Grammar Book
By: Tabitha Cruickshank
Table of Contents• Present tense• Stem changers• Irregular ‘yo’• Saber vs. conocer• Reflexives• ‘Se’ impersonal• Verbs like ‘gustar’• -uir/-guir, -cer/-cir, -ger/-gir• Imperfect
– Irregular– Trigger words
• Preterite – Irregular car/gar/zar; spock; cucaracha; snake/snakey– Trigger
• Comparatives/superlatives• Future
– Irregular– Trigger words
PresentAR
Yo o
Tu as
El, ella, ud. a
Nosotros amos
Vosotros aís
Ellos, ellas, uds. an
ER/IR
Yo o
Tu es
El, ella, ud. e
Nosotros emos/imos
Vosotros éis/ís
Ellos, ellas, uds. en
Stem ChangersStem changers are verbs that change in every form EXCEPT the
nosotros and vosotros forms.
E > IRepetirRepitoRepitesRepite
RepetimosRepetísRepiten
O > UEContarCuentoCuentasCuenta
ContamosContáisCuentan
E > IECerrarCierroCierrasCierra
CerramosCerráisCierran
O > UEDormir
DuermoDuermesDuerme
DormimosDormís
Duermen
Irregular “yo”
-go verbsPoner – to put
PongoDecir (e<i) – to say
DigoTener – to have
TengoTraer – to bring
TraigoHacer – to do
HagoOir – to hear
Oigo
Irregular “yo” verbs are verbs that change in the yo form such as go, zco, and other verbs like ser and ir.
-zco verbsConocer - ConozcoProducirProduzcoConducirConduzco
Other verbsSer – to be
SoyEstar – to be
EstoyIr – to go
VoyVer – to see
Saber – to knowSe
Dar - Doy
Saber vs. ConocerTo know
“Saber” is used to express knowledge about a fact or different information.
Juan sabe donde está María.Juan knows where Maria is.
“Conocer” is used to say if a person is acquainted with another.
Yo no conozco a María.I don't know (am not acquainted with) Maria.
ReflexivesIn Spanish, when you talk about an action being performed on yourself,
you show the reflexive nature of the action with a reflexive verb. Reflexive verbs indicate that the subject of the sentence has performed an action on itself. In other words, in a reflexive sentence the subject is
the same as the object.
If a verb is reflexive, it ends in ‘se’.
Lavarse – to wash oneselfRascarse – to scratch oneself
Llamarse – to call oneself
When conjugating, move the ‘se’ to the front of the verb and change it to the corresponding pronoun: me, te, se, nos, or se. Then conjugate
the verb.
Me lavoTe lavas
Se lavaNos lavamos
Os laváis Se lavan
Se impersonalWe use the se impersonal verbs when making a general assumption
about people in general. Se is placed in front of the verb in impersonal and use the singular verb.
How does one say "icecream" in
Italian?
¿Cómo se dice "helado" en italiano?
Plural impersonal does not use se in front of the verb.
They say that vegetarian pizza is
healthy.
Dicen que la pizza vegetariana es
saludosa.
Verbs like gustarThese verbs are taken and congugated into either the ‘el/ella/usted’ form or the ‘ellos/ellas/ustedes’ form along with the correct pronoun.
Pronouns
MeTeSeNosSe
Me gustan los libros.
--The books are pleasing to me
Or--I like the books
Aburrir – to boreFascinar – to be fascinating too
Bastar – to be sufficientImportar – to be important toMolestar – to be a bother toDiscutar – to hate something
Parecer – to appear to beDoler – to be painful
Picar – to itchEncantar – to love something
Quedar – to be left overFaltar – to be lacking something
-uir/-guir, -cer/-cir, -ger/gir-uir/-guirAtribuir ConcluirConstruirContribuirDestruir
Distribuir Excluir Incluir Instruir
-ger/-gir *Change the G>J in the yo form. In the
other forms, use G.Coger – to catch Exigir – to demandCojo ExijoCoges ExigesCoge ExigeCogemos ExigemosCogéis ExigisCogen Exigen
-cer/-cirAtribuir ConcluirConstruirContribuirDestruir
Distribuir Excluir Incluir Instruir
Imperfect
ARabaabasaba
ábamosabaisaban
Imperfect tense is used to represent things that happened in the past that occurred repeatedly or occurred over a period of time. It’s like a
movie in the past.
HABLARhablabahablabashablaba
hablábamoshablabaishablaban
ER/IRíaíasía
íamosíaisían
VIVIRvivíavivíasvivía
vivíamosvivíaisvivían
a menudo, a veces, cada día, cada año, con frecuencia, de vez cuando, en aquella época, frecuentemente, generalmente, muchas veces, mucho, nunca, por un rato, siempre, tantas veces, todas las
semanas, todos los dias, todo el tiempo, and varias veces
IRibaibasiba
íbamosibaisiban
VER veía veíamos veías veíais veía veían
SER era éramos eras erais era eran
PreteriteTrigger Word Translation
Ayer Yesterday
Anteayer The day before yesterday
Anoche Last night
La Semana Pasada Last week
El Mes Pasado Last month
El Año Pasado Last year
El Fin De Semana Pasado Last weekend
The preterite tense allows you to refer to specific past actions performed (1) at a
fixed point in time, (2) a specific number of times, (3) during an enclosed amount of
time.
Form -AR -ER, -IR
Yo -é -í
Tú -aste -iste
Ella/Él/Ud. -ó -ió
Nosotros -amos -imos
Vosotros -asteis -isteis
Ellos/Ellas/Uds.
-aron -ieron
Ella trabajó por dos horas.
She worked for two hours.
Ellos vendieron el coche.
They sold the car.
-car, -gar, -zar
There are three spelling changes in Spanish which
affect verbs in the preterite as well as in other tenses. In the
preterite , these changes occur only in the first person
singular yo form.Verbs ending in –car: the c changes to qu before the
letter eEx: Yo practiqué. (I
practiced.)Verbs ending in –gar: Insert a
u before the eEx: Yo llegué. (I arrived.)
Verbs ending in –zar: the z changes to c before the letter
eEx: Yo empecé. (I began.)
Verb Translation Preterite Yo FormPagar To pay (for) Yo pagué
Regar To water (a plant) Yo reguéJugar To play (a game) Yo jugué
Buscar To look for; search
Yo busqué
Aparcar To park Yo aparquéTocar To touch; play
(an instrument)Yo toqué
Organizar To organize Yo organicé
Simbolizar To symbolize Yo simbolicéAutorizar To authorize Yo autoricé
Spock
IrSe
r
Dar
Ver
Hacer
Ir: To goSer: To be
Dar: To giveVer: To seeHacer: To do; make
Ir Ser Dar Ver HacerYo Fui Fui Di Vi Hice
Tú Fuiste Fuiste Diste Viste Hiciste
Ella/Él/Ud. Fue Fue Dio Vio Hizo
Nosotros Fuimos Fuimos Dimos Vimos Hicimos
Ellos/Ellas/Uds.
Fueron Fueron Dieron Vieron Hicieron
Ex:Fui al cine.
I went to the movies.Ella dio un regalo a su
abuela.She gave a gift to her
grandmother.
CucarachaVerbs Stem Change
Andar Anduv-
Estar Estuv-
Poder Pud-
Poner Pus-
Querer Quis-
Saber Sup-
Tener Tuv-
Venir Vin-
Form EndingYo -e
Tú -iste
Ella/Él/Ud. -o
Nosotros -imos
Vosotros -isteis
Ellos/Ellas/Uds. -ieron
Form Ending
Yo -e
Tú -iste
Ella/Él/Ud. -o
Nosotros -imos
Vosotros -isteis
Ellos/Ellas/Uds.
-eron
Verbs Stem Change
Decir Dij-
Traer Traj-
Conducir Conduj-
Producir Produj-
Traducir Traduj-
Snake/snakeySnakey verbs are verbs that are irregular in the preterite tense that
change –yendo and –yeron.
Form EndingYo Oí
Tú Oíste
Ella/Él/Ud. Oyó
Nosotros Oímos
Ellos/Ellas/Uds. Oyeron
Form EndingYo Leí
Tú Leíste
Ella/Él/Ud. Leyó
Nosotros LeímosEllos/Ellas/Uds. Leyeron
Form EndingYo Cayí
Tú Caíste
Ella/Él/Ud. Cayó
Nosotros Caímos
Ellos/Ellas/Uds. Cayeron
Comparatives/superlativesComparatives are
used to compare two things. You can use the word “than” or
sometimes the word “but”.
Superlatives are used when you want to
compare two or more things. There is only
one superlative, so the word used is “the”.
You are taller than she.
Tu eres más alto que ella.
You are taller than everyone in your class.Tu eres el más alto en
tus clase.
¡Parte dos!
Table of Contents
1. Preterite vs. Imperfect2. Future3. Conditional4. Por5. Para6. Por vs. Para7. Commands8. Present perfect
Preterite vs. ImperfectThe preterite tense allows you to refer to specific past actions performed (1) at a fixed point in time,
(2) a specific number of times, (3) during an enclosed amount of time.
Imperfect tense is used to represent things that happened in the past that occurred repeatedly or occurred over a period of time. It’s like a movie in
the past.
Form -AR -ER, -IR
Yo -é -í
Tú -aste -iste
Ella/Él/Ud. -ó -ió
Nosotros -amos -imos
Vosotros -asteis -isteis
Ellos/Ellas/Uds.
-aron -ieron
Trigger Word Translation
Ayer Yesterday
Anteayer The day before yesterday
Anoche Last night
La Semana Pasada Last week
El Mes Pasado Last month
El Año Pasado Last year
El Fin De Semana Pasado Last weekend
Form AR ER/IR
Yo -aba -ía
Tu -abas -ías
El/Ella/Usted -aba -ía
Nosotras/Nosotros -ábamos -íamos
Vosotros/Vosotras -abais -íais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes -aban -ían
IRibaibasiba
íbamosibaisiban
VERveía veíamos veías veíais veía veían
SERera éramos eras erais era eran
IRREGULAR
Future tense with irregularsThe future tense is
used to tell what "will" happen, or what "shall"
happen. However, the future
tense is NOT used to express a willingness to
do something.
Form EndingYo -é
Tú -ás
Ella/Él/Ud. -áNosotros -emos
Ellos/Ellas/Uds.
-án
Ex: Using the verb hablar, to speak.
Yo HabléTu HablásElla Hablá
Nosotros HablemosEllos Hablán
Verb Stem Change
Verb Stem Change
Decir Dir- Venir Vendr-
Hacer Har- Poder Podr-
Poner Pondr- Querer Querr-
Salir Saldr- Saber Sabr-
Tener Tendr- Valer Valdr-
Conditional with irregularsThe conditional is used to express probability, possibility, and is translated as would, could,
must have or probably.
íaíasía
íamosíaisían
Conjugation HablarHablaría
Hablarías Hablaría
Hablaríamos Hablaríais Hablarían
Irregularscaberyo cabría
poneryo pondría
deciryo diría
haberyo habría
saliryo saldría
haceryo haría
poderyo podría
teneryo tendría
quereryo querría
valeryo valdría
saberyo sabría
veniryo vendría
Por
Por eso
Motion or general
location
Around, through, along, by
Duration of an action
For, during, in
Reason or motive for an
actionBecause of, on account of, on behalf of
Object of
search
For, in search of
Means by which something is doneBy, by way of, by means of
Exchange or substitutionFor, in exchange for
Units of measure
Per, by
Por aquí
Por ejemplo
Por fin
ParaDestination
Toward, in the direction of
Deadline or a specific time in the futureBy, for
Purpose or goal + infinitiveIn order to
Describes the purpose + nounFor, used for
Recipient of somethingFor
Comparison with others or an opinionFor, considering
In the employ ofFor
CommandsCommands are used when telling someone what to do. Informal commands are used when
talking to a friend or a child. Formal commands are used when you want to be polite or show respect.
• Start with the ‘yo’ form of present indicative
• Drop the ‘-o’ ending• Add on the following
endings:- AR verbs: -e (Ud.) –en
(Uds.)- ER and IR verbs: -a (Ud.) –
an (Uds.)
FORMAL
If the ‘yo’ form is irregular in present tense, it carries over to
the command form as well.
Tener – TenganTraer – TraigaVenir -- Venga
Present PerfectThe present perfect is created by taking the verbs ‘has’ or ‘have’ and combining them with
the past participle. Two verbs are required: the main verb and the ‘have’ or ‘has’.
HeHasHa
HemosHabéis
Han
HABER The past participial is created by dropping the infinitive ending and adding –ado or –ido.
--(yo) He comido.I have eaten.--(tú) Has comido.You have eaten.--(él) Ha comido.He has eaten.--(nosotros) Hemos comido.We have eaten.--(vosotros) Habéis comido.You-all have eaten.--(ellos) Han comido.They have eaten.
Double Object PronounsDO Pronouns English
me me
te you (familiar)
lo, la him, her, it, you (formal)
nos us
os you-all (familiar)
los, las them, you-all (formal) le lo = se lole la = se la
le los = se losle las = se lasles lo = se loles la = se la
les los = se losles las = se las
AdverbsMost 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 constante constantemente
difícil difícil difícilmente
Bastante quiteDemasiado too
Mal badlyMucho a lot
Siempre always
Muy veryNunca neverPeor worsePoco little
SubjunctiveThe subjunctive case expresses attitudes as uncertain or hypothetical.
HablarMain + connector + subordinate
HableHablesHable
HablemosHabléisHablen
Put it in the yo form, drop the o and then add the opposite vowel.
ComerComaComasComa
ComamosComáisComan
EscribirEscribaEscribasEscriba
EscribamosEscribáisEscribanIRREGULAR
1. Dar2. Estar
3. Ir4. Haber5. Saber6. Ser
dédesdédemosdeisden
estéestésestéestemosestéisestén
vayavayasvayavayamosvayáisvayan
hayahayashayahayamoshayáishayan
sepasepassepasepamossepáissepan
seaseasseaseamosseáissean
Se impersonalTo form the impersonal se, verbs are always 3rd person singular and
are commonly followed by a direct object.
Impersonal Se Formulase + 3rd person singular
Se necesita que la gente proteja la Tierra. (It's necessary that people protect the Earth.)
Se habla español aquí. (Spanish is spoken here.)
Se dice que va a llover mañana. (It's said it is going to rain tomorrow.)
Se prohibe fumar.
(Smoking is prohibited.)
No se permite hacer fotos aquí. (Photographs are not permitted.)
Progressive w/ ir, andar and seguirSeguir/Andar/Ir + present participle = to still do something or to go on
doing it
ella anda buscando trabajo = she's going around looking for work
ella va adaptándose a su puesto = She is slowly but surly adjusting to her job
Él sigue buscando trabajo = He is still looking for work