieron
Los irregulares
andar decir estar hacer poner querer ** saber ** tener
Yo anduve Yo dije Yo estuve Yo hice Yo puse Yo quise Yo supe Yo tuve
El Imperfecto
AR Verbos
Yo hablabaTú hablabasÉl hablabaNosotros hablábamosVosotros hablábaisEllos hablaban
ER y IR Verbos
Yo comíaTú comíasÉl comíaNosotros comíamosVosotros comíaisEllos comían
Verbos Irregulares
Ir
Yo iba Tú ibas Él iba Nosotros ibamos Vosotros ibáis Ellos iban
Ser
Yo era Tú eras Él era Nostros éramos Vosotros erais Ellos eran
Subjuntivo
¿Cuando usa?
W• Deseo• Cuando
E• Emociones• Valoraciones
I • Influencia
R• Peticiones (request) • Frases relativas (relative clauses)
D • Duda (doubt)
Disparadores
• Es bueno que…• Es mejor que…• Es malo que…• Es importante que…• Es necesario que…• Es urgente que…
Conjugaciones
Regular
• Ponga en la forma de “yo” y cambie el fin
Irregulares en el Tallo
• Es la misma que el presente pero en la froma de nosotros tambien
Irregulares
• Dar: dé, des, dé, demos, den• Ir: vaya• Ser: sea• Hacer: haga• Haber: haya• Saber: sepa• Estar: esté
Subjunctive in Adverbial Clauses
Subjunctive is used in adverb clauses when the action described in the clause is anticipated or hypothetical (a reservation, a condition not yet met, a mere intention).
Conjunctions of provision Subjunctive?
a menos que unless always followed by the subjunctive
antes (de) que*con tal (de) que*en caso de que*para que*sin que*
before provided thatin caseso that, in order that without
always followed by the subjunctive*
Conjunctions of time
después (de) que*hasta que*tan pronto como /en cuantomientras (que)siempre quecuando
afteruntil as soon aswhile, as long aswhenever, as long aswhen
use the subjunctive for anticipated circumstances(a future occurrence not yet met)
Conjunctions of condition
aunquea pesar de quecomo, segúndonde
although, even ifin spite of, despite thatas, in any waywhere, wherever
use the subjunctive for anticipated, hypothetical, orirrelevant circumstances (unknown at the moment)
Subjunctive in Adjective
When the subordinate clause of a sentence refers to something that is known to exist, the indicative is used. It has this formula:
Main Clause – Connector – Subordinate Clause When the antecedent of an adjective clause
is a negative pronoun, the subjunctive is used as a subordinate clause.
See subjunctive nouns slide for when to use/ more information
Los Mandatos
Informales
Afirmitivo•Ponga en la forma de “el/ella” en el presente•Irregulares•Decir= di•Hacer=haz•Ir y Ver= ve•Poner= pon•Salir= sal•Ser= sé•Venir= ven•Ponga los objetivos en el verbo•Si un verbo tiene un cambio en el presente, cambie en este forma tambien
Negativo•Ponga en la forma de “yo”, cambia “e” o “i” a “a” y vice versa•Irregulares•Dar= des•Estar= estés•Ir= vayas•Saber= sepas•Ser= seas•No ponga los objetivos en el verbo•Si un verbo tiene un cambio en el presente, cambie en este forma tambien
Ponga en la forma de “yo” y cambie el fin del verbo. “a” “e” “i”/ “e” “a”
Formales
Ponga los objetivos en el fin del verbo si es un mandato afrimitivo, pero no lo ponga si es un mandato negativo
Ponga en la forma de “yo” y cambie el fin Es la misma de la forma formal Verbos de “monos”
Si agrega “se” o “nos” al fin, solte el “s” final
Nosotros
Pronombres
Recibe la acción del verbo Utilizar el personal "a" si el sustantivo es una
persona o una mascota
Objetivo directo
Me Nos
Te Os
Lo/la Los/las
Responde a la pregunta ¿a quién? o para quién?
Utilizar el pronombre y sustantivo si quieres a enfatizar
Objetivo Indirecto
Me
Te
Le o se
Singulares
Nos
Os
Les o se
Plurales
Dar consejos
Frases que los usan
Dar un
regalo
Dar una
fiesta
Utilizar DO y IO IO es primero Cambiar “le/les” a “se” si usa “lo/la” Si usa “se”, puede usar “a
usted/él/ella/ellos/ellas/ustedes” porque dan más claridad
Los Dos Objetivos
Adjetivos y pronombres posesivos/ adjetivos +
pronombres demostrativos
AdjetivosEste/esta
Ese/esa
Aquel/aquella
Singular
Estos/estas
Esos/esas
Aquellos/aquellas
Plural
Pronombres
Éste/ésta
Ése/ésa
Aquél/aquélla
Singular
Éstos/éstas
Ésos/ésas
Aquéllos/aquéllas
PluralSin género
• esto• eso• aquello
Verbos como gustar usan un adjetivo reflexivo para decir una persona que o quien el verbo está afectando
Los adjetivos reflexivos son los sdjetivos de objectos indirectos
Verbos reflexivos
Por/ paraIn order to
Intended for
Destination
Time
Comparison
To be about to
Para
Because of
Movement through space
Exchange
Prepositions after verbs
Por
Estes verbos y frase significan “to become”. Todos son reflexivos. List what each means
To become- hacerse, ponerse, volverse, llegar a ser
Futuro
• Usar la forma infinitivo• Ex: jugar
1.
Condicional
Usa cuando puedes usar “would, could, must have or probably” en ingles
infinitivoPonga el fin
correcto al fin
ía ías ía
íamos íais ían
Relative PronounsRelative pronouns are called "relative" because they are "related" to a noun that has previously been stated.
The relative pronoun is often omitted in English, but it is never omitted in SpanishThe most common relative
pronoun, and the one used in the previous two examples is "que". It can be used to refer to both persons and things, in either the subject or the object position. "Que" is the Spanish equivalent of the English words: who, whom, which, and that.
Another way to view relative pronouns is to recognize that they are used to introduce a clause that modifies a noun. In the following example, the clause "I finished last night" modifies the noun "book."
Terminé el libro anoche.I finished the book last night.El libro es muy extenso.The book is very long.El libro que terminé anoche es muy extenso.The book that I finished last night is very long.
The relative pronoun "quien" is used only to refer to people, and has a plural form "quienes". (There is no masculine/feminine distinction.)
When the relative pronoun refers to a person and is in the direct object position, either "que" or "a quien" may be used. Each is correct. Notice that the "personal a" is used with "quien" but in not use with "que".
When the relative pronoun refers to a person and occurs after a preposition, "quien" must be used. After a preposition, "que" is only used to refer to things.
The relative adjective "cuyo" (and its related forms) relates the owner to that which is owned, as does the English "whose". Note that there are four forms to accommodate singular and plural, masculine and feminine: cuyo, cuya, cuyos, cuyas.
Que vs. Cual
The two words, when they have accents, are used as pronouns in questions to mean
"what" or "which."
Singular
Plural
Qué Qué
Cuál Cuáles
It is sometimes said that qué is closer to "what" in meaning, and cuál is closer to "which."
Qué is used when asking for definitions. Qué normally is most often used before nouns (although cuál isn't necessarily incorrect and you will hear it sometimes used to mean “which”).
QuéCuál usually is used before es and other forms of ser when not seeking a definition.Cuál is used to suggest a selection or choice from among a group.
Cuál
Idiomatics
¿Qué hora es? What time is it? ¡Qué lástima! What a shame! ¡Qué hermoso! How beautiful! ¡Qué día más horrible! What a horrible day! ¡Qué susto! What a fright! ¡Qué bonito! How pretty! ¿Qué tanto? How much? ¿Y qué? ¿Y a mí qué? So what? ¿Para qué? ¿Por qué? Why?
The Neuterlo
The neuterlo is a neutral adjective, lo, that usually refers to a concept or category not to a single concrete object or a person.
In most cases, "what is" is a possible translation, although not always the best, for lo.
Lo nuevo es que estudia. "What's new is that he's studying." "The new thing is that he studies."
Lo as a neuter direct object: Lo is used to represent an idea or concept when it is the direct object of a verb.
The neuter demonstrative pronouns: Usually, demonstrative pronouns are used to point at an object: éste, "this one"; ése, "that one,"; and aquél, "that one over there."
Ello: Ello is the neuter equivalent of él and ella. Its use these days is extremely rare, although you may find it in literature. It usually is translated as "it" or "this."
Subjunctive w/ Verbs of Emotion
• indicate fear, happiness, anger, regret, surprise, or other sentiments or biases.
Emotion In Inglesalegrarse de que to be happy that
es bueno que it's good that
es conveniente que it's convenient that
es difícil que it's hard
es extraño que it's strange that
es fácil que it's easy
es increíble que it's incredible that
es interesante it's interesting that
es inútil que it's useless that (there's no point)
es justo que it's fair that
es (una) lástima que it's a pity that
es malo que it's ( too) bad that
es mejor que it's better that
es peor que it's worse that
es preferible que it's preferable that
es raro que it's strange that
Emotion In Ingleses triste que it's sad that
es útil que it's useful that
estar contento que to be happy that
estar triste que to be sad that
extrañarse que to be amazed that
gustarse que to like
más vale que it's better that
sentir que to regret, be sorry that
sorprenderse que to be surprised that
temer que to fear that
tener miedo que to be afraid that
When we want to express how we feel about something, we use subjunctive with Verbs of Emotion.
Nos gusta que Juan cante bien. "Cante" is the 3rd person subjunctive form of Cantar.
Subjunctive w/ Verbs of Doubt, Denial, Disbelief
*Busco un libro que me interese (it may not exist = doubt)Busco el libro que estoy leyendo (I know it exists = no doubt)
Common Expressions
aparecer que to appear, seem that
buscar ... que to look for
detestar que to hate
dudar que to doubt
es dudoso que it is doubtful that
es imposible que it is impossible that
es improbable que it is improbable that
es posible que it is possible that
es probable que it is probable that
negar que to deny
no es cierto que it is not certain that
no es claro que it's not clear that
no es evidente que it is not obvious that
no es obvio que it is not obvious that
no es que it's not that
no está seguro que it is not certain that
no es verdad que it is not true that
tal vez perhaps
It is our belief (or lack thereof) in whether or not something happens. that determines the use of the Subjunctive.
I doubt the Steelers are going to win the Superbowl again!
Yo dudo que los Steeler gane el Superbowl otra vez [Subjunctive]
I think they are going to win it!
¡Creo que van a ganarlo! [Indicative]
Vs.
Subjunctive w/ Conjunctions
In unreal conditions the standard pattern is a past subjunctive in the “if” clause and a conditional tense in the main clause:
“if” clause main clause time aspectsi + imperfect subjunctive conditional present/future time
actions (but expressed by the past tense in both English and Spanish)
Si hablaras, te creerían.
If you spoke, they would believe you.
si + past perfect subjunctive conditional perfect past time actions
(expresed by previous-past time tenses both in English and Spanish)
Si hubieras hablado, te habrían creído.
If you had spoken, they would have believed you.
Future Perfect
Person
Endings
Yo -é
Tu -ás
Ud. -á
Nos -emos
Os -éis
Uds. -án
The future perfect tense is used to describe what will have happened in the future before a different action takes place, or by a specific time.
Future Perfecthaber + past participlehabrá hablado, habrá comido, habrá vivido
habréhabráshabráhabremoshabréishabrán
The auxiliary verb and the past participle are never separated. To make the sentence negative, add the word "no" before the conjugated form of haber.
Habré escrito el libro antes del año nuevo.I will have written the book before the new year.
Conditional Tense
Frequently, the conditional is used to express probability, possibility, wonder or conjecture, and is usually translated as would, could, must have or probably.
Note: when "would" is used in the sense of a repeated action in the past, the imperfect is used.
Person Endings
Yo -ía
Tu -ías
Ud. -ía
Nos -íamos
Os -íais
Uds. -ían
Conditional Tense Irregularscaberyo cabríaponeryo pondríadeciryo diríahaberyo habríasaliryo saldríahaceryo haríapoderyo podríateneryo tendríaquereryo querríavaleryo valdríasaberyo sabríaveniryo vendría
Past Subjunctive
They're generally used when the syntax requires a subjunctive but in a clause that denotes one of the following:
a point of time in the past a "hypothetical point in time" Yo Tú
Él, ella, usted
Nosotros*
VosotrosEllos, ellas, Uds.
ra ras ra -'ramos rais ran
Yo TúÉl, ella, usted
NosotrosEllos, ellas, Uds.
Hablar hablara hablaras hablarahabláram
oshablaran
Comer comiera comieras comieracomiéra
moscomieran
Vivir viviera vivieras vivieraviviéram
osvivieran
Subjunctive in Adverbial Clauses
Adverbs indicate such things as why, where, when, and how.
Adverbial clauses are introduced by conjunctions, such as para que (so that), antes de que (before), and hasta que (until).
• Adverbial conjunctions which are ALWAYS followed by the subjunctive (because
they always indicate a pending/hypothetical action or state):
Conjunction Translation Corresponding preposition
a fin de que so that a fin de
a condición de que on the condition that
a menos que unless
a no ser que lest, unless
antes (de) que before antes de
con tal (de) que provided that con tal de
en caso de que in case en caso de
no sea que / no fuera que
lest, so that ... not para no
para que so that para
sin que without sin
Adverbial conjunctions deal with time, and are followed by the subjunctive when they introduce an anticipated situation. If they introduce one which is viewed as completed or habitual, they are followed by the indicative. Of course, if there is no change of subject involved and a preposition is available, typically the preposition is used with an infinitive.
Conjunction Translation Prepositiona medida que as, according ascuando when (al = upon)dado que granted that, in case
thatdespués (de) que after después deen cuanto as soon ashasta que until hastaluego que as soon asmientras whilenada más que as soon aspor más ... que no matter how much,
however muchpor mucho que no matter how much,
however muchsiempre que whenever, every time
thattan pronto como as soon as
Past Subjunctive
They're generally used when the syntax requires a subjunctive but in a clause that denotes one of the following:
a point of time in the past a "hypothetical point in time"
Yo TúÉl, ella, usted
Nosotros*
VosotrosEllos, ellas, Uds.
ra ras ra -'ramos rais ran
Yo TúÉl, ella, usted
NosotrosEllos, ellas, Uds.
Hablar hablara hablaras hablarahabláram
oshablaran
Comer comiera comieras comieracomiéra
moscomieran
Vivir viviera vivieras vivieraviviéram
osvivieran
Comparitives and Superlatives
Comparatives are the comparison of one person or thing to another (more, less, or as... as), while superlatives indicate that one person/thing is the most, best, least, or worst of all.
Comparatives come in three varieties:
Superiority más... (que) more... than or ____er than
Inferiority menos... (que) less/fewer... than
Equality tan... como as... as
tanto... como as much/many as
Superlatives are formed with the definite article + noun + más or menos + adjective. Note that when the superlative uses "in" (e.g., the tallest in the world, the happiest in the house), "in" is translated by de.
Carlos es la persona más inteligente que trabaja aquí.
Exceptions: Bueno and malo have irregular forms for the comparative and superlative.Comparative Superlative
Bueno mejor(es) lo(s)/la(s) mejor(es)
Malo peor(es) lo(s)/la(s) peor(es)
Adverbs
Adverbs are words that describe, or modify, verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.
Most Spanish adverbs are formed by adding -mente to the feminine singular form of the adjective. This ending corresponds to -ly in English.
Adjective Fem. Form Adverb
claro clara claramente
constante constanteconstantemente
difícil difícil difícilmente
Irregulars:
bastantequitedemasiadotoomalbadlymuchoa lotmuyverynuncaneverpeorworsepocolittlesiemprealways
When two adverbs modify the same verb, only the second one uses the -mente ending. Note that the first adverb is the same as the feminine singular form of the adjective.
Juan trabaja lenta y cuidadosamente.Juan works slowly and carefully.El chico le habló clara y cortésmente.The boy spoke to him clearly and courteously.El autor escribió rápida y fácilmente.The author wrote quickly and easily.
Diminutives
can be added to nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and names to indicate smallness, as well as other ideas such as affection, humor, pity, irony, or ridicule. In this way, you can say that something is little without adding an adjective like pequeño to indicate smallness or querido to indicate affection.
-ito -cito -ecito
-illo -cillo -ecillo
Basically there are two different diminutives, -ito and -illo, but other letters may need to be added depending on what the modified word ends in.Note that diminutives change to match the gender and number of the word they modify.
1. For most words, including those that end in any vowel other than E, drop the final vowel and add -ito or -illo: ahora now ahorita right now
hermano brother hermanito little brother
Juana Jean Juanita Jeannie
2. Words with more than one syllable that end in E, N, R, or a stressed vowel take -cito or -cillo:
una joven young girl jovencita young lady (endearing)
mamá mama mamacita mommy
pintor painter pintorcito third-rate painter
pobre poor pobrecito poor little thing
3. Words with one syllable that end in a consonant take -ecito or -ecillo: flor flower florecita little flower
pan bread panecillo roll
Dimunitives
Augmentatives
can be added to nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and names to indicate bigness, as well as other ideas such as excessiveness, contempt, or disdain. In this way, you can say that something is big without adding an adjective like grande to indicate bigness or repugnante to indicate contempt.
masculine
-ón -azo -ote -acho
feminine
-ona -aza -ota -acha
1. Words that end in a consonant take the whole suffix:
2. When the word to be modified ends with a vowel, the vowel is dropped before adding the ending:
mujer woman mujerona big, strapping woman
animal animal animalote big, nasty animal
hombre man hombrón big, strapping man
libro book librote big, heavy book
éxito success exitazo great success
grande big grandón very big
Present Perfect
Use the present indicative conjunction of haber:
he
has
ha
hemos
habéis
han
The past participle is formed by adding the suffix -ado to -ar verbs and -ido to -er and -ir verbs.
he hablado (I have spoken)
has hablado (you have spoken)
ha hablado (he/she/you have spoken)
hemos hablado (we have spoken)
habéis hablado (you guys have spoken)
Han hablado(they/ you all have spoken)
Present Perfect Subjunctive
present subjunctive conjugation of haber + the past participle = present perfect subjunctive
Yo Haya Hablado
Tu Hayas Hablado
El/ Ella/ Ud. Haya Hablado
Nos Hayamos Hablado
Vos Hayais Hablado
Ellos/ Ellas/ Uds. Hayan Hablado
The present perfect subjunctive is used in the same types of clauses as the present subjunctive, and normally is used: to indicate the action as completed with governing verbs in the present or future tense or command forms.
Uses of se
1. The most common usage you may have already seen is when using reflexive verbs with Él, Ella, Usted or Ustedes.
2. You can also use ‘se’ to express something that two different parties do to each other.
3. You are probably already very familiar with the following usage. It is the way you say things like “How does one…?”, “It is said that….”, “One can….”, etc.
4. ‘se’ can also be used as a pronoun to represent ‘a él’, ‘a ella’, ‘a ellos’ or ‘a ellas’.
Past Participles of Adjectives
Used as a verb, the past participle works in conjunction with auxiliary verbs. These verb forms reflect that the action has already been done - or used in a passive sense.
Most past participles can be used as adjectives. Like other adjectives, they agree in gender and number with the nouns that they modify.
La puerta está cerrada.The door is closed.Las puertas están cerradas.The doors are closed.El restaurante está abierto.The restaurant is open.Los restaurantes están abiertos.The restaurants are open.
Time expressions with hacer
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.
To make this type of expression negative, just add the word "no" before the verb, as in the following formula:Hace + time + que + no + present tense form of the verbHace un año que no estudio español.I haven't studied Spanish for a year.Hace dos años que ellas no estudian inglés.They haven't studied 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 + timeEstudio español desde hace un año.I have been studying Spanish for one year.Ellas estudian inglés desde hace dos años.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 + timeEstudio español desde hace un año.I have been studying Spanish for one year.Ellas estudian inglés desde hace dos años.They have been studying English for two years.
Future Perfect
The future perfect is formed using the formula below: future conjugation of haber + the past
participle = future perfect
Habré
Habrás
Habrá
Habremos
Habréis
Habrán
The past participle is formed by adding the suffix -ado to -ar verbs and -ido to -er and -ir verbs.
The future perfect tense is used to describe what will have happened in the future before a different action takes place, or by a specific time.
Conditional Perfect
The conditional perfect tense is formed using the formula below: conditional conjugation of haber + the past
participle = conditional perfect
Habría
Habrías
Habría
Habríamos
Habríais
Habrían
+
Add the suffix -ado to -ar verbs and -ido to -er and -ir verbs.
Frequently, the conditional is used to express probability, possibility, wonder or conjecture, and is usually translated as would, could, must have or probably.
Si Clauses
They can be used in likely, unlikely, or impossible situations.
Likely Unlikely Impossible1. The si + present tense,
present tense construction is used for things that happen (regularly) when a condition is met.
2. The si + present tense, future tense construction is used for events that will occur (in the future) if the condition is met (in the present).
3. The si + present tense, imperative construction is used to give an order (in the imperative) dependent on the condition being met (in the present).
The currently contrary si-clause, known as the second conditional, is expressed as follows: the condition clause (which starts with si) requires the imperfect subjunctive, while the result clause takes the conditional. The order of the clauses is unimportant.
The impossible si-clause, known as the third conditional, is expressed as follows: the condition clause (which starts with si) requires the pluperfect subjunctive, while the result clause takes either the pluperfect subjunctive or the conditional perfect. The order of the clauses is unimportant.
Transitional Prepositions
Cause and Effecta causa de (que) — because ofdebido a (que) — due topor — because ofporque — becausecomo — because, sinceya que — because, sincepuesto que — because, sincedado que — given that así (que) — thus, sinceen consecuencia — as a resultcomo resultado — as a resultpor consiguiente — thereforepor lo tanto — thereforepor eso — therefore, for that reason
Explanation and Clarification además (de) — besides, furthermorehay que añadir (que) — it is worth addinges decir — that is to sayo sea — that is to sayen otras palabras -in other wordsesto es — i.e.
Similarity and Contrasten cambio — on the other hand, insteadpor otra parte — on the other handpor otro lado— on the other handno obstante — nevertheless, howeversin embargo — nevertheless, howevera diferencia de — in contrast toen contraste con — in contrast toa pesar de (que) — in spite of, despitepor el contrario — on the contraryal contrario — on the contraryen vez de — instead ofcon todo — nevertheless, stillpero / sino — but / but ratheraunque — although, even thoughasí como — similarlyde la misma manera — in the same wayde manera semejante — in a similar fashiondel mismo modo — in the same wayigual que — like + nounigualmente — similarlytal como — just astanto... como... — both... and...
Specific and Generalen general - generally, in generalpor lo general - generally, usuallygeneralmente por ejemplo - generallyespecíficamente - specificallyen concreto - specifically
Introduction and Conclusion En primer lugar - First placePara empezar - To startEn primer término - First thingAnte todo En conclusión - In shortEn suma - In conclusion, all things cosideredPara concluir - In conclusion, in shortFinalmente - Finally
Used to relate something to something else.
Pero vs. sino
We use "pero" to join two contrasting idea when the second phrase does not negate the first. Instead, you can think of it as adding on to the first idea.
We use sino, on the other hand, is used generally in negative sentences in which the second phrase negates or corrects the first. The equivalent in English would be "but rather" or "but on the contrary".
No soy española, pero hablo bien el idioma.(I'm not Spanish, but I speak the language well.)
Hoy no voy a estudiar biología, sino matemáticas. (Today I'm not going to study biology, but rather math.)
If "sino" separates two conjugated verbs, we use "sino que“.
When we want to translate "not only... but also...", we use the Spanish construction "no solo... sino también...".
Note: if "sino" comes before a clause with a conjugated verb, we must use "sino que".
Passive Voice
The action described by the verb is being done to the subject by an agent. The agent (the person performing the action on something else) is
introduced by the preposition por. The passive voice has two parts: the conjugated verb ser + the past
participle. The past participle has to agree with the subject, not the agent, in gender
and number, just like adjectives.
Passive Voice
Los coches son reparados por mí. The cars are repaired by me.
El libro es leído por ella. The book is read by her.
La comida es cocinada a las ocho. The meal is cooked at 8 o'clock.
Él es respetado por todo el mundo. He is respected by the everyone.
Mi madre es querida por mis amigos. My mother is loved by my friends.
La voz pasiva can occur in all tenses and moods by conjugating ser into that tense or mood.
Negative and indefinite Expressions
Spanish may have the simplest way to make phrases negative: put a "no" in front of them. To provide additional information, you can use negative and indefinite words. Negative and indefinite words can be adjectives, pronouns, or adverbs.
nadie nobody
nada nothing
ni nor
ni...ni neither...nor
ningún(-o, -a, -os, -as)
no, no one, none, any
no no
nunca, jamás never
tampoco neither, not either
todavía no not yet
ya no no longer
Negative Words
Each sentence has two negative words. It is both common and expected to have a double negative in Spanish. It is also correct to respond with "no" twice as the first one answers the "yes/no" question and the second one negates the sentence.
Indefinite words are the opposites of negative words.
alguien somebody
algo something
algún(-o, -a, -os, -as)
some, something
alguna vez ever
siempre always
también also
todavía, aún still
ya already
o or
o...o either...or
Indefinite Words
Past Perfect
The past perfect is formed by combining the auxiliary verb "had" with the past participle.
In Spanish, the past perfect tense is formed by using the imperfect tense of the auxiliary verb "haber" with the past participle.
habíahabíashabíahabíamoshabíaishabían
The past participle is formed by dropping the infinitive ending and adding either -ado or -ido.
The subject agrees with the tense of the verb.
Expressions such as "ya", "antes", "nunca", "todavía" and "después" will often appear in sentences where one action was completed before another.
Past Perfect Subjunctive
To express subjectivity in the past after the same verbs, impersonal expressions, and conjunctions as the present subjunctive:
Quería que tú lo hubieras hecho.I wanted you to do it
To express a wish that something had happened differently in the past:
Ojalá que hubiera ido.I wish he had gone.
In conditional sentences (si clauses): Si hubiera sabido, hubiera ido contigo.
If I had known, I would have gone with you.
Uses of the infinitive
As a subject: Nadar es el mejor remedio para el dolor de espalda. Swimming is the best remedy for a backache.
As a predicate nominative: La vida es un abrir y cerrar de los ojos. Life is an opening and closing of the eyes.
As the object of a verb: Yo preferiría salir. I would prefer to leave. As the object of a preposition: Pienso de salir contigo. I'm thinking about
leaving with you.
As you may notice, the definite article el (or the contraction al) is not consistently used with the noun infinitive. It is most often used in certain set phrases and following some prepositions. When an infinitive is the subject of the sentence, the el is often optional; when it is used, it can give the sentence a more personal or informal sound.
Like other nouns, it can be the subject of a sentence, a predicate nominative (usually a noun that follows a form of "to be" or ser) or the object of a verb or preposition.
Prepositions: a, hacia, con de, desde, en, entre, hasta, sin
Preposition Translation
ato, at, from, by, on, for, upon
con with, to
deof, about, on, with, because of, by, at
en in, on, at
haciatowards, to, at about or around
Definition: Spanish Prepositions define relationships between different objects within a sentence, establishing movement, time and position. Unfortunately they do not have a precise translation from Spanish to English or vice versa.
It is possible to use different Mnemonic techniques (especially visual ones) in order to memorize different Prepositions much faster: a, ante, bajo, cabe, con, contra, de, desde, durante, en, entre, hacia, hasta, mediante, para, por, según, sin, sobre, and tras.