GRAMMAR BOOKCarolina Usry 6th

Grammar Book

1. Constructions of se

2. Adverbs

3. Preterite vs. Imperfect

4. Por vs. Para

5. Stressed Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns

6. Commands: Informal, Formal, Nosotros, Irregulars,

Affirmative, Negative

7. Object Pronoun Placement: IOP, DOP, SE

8. Present Subjunctive

9. Subjunctive with Verbs of Will and Influence

10. Bibliography

1. Constructions of Se• Impersonal:

- No specific person is being addressed.

- They are often used in advertisements, directions, and

signs.

- Se + 3rd person singular verb

- Se can also be used to show unplanned or accidental

events.

Examples:

- Se habla español en Costa Rica.

They speak Spanish in Costa Rica.

- Se prohibe fumar.

Smoking is prohibited.

2. Adverbs

- Adverbs are words that describe, or modify, verbs adjectives or

other adverbs.

- They can be formed by adding -mente to the end of the feminine

singular form of the adjective.

- When two adverbs modify the same verb, only the second one uses the

- Example: Leo rapidamente.

- I read quickly.

3. Preterite vs. Imperfect

• Preterite:

- Used for completed past actions.

- Car-Gar-Zar:

- Verbs that end in -gar change g to gu

- Verbs that end in -car change c to qu

- Verbs that end in -zar change z to c

• Imperfect:

- Used for past actions with an indefinite beginning or end.

• Differences: Triggers

-ayer (yesterday), anoche (last night), pasada semana (last week), anteayer (the day before yesterday), el fin de semana pasad

4. Por vs. ParaPor

- Motion or general

location: around,

through, along, by

- Duration of an action:

for, during, in

- Reason or motive for

an action: because of,

on account of, etc

- Object of a search: for,

in search of Purpose

+ (noun): for, used for

- Means by which

something is done: by,

by way of, by means

ofExchange or

substitution: for, in

exchange for

- Units of measure: per,

by *por ejemplo, por eso,

por fin

Para

- Destination: toward, in the direction of

- Deadline or specific time in the future: by, for

- Purpose or goal + (infinitive): in order to

- Recipient of something; for

- Comparison w/ others or an opinion: for, considering

- In the employ of: for

Por and Para are both translated to “for”.

5. Stressed Possessive

Adjectives and Pronouns• Possessive Adjectives

- Indicates to whom or to what something belongs.

- Agrees with gender and number of the noun being modified

- Noun + Stressed Possessive Adjective

• Possessive Pronouns

- Words which replace nouns modified by possessive adjectives.

6. Commands • Formal commands

- Used to give orders and advice.

- For usted and ustedes forms.

- Start with verb’s yo form

- Drop the -o

- Use these endings:

• Informal (tu) commands

- Singular third person form (usted form)

- Example: Hablar becomes habla

- Negative Informal Commands

- Add “no” in front of formal commands

- Pronouns go before the verb and after the negative modifier.

- No + tu form of present subjunctive (put verb in the opposite tu form)

- Ar = es

- Er/Ir = as

• Nosotros commands

- Used for “let’s + verb” when the speaker is included

- Use the nosotros form of present subjunctive

- Yo form, drop the -o, add nosotros ending

- To become negative, add “no”

• Irregular Commands

- Formed using subjunctive form

- DISHES

- Dar, Ir, Ser, Haber, Estar, Saber

7. Object Pronoun Placement

• Direct Objects

- In affirmative sentences with one verb, the pronoun is placed directly before the conjugated verb.

- In affirmative commands, the pronoun directly proceeds the verb.

- Direct object must agree with the correct gender. (Masculine and feminine)

• Indirect Objects

- Same placement rules as direct objects.

• SE

- In sentences with indirect object pronouns and direct object pronouns, the IO comes first. Whenever both pronouns begin with

- Se is used as a reflexive companion to the verb. (In addition to constructions of se)

8. Present Subjunctive

- The subjunctive mood is used to show how the speaker feels about an action

(For an uncertain event)

- Start with the yo form of the present indicative, drop the -o, and add the opposite ending

- Example: Es importante que + verb

- Irregular yo forms of verbs keep the irregular form when conjugating to present subjunctive.

9. Subjunctive with Verbs of Will

and Influence

-Verbs of will and influence are often used when someone wants to affect the actions or behavior of other people.

- Some impersonal expressions, such as es necesario que, es importante que, es mejor que,

- The infinitive is used with words or expressions of will and influence, if there is no change of subject in the sentence.

- Common verbs of will and influence:querer - to wantpreferir - to preferdesear - to desireinsistir en - to insistmandar - to commandprohibir - to prohibitrequerir - to requireexigir - to demand, requirerecomendar - to recommendpedir - to request/ask foralentar - to encouragedecir - to tell, say

Bibliography

• VHL

• studyspanish.com

• cliffnotes.com