The document outlines the table of contents for a Spanish 4 grammar book, which covers topics such as verb tenses like the present, preterite, and imperfect, uses of ser and estar, stem-changing verbs, irregular verbs, object and possessive pronouns, and uses of the subjunctive mood.

1. Spanish 4 Grammar Book
Catalina Vivlamore
Spanish 4H Period 1

2. Tabla de Contentos
1. El Presente (3-5) 8. 8. Subjunctive in Adjective
2. Ser o Estar (6-7) Clauses (25)
3. Verbos Como Gustar (8) 9. 9. Mandatos (26-28)
4. El Preterito (9-16) 10. 10. Object Pronouns (29-33)
5. El Imperfecto (17-19) 11. 11. Possessive Adjectives and
6. Preterito vs. Imperfecto (19) Pronouns (34-35)
7. Subjunctive in Noun Clauses 12. 12. Demonstrative Adjectives
(20-24) and Pronouns (36-37)
13. 13. Reflexive Verbs (38)
14. 14. Por y Para (39-41)
15. 15. To Become (42-43)

3. El Presente
• Used to express actions or situations that are
going on at the present time and to express
general truths.
• Also used to express habitual actions or actions
that will take place in the near future.
• Regular –ar, -er, -ir verbos
• Nota: We normally omit subject pronouns.

4. Stem-Changing Present
• E—>ie {ej. pensar)
• O ue (ej. Poder)
• EI (ej. Pedir)
• Uue (ej. Jugar)
• Construir, destruir, incluir, influir add a y before
the personal endings, except in forms noted
below
• Change in all forms except nosotros y vosotros.

5. Irregular Yo Present Tense
• Many –er and –ir verbs have irregular yo forms in
the present tense.
• -cer or –cir -zco
• -ger or –gir -jo
• Several verbs have irregular –go endings (ej.
Caercaigo), and a few have individual
irregularities
• Others: caber—> quepo; saber se; verveo
• Some verbs with irregular yo forms have stem
changes as well
• Verbs with prefixes follow the same patterns (ej.
detenerdetengo)

6. Ser o Estar
• Ser and estar both mean to be, but they are not
interchangeable.
• Ser is used to express the idea of permanence, such as
inherent or unchanging qualities and characteristics.
• Estar is used to express temporality, including qualities
or conditions that change with time.
• With most descriptive adjectives, either ser or estar can
be used, but the meaning of each statement is different.
• Some adjectives have two different meanings depending
on whether they are used with ser or estar.
• Nota: Estar, not ser, is used with muerto/a.

7. Uses of Ser y Estar
• Uses of Ser: • Uses of Estar:
▫ Nationality and origin ▫ Location or spatial
▫ Profession/occupation relationships
▫ Characteristics of ▫ Health
people,animals, and ▫ Physical states and
things conditions
▫ Generalizations ▫ Emotional states
▫ Possession ▫ Certain weather
▫ Material of expressions
composition ▫ Ongoing actions
▫ Time, date, season (progressive tenses)
▫ Where/when an event ▫ Results of actions (past
takes place participles)

8. Verbos Como Gustar
• Though gustar is translated as to like in English, its literal meaning is to
please.
• Gustar is preceded by an indirect object pronoun.
• Because the thing or person that pleases is the subject, gustar agrees in
person and number with it.
• When gustar is followed by one or more verbs in the infinitive, the singular
form of gustar is always used.
• Gustar is often used in the conditional (me gustaria) to soften a request.
• Many verbs follow the same pattern as gustar:
▫ Aburrir, apetecer, caer bien/mal, disgustar, doler, encantar, faltar, fascinar, hacer
falta, importar, interesar, molestar, preocupar, quedar, sorprender
• The construction a+prepositional pronoun or a+noun can be used to
emphasized who is pleased, bothered, etc.
• Faltar expresses what someone or something lacks and quedar expresses
what someone or something has left. Quedar is also used to talk about how
clothing fits or looks on someone.
• Ejemplos

9. El Preterito
A definite time in the past with a beginning and/or
ending
• Regular -ar Verbs: • Regular –er/-ir Verbs
-é -amos -í -imos
-aste -asteis -iste -isteis
-ó -aron -ió -ieron

10. -Car, -Gar, -Zar
• The first group of irregular preterite verbs.
• It only changes in the first person tense.
• This group pertains to verbs ending in –car, -
gar, or –zar. Examples:
Verbs ending Infinitive: Conjugation:
in -Car • -qué Tocar Toqué
Verbs ending
in –Gar • -gué Jugar Jugué
Verbs ending
in –Zar • -cé Comenzar Comencé

11. Spock Verbs
• Ir, ser, dar, ver, y hacer.
• Another grouping of irregular preterite verbs.
Ir/ser
Dar/ver
Hacer

12. Tablas para Verbos de Spock
Ir/Ser Dar/Ver Hacer
Fui Fuimos (d/v)i (d/v) imos Hice Hicimos
Fuiste Fuisteis (d/v)iste (d/v)isteis Hiciste Hicisteis
Fue Fueron (d/v)io (d/v)ieron Hizo Hicieron

13. Cucaracha Verbs
• A third grouping of irregular preterite verbs.
• A way to remember their conjugations is to sing
them to the tune of ―La Cucaracha.‖
• For the verbs ―conducir,‖ ―producir,‖ and
―traducir,‖ drop the ―i‖ in –ieron in the third
person plural tense.

14. Tabla para Verbos de Cucaracha
Andar Anduv- -e -imos
Estar Estuv-
-iste -isteis
Poder Pud-
Poner Pus- -o -ieron
Querer Quis-
Saber Sup-
Tener Tuv-
Venir Vin-
Conducir Conduj-
Producir Produj-
Traducir Traduj-
Decir Dij-
Traer Traj-

15. Snakes and Snakeys
• The last groupings of irregular preterite verbs.
• In the ―snakes‖ group, there is a stem change in
the third person.
• In the ―snakeys‖ group, the ―i‖ changes to a ―y‖
in the third person. These verbs usually have
double vowels in infinitive form.

16. Tablas de Snakes y Snakeys
Snakes:
Dormir Pedir
Dormí Dormimos Pedí Pedimos
Dormiste Dormisteis Pediste Pedisteis
Durmió Durmieron Pidió Pidieron
Snakeys:
Leer Leí Leímos
Leíste Leísteis
Leyó Leyeron

17. Imperfect Tense
• Used to describe past activities in a different
way, it is an IMPERFECTED ACTION in the
past. There is no definite beginning or ending.
• It is like a movie; preterite tense is like a photo.
-AR Verbs -ER/IR Verbs
-aba -abamos -ía -íamos
-abas -abais -ías -íais
-aba -aban -ía -ían

18. Imperfect Tense Irregulars
• There are only 3 irregulars, and never any stem
changes
Iba Íbamos Era Éramos
Ibas Ibais Ir Eras Erais
Iba Iban Era Eran
Ser
Veía Veíamos
Ver Veías Veías
Veía Veían

19. Imperfect Trigger Words
• Todos los dias • Imperfect tense is used for:
1. Habitual/repeated actions
• Mientras 2. Events/actions that were in
• Los lunes, martes progress
(etc.) 3. Physical characteristics
4. Mental/emotional states
• Siempre 5. Time-telling
• Muchas veces 6. Age
• Cada
dia/mes/noche/año
• ***These will distinguish
use of preterite from use
of imperfect.***

20. Subjunctive in Noun Clauses
• Subjunctive mood: attitudes, uncertain,
hypothetical
• Main clause + connector +subordinate clause
• -ar: e, es, e, emos, en
• -er/-ir: a, as, a, amos, an
• Irregulars: dar (de), estar (este), ir (vaya), saber
(sepa), haber (haya), ser (sea)
• WEDDING: Wishing/wanting, emotions, doubt,
disbelief, impersonal expressiosn, negation,
God/grief

21. Impersonal Expressions
• Es bueno que… [Subjunctive Clause]
• Es mejor que… [Subjunctive Clause]
• Es malo que… [Subjunctive Clause]
• Es importante que… [Subjunctive Clause]
• Es necesario que… [Subjunctive Clause]
• Es urgente que… [Subjunctive Clause]
• Y mucho mas!

22. Verbs of Will and Influence
• Aconsejar- to advise
• Importar=- to be important, to matter
• Ionsistir (en)- to insist (on)
• Mandar- to order
• Prohibir- to prohibit
• Recomendar (e->ie)- to recommend
• Rogar (oue)- to beg, to plead
• Sugerir (eie) to suggest
• Any of these+que+subjunctive

23. Common Verbs and Expressions of
Emotion
• Alegrarse (de)- to be happy
• Esperar- to hope, to wish
• Senir (eie)- to be sorry, to regret
• Sorprender- to surprise
• Temer- to be afraid, to fear
• Es triste- it’s sad
• Ojala (que)- I hope (that), I wish (that)
• Any of these+subjunctive

24. Expressions of Doubt, Disbelief, and
Denial
• Dudar- to doubt
• Negar (eie)- to deny
• Es imposible- it’s impossible
• Es improbable- it’s improbable
• No es cierto- It’s not true, it’s not certain
• No es seguro- It’s not certain
• No es verdad- it’s not true

25. Subjunctive in Adjective Clauses
• An adjective clause is a group of words containing a verb
that tells something about a noun.
• The subjunctive is used in an adjective clause when the
antecedent is someone or something whose existence in
unknown, hypothetical, or uncertain from the point of
view of the speaker.
• EJ: Necesito un amigo que me comprenda.
• There is NO personal ―a‖ because it’s not a definite
person
• If the antecedent is known to exist, then use the
indicative mood instead
• When the antecedent is not mentioned, introduce
adjective clauses by using ―lo que‖

26. Mandatos- Usted Commands
• Use an usted command to tell someone what to do
using the formal tense.
• Put the verb in ―yo‖ form and change ―o‖ ending to
the opposite vowel (are; er/ira)
• Do this for both affirmative and negative
commands.
• Add an ―n‖ at the end for a plural command.
• IRREGULARES: TVDISHES– they are irregular in
ALL commands
▫ T=Tener; V=Venir; D=Dar/Decir; I=Ir; S=Ser;
H=Hacer/haber; E=Estar; S=Saber

27. Mandatos- Tú Commands
• Use a tú command to tell someone what to do in
the familiar tense.
• For the AFFIRMATIVE: Conjugate to ―tú‖ form
and simply drop the ―s‖!
• For the NEGATIVE: Put it in ―yo‖ form and
change the ―o‖ ending to the opposite vowel (like
in a formal command), then add an ―s‖

28. Mandatos- Nosotros Commands
• Use a nosotros command to tell a group of
people you are in to do something with you.
• Conjugate into ―yo‖ form and change the ―o‖
ending to these opposite vowel endings:
aremos; er/iramos
• This is for both affirmative and negative. (Just
add a ―no‖ in front for negative.)
• MONOS Verbs: Affirmative Nosotros
Commands with a Reflexive Verb
▫ Drop the extra ―s‖! (EJ: VámosnosVámanos)

29. Object Pronouns
• Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns.
• Direct object pronouns directly receive the
action of the verb. “what”
• Indirect object pronouns identify to whom or for
whom an action is done.
Direct Objects Indirect Objects
Me Nos Me Nos
Te Os Te Os
Lo/La Los/Las Le Les

30. Position of Object Pronouns
• Direct and indirect object pronouns (los pronombres
de complemento directo e indirecto) precede the
conjugated verb.
• Ej: IO- Carla siempre me da boletos para el cine. (Carla
always gives me movie tickets.)
• Ej: DO- Ella los consigue gratis. (She gets them for
free.)
• Object pronouns may attach to an infinitive, gerund, or
affirmative command. Or they may go before the
conjugated verb as usual.
• EJ: Voy a hacerlo enseguida./Lo voy a hacer enseguida.
• Lo is also used to refer to an abstract thing or idea that
has no gender. ―It‖

31. Double Object Pronouns
• The indirect object pronoun precedes the direct object
pronoun when they are used together in a sentence.
• EJ: Me los mandaron por correo.
• Le and les change to se when they are used with lo, la,
los, or las.
• EJ: Se las damos.
• The ―se‖ has nothing to do with reflexives!
• When object pronouns are attached to infinitives,
gerunds, or commands, a written accent is often required
to maintain proper words stress.
• Put accent over third-to-last or fourth-to-last syllable,
depending on how many pronouns were attached.k

32. Prepositional Pronouns
Prepositional Pronouns
Mí Me, myself
Ti You, yourself
Ud. You, Yourself
Él Him, it
Ella Her, it
Sí Himself, herself, itself
Nosotros/as Us, ourselves
Vosotros/as You, Yourselves
Uds. You, yourselves
Ellos Them
Ellas Them
Sí Themselves

33. Prepositional Pronouns
• Prepositional pronouns function as the objects of prepositions.
• Except for mí, tí, and sí, they are identical to their corresponding
subject pronouns.
• EJ: Lo compramos para ti.
• A + [prepositional pronoun] is often used for clarity or emphasis.
• EJ: A mí me fascina.
• The pronoun sí is the preopositional prnoun used to refer back to
the same third-person subject. In this case, the adjective
mismo/a(s) is usually added for clarifictation.
• EJ: Juan se lo regaló a sí mismo.
• When mí, ti, and sí are used with con, they become conmigo,
contigo, and consigo.
• These prepositions are used with tú and yo instead of mí and ti:
entre, excepto, incluso, menos, salvo, según.
• EJ: Todos están de acuerdo menos tú y yo.

34. Possessive Adjectives
• Tells who is in possession of something– whose
object the object is. (EJ: My book.)
• Possessive adjectives must agree with the noun
in gender and number. (Gender only applies to
nosotros and vosotros forms)
Mi (s) Nuestro (a, s, as)
Tu (s) Vuestro (a, s, as)
Su (s) Sus

35. Possessive Pronouns
• Tells who is in possession of an object, but uses a
pronoun to replace the noun. (EJ: Mine is blue.)
• They also must agree in gender an number to the noun
that they are replacing.
• Possessive pronouns usually are used with the
corresponding definite article.
El/La mío (a) El/La nuestro (a)
Los/Las míos (as) Los/Las nuestros (as)
El/La tuyo (a) El/La vuestro (a)
Los/Las tuyos (as) Los/Las vuestros (as)
El/La suyo (a) El/La suyo (a)
Los/Las suyos (as) Los/Las suyos (as)

36. Demonstrative Adjectives
• To be more specific as to which an object is–
―this,‖ ―that,‖ or ―that one over there.‖
Este/This must agree in gender and number.
• They Singular Plural
Masculin Este Estos
e
Aquel Singular Plural
Feminine Esta Estas
Masculine Aquel Aquellos
Ese/That Singular Plural
Feminine Aquella Aquellas
Masculin Ese Esos
e
Feminin Esa Esas
e

37. Demonstrative Pronouns
• To be more specific as to which an object is–
―this,‖ ―that,‖ or ―that one over there,‖ and
replacing the noun with the following pronouns
• Must agree in gender and number
Este/This Singular Plural
• They’re the same as the adjectives!
Masculin Este Estos
e Aquel Singular Plural
Feminine Esta Estas Masculine Aquel Aquellos
Ese/That Singular Plural Feminine Aquella Aquellas
Masculin Ese Esos
e
Feminin Esa Esas

38. Reflexive Verbs
• Reflects the action of the verb back to the subject
• If a verb acts on something other than the
subject, use non-reflexive verb form
• If verb acts on subject, use reflexive verb form
Me Nos
Te Os
Se Se

39. Por y Para
• ―For‖
• However, they have specific usages, so they are
easy to confuse, despite being translated to mean
the same
• In Spanish, you must use the correct one
because using the wrong one may give the
sentence a different meaning!

40. Uses of “POR”
• Indicates motion/general location
• Duration of an action
• Reason or motivation for action
• Object of a search
• Means by which something is done
• Exchange or substitution
• Unit of measure
• Mulitplication
• Idiomatic Expressions (EJ: por ejemplo, por eso, por
fin, etc.)

41. Uses of “PARA”
• Destination
• Deadline or specific time in future
• Purpose/Goal + Infinitive
• Purpose + Noun
• Recipient of something
• Comparison with others or an Opinion
• In the employment of

42. “To Become”
• In Spanish, there is no specific infinitive that
means ―to become‖
• Instead, a variety of other infinitives used in
certain ways and phrases are used to convey the
same meaning as ―to become‖
• The verb used depends on the nature of the
change that occurs (e.g. deliberate, involuntary)

43. Phrases for “To Become”
• Llegar a ser: ―to eventually become,‖ usually change over a
long period of time, usually with effort.
▫ EJ: Antonio became old= Antonio llegó a ser anciano.
• Ponerse: Refers to a change in mood or emotion, especially a
temporary or sudden change. It is also used to refer to
changes in physical appearance and many other traits.
Doesn’t have to apply to just people.
▫ EJ: I became sick= Me puse enferma.
• Hacerse: Deliberate or voluntary changes, such as a change in
identity, affiliation, religion, etc.
▫ EJ: Carmen became a Christian= Carmen se hace una cristiana.
• Volverse: A typically involuntary change, generally applying to
people.
▫ Jorge became/went crazy: Jorge se volvió loco.