SPANISH GRAMMAR
Mateo McCauley
Ser vs. Estar Ser-to be Estar-to be Estar is a temporary form of “to be”, while
ser is a more permanent form. Ser is used when talking about: time, events,
possession, occupations, characteristics, dates, events, origin, and relationships.
Estar is used when talking about: present progressive, health, emotions, location, and present condition.
Ser vs. Estar
Ser
• Soy• Eres• Es• Somos• Son
Estar
• Estoy• Estas• Está• Estamos• Están
•Yo soy de México. (I am from Mexico)•Tú estas en México. (you are in Mexico)•Miguel esta muy cansado. (Miguel is very tired)•Es cinco y media. (It is 5:30)
Preterite
The “Preterite” is a verb that expresses what happened in the past.
A verb is conjugated differently in preterite form, then in present tense form.
Also, a trigger word is used to show that a verb will be in preterite form.Ayer: yesterday Anoche: lastnightAño pasado: past year
Conjugation of Preterites
-é -amos
-aste
-ó
-aron
-í -imos
-iste
-ió
-ieron
-AR -ER/-IR
-Car, -Gar, -Zar
These irregular preterite verbs change in the “yo” form.-Car: -qué-Gar: -gué-Zar: -cé
Jugar: JuguéAlmorzar: AlmorcéBuscar: Busqué
Snake Verbs
Snake verbs are verbs that change in the third person preterite.
• Dormí• Dormiste• Durmío• Dormimos• Durmieron
Dormir
• Serví• Serviste• Sirvío• Servimos• Sirvieron
Servir
Snakey Verbs
Verbs that change when there are three vowels in a row.
Leer-Leyó Oír- Oyó
Imperfect Tense
The imperfect tense is the preterite that is used when there is no specific beginning and ending of an event.
-Ar
• -aba• -abas• -aba• -ábamos• -aban
-Er/Ir
• ía• -ías• -ía• -íamos• -ían
Imperfect Irregulars
Ir
• Iba• Ibas• Iba• Íbamos• Iban
Ser
• Era• Eras• Era• Éramos• Eran
Ver
• Veía• Veías• Veía• Veíamos• Veían
Spock verbs
Ir/Ser:Fui, Fuiste, Fue, Fuimos, Fueron
Dar/Ver:Di, Diste, Dio, Dimos, DieronVi, Viste, Vio, Vimos, Vieron
HacerHice, Hiciste, Hizo, Hicimos, Hicieron
Cucaracha VerbsPrefix:
Andar: Anduv- Estar: Estuv- Poder: Pud- Poner: Pus- Querer: Quis- Saber: Sup- Tener: Tuv- Venir: Vin- Conducir: Conduj- Producir: Produj- Traducir-Traduj- Decir: Dij- Traer: Traj-
Suffix-e-iste-o-imosieron
Trigger Words
Preterite Imperfect
Ayer El año pasado Anteayer La semana pasada El mes pasado El otro día El noche pasado
Nunca Siempre Frecuentemente Mucho Cada día
Preterite v. Imperfect
Future Tense
A verb in its future tense is used to talk about the future
In order to conjugate a verb into future tense, attach a suffix to the infinitiveNadar: Nadará
(He will swim)Ir + a + infinitive
○ Voy a comprar
(I will go buy)
Future Tense
• -é• -ás• -á• -emos• -án
Future Irregulars
Cabr- Pondr- Dir- Habr- Saldr- Har-
Podr- Tendr- Querr- Valdr- Sabr- Vendr-
Trigger Words
Mañana: tomorrow La próxima semana: next week Próximo mes: next month Próximo ayer: next year
Demonstrative Adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives answer the question “which one”.
They agree in gender and number and precede the noun.
Demonstrative Adjectives Contd.
This
• Este (M)• Esta (F)
That
• Ese• Esa
That over there
• Aquel• Aquella
These
• Estos (M)• Estas (F)
Those
• Esos• Esas
Those over there
• Aquellos• Aquellas
Por v. Para
Por Para
Passing through (portal) General location
(portugal) How long something
lasts (porever) The cause of something An exchange (im/export) In place of something
else (I’m por, pay for me) Transportation
For whom something is done (para-tay)
Destination (Paraguay) Purpose for which
something is done Express an opinion Comparison
(comparacion) Deadline (paramedic)
Connector Words
Aunque: even though Mientras: while Por lo tanto: therefore También: also A pesar de: in spite of Pero: but Sin embargo/ no obstante: nevertheless
Comparatives/Superlatives Used to compare two things
Mariah es menos baja que Peyton.(Mariah is not as tall as Peyton.)Mariah es más joven que Peyton.(Mariah is younger then Peyton.)
Más que/Menos que Mejor que/Peor que Mayor/Menor que Tan como
Verbs like Gustar
Aburrir: to bore Encantar: Faltar: to fail Fascinar: to
fascinate Importar: to be
important Interesar: to
interest Molestar: to hate Doler: to hurt Disgustar: to
disgust Preocupar: to
worry Apetecer: to crave