This document provides information on Spanish grammar concepts including:
- Verb conjugations for -ar, -er, and -ir verbs in the present tense.
- Stem-changing verbs and irregular "yo" forms.
- Uses of reflexive pronouns and verbs.
- Formation of the preterite, imperfect, future, and conditional tenses.
- Differences between por and para prepositions.
- Forms of commands, adverbs, subjunctive mood, impersonal "se", and verbs like gustar.
3. Stem Changers
e -> ie comenzar -> comienzo (yo)
e -> i medir -> mido (yo)
o -> ue dormir -> duermo (yo)
i -> ie adquirir -> adquiero (yo)
i -> ue jugar -> juego (yo)
o -> hue oler -> huelo (yo)
4. Irregular "yo"
These verbs have an irregular
first person:
Caber - quepo
Caer - Caigo
Conducir - Conduzco
Conocer - Conozco
Escoger - Escojo
Dirigir - Dirijo
Hacer - Hago
Poner - Pongo
Saber - Sé
Salir - Salgo
Seguir - Sigo
Traer - Traigo
Valer - Valgo
Ver - Veo
5. Saber VS Conocer
Conocer: to know (someone,
Saber: to know (a fact or how somewhere)
to do something)
• it is normally followed by • followed by a direct object
an infinitive • never followed by an
infinitive
• preposition must be used if
the DO is a person
6. Reflexives
Used when the action is being Reflexive Pronouns
done unto one's self.
• me
"i wash myself" <- reflexive • te
"i wash my cat" <- not • se
• nos
Lavar (to wash) • os
Lavarse (to wash oneself)
the "se" means that the action
is being done to the one
doing the action
7. Verbs like...Uir/Guir Cer/Cir Ger/Gir
Verbs that end in -cer and
-cir, the "c" changes to "zc" in
the yo form
• conocer -> conozco
Verbs that end in -ger and
-gir, the "g" changes to to "j"
in the yo form.
• escoger -> escojo
Verbs that end in -guir, the
"gu" changes to "g" in the yo
form.
• seguir -> sigo
8. Imperfecto
A continuous action from the
past.
Er/Ir
Ar
yo -aba yo -ía
tu -abas tu -ías
el/ella/ustd -aba el/ella/ustd: -ía
nosotros -abamos nosotros -íamos
ellos/ellas/ustds -aban ellos/ellas/ustd -ían
Trigger Words: siempre,
todos los dias,etc, cada dia
9. Hace + _ + Que + _
• Hace + the time + que +
present tense verb.
10. Preterite
Past Tense, with a known beginning and end.
• "Snapshot" of time
Trigger Words: ayer, anoche, anteayer, la semana pasada
ar er/ir
yo: e i
tu: aste iste
el/ello/usd: o io
nosostros: amos imos
ustedes: aron ieron
11. Car/Gar/Zar
These are irrgular preterite verbs. They only change in the
singular yo form, though.
Verbs ending in -car then c -> qu, before the spot where the e
is normally.
Verbs ending in -gar you should put a u before where the e
usually is.
Verbs ending in -zar you change the z -> c which goes before
the place where the e normally is
ex. practique
12. Spock
HThese are the 5 irregular conjugations of the preterite. They
are: Ir/Ser: Fui, Fuiste, Fue, Fuimos, Fueron
Dar: Di, Diste, Dio, Dimos, Dieron
Ver: Vi, Viste, Vio, Vimos, Vieron
Hacer: Hice, Hicisite, Hizo, Hicimos, Hicieron
13. Snakey
This is an irregular pretierite where it changes to a e -> y
yo: lei nosotros: leimos
tu: leiste ------
el: leyo ello: leyeron
others: creer, destruir, construir
14. Snake
This is a type of irreuglar preterite, with a stem change.
The u -> i , in the el and ellos form.
yo- dormi nosotros- dormimos
tu- dormiste -----------
el- durmio ellos- durmieron
15. Cucaracha
They are called this because of the song we sing that goes
along to this tune.
Andar Anduv
Estar Estuve
Poder Pud-
Poner Pus-
Querer Quis-
Saber Sup-
Tener Tuv-
Venir Vin-
16. Comparatives/Superlatives
Superlatives are when you are comparing something with the upmost best of something.
Comparatives are just comparing something with something else.
Mas/Menos always goes with Que
Tan/Tanto/Tantos always goes with como
màs...que : more... than
menos...que : less... than
tan...como : as... as
tanto(a, os, as)...como : as much/many... as
Mato Tucker es mas inteligente que el perro.
Yo no tengo tanto dinero como los smurfs.
For comparatives, mas or menos always must be before the adjective or adverb.
For superlatives add the definite article before the comparative.
17. Future
Future Tense: indicates an action in the future
All endings for Future:
yo: -é
tu: -ás
el/ella/ustd:-á
nosotros: -emos (NOTICE no accent)
vosotros: -éis,
ellos/ellas/ustds: -án
Exceptions: Hablar, Comer, Vivir
19. Preterite / Imperfect
These are both meant to define something that happened in
the past.
Preterite, though, is meant for a COMPLETED action, while
imperfect is meant for a CONTINUOUS action without a
definite ending time.
Preterite Endings:
ar er/ir
yo: e i
tu: aste iste
el/ello/usd: o io
nosostros: amos imos
ustedes: aron ieron
20. Future / Conditional
Future is saying you "will" do something
Conditional is saying you "would" do something.
For Future/Conditional is where you add the ending to the infinitive.
íais
ían
Future Endings Conditional Endings
INFINITIVE + é INFINITIVE + ía
INFINITIVE + ás INFINITIVE + ías
INFINITIVE + á INFINITIVE + ía
INFINITIVE + emos INFINITIVE + íamos
INFINITIVE + éis INFINITIVE + íais
INFINITIVE + án INFINITIVE + ian
21. Por
Por is one of the most common prepositions in spanish. It can be translated as " for" . There
are many different times to use por including:
• indicating the cause of or reason for something,
• to indicate support for,
• or an action on behalf of someperson,
• to indciate an exchange of some sort,
• to indicated being in a place,
• a direct translation of "per" ,
• it could mean "by" when it points to someone performing an action.
22. Para
Par is anot usefuland common pr
a her eposit Itis al a t ansl ion of "for
ion. so r at ".
These ar t t
e he imes t use par
o a:
• to mean "in order to"
• to indicate purpose, intent, usefulness or need
• to indicate a destination
• to mean "no later than" or "by"
• to mean "considering" or "in view of"
• to indicate personal reaction
• used with "estar" to mean "to be about to" or "to be ready to"
With es tar to mean " to be about to" or " to be ready to" : T he infinit e.Examples: Est par sal . (I'm r dy t ea e. I a bout o lea e.) Est
his phr se is foll ed by t
a ow iv oy a ir ea o l v m a t v amos par hacer
a
negocios. (W e r dy t
e'r ea o do business. W e r dy for
e'r ea doing business.)
23. Por and Para
Por: Para
o Cause or Reason • Purpose
o Length of time • Time Limit
o Duration of an Action • Destination
o Movement through • Movement towards a place
o By a place • Adressee
o Agent • Comparsion
o Substitution
24. Formal Commands
TvDishes: Tener, Venir, Dar/Decir, Ir, Ser, Hacer/Haber, Estar, Saber
Affirmative Negative
•Tu Commands: Drop the “s” Tu Commands: Put it in “yo”
form and put in opposite vowel
•Ud/Uds: In the “yo” form & add an “S”
and change to opposite Ud/Uds: In the “yo” form and
vowel. change to opposite vowel
Tu: Irregulars: Di, Haz, Pn, Tu & Ud/Uds Irregulars:
Sal, Ve, Se, Ven, Ten TV Dishes
Ud/Uds: Irregulars:
TVDISHES
25. Present Perfect
• Present Perfect is formed by using the present
tense of “Haber”
• Haber: He, Has, Ha, Hemos, Han
• Then, you add the past participle of whatever
verb you are using, by adding –ado or -ido
26. Double Object Pronouns
Indirect Prounons: Me, Te, Le, Nos, Les
Direct Pronouns: Me, Te, Lo/La, Nos, Los/Las
Used with commands, rather than saying a full name.
29. Se impersonal
Impersonal expressions are
used when the verb is
unspecified. They are usually
for general statements.
To form the "se impersonal"
se + 3rd person singlar
Example:
se necesita
se habla
se dice
30. Verbs like Gustar
The verbs are either conjugated to the singluar 3rd person or
the plural 3rd person (el/ella/ustd or ello/ella/ustdes)
I like girls.
Me gustan chicas.
Me signifies that is it myself who is doing the liking. The reason
gustan is in the ello/ella/ustdes form is because chicas is plural.
Pronouns: Me, Te, Se, Nos, Se
Me, you, him/her/, us, them
Faltar- to lack
Encantar- To love