This document provides a table of contents and overview of key grammar concepts in Spanish, including: the preterite and imperfect tenses; uses of por and para; possessive adjectives and pronouns; commands using usted/ustedes; present subjunctives; subjunctive with verbs of will, influence, emotion, doubt, disbelief, and denial; and subjunctive with conjunctions. It includes charts of verb conjugations and lists of special verbs for each grammar point.

1. Grammar
Book
Carmen Shockey

2. Table of Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Preterite
Imperfect
Por/Para
Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns
Usted/Ustedes command
Present Subjuntives
Subjunctive with Verbs of Will and Influence
Subjunctive with Verbs of Emotion
Subjunctive with Verbs of Doubt, Disbelief, and
Denial
Subjunctive with Conjunctions

3. Preterite Verbs
-iste
-é
-ió
-amos
-imos
-aron
-ieron
Trigger Words
Comenzar
-Toque
-Jugue
-Comencé
Jugaste
-Comenzaste
Jugó
-Comenzó
-Tocamos
-í
-aste
Jugar
-Toco
-er/-ir
-é
Tocar
-Tocaste
El Pretérito
-ar
-car, -gar, -zar
Jugamos
-Comenzamos
-Tocaron
Snake Verbs
Dormir (I slept)
dormí
Durmieron
Spock Verbs
ir y ser (I was)
fui
Fuimos
Fuiste
Fue
Irregular Form
Fueron
Estar
Estuve-
Poder
Pud-
Poner
Dormimos
dormiste
durmío
-Comenzaron
jugaron
Pus-
Quera
Quis-
Saber
Sup-
Tener
Tuv-
Venir
Vin-
Conducir
Conduj-
Producir
Produj-
Traducir
Traduj-

4. Imperfect

You can use the imperfect in the following:
-to speak about background events in the story
-to talk about something you do as a matter of habit
-to speak bout how old someone is
-to say what time it is
-ar
-er
-ir
Cantar
Tener
Salir
Cantaba
Tenia
Salia
Cantabas
Tenias
Salias
Cantaba
Tenia
Salia
Cantabamos Teniamos
Saliamos
cantabais
Teniais
Saliais
Cantaban
Tenian
Salian
ser
Ir
ver
Era
Iba
Veia
Eras
Ibas
Veias
Era
Iba
Veia
Eramos
Ibamos
Veiamos
Erais
Ibais
Veiais
Eran
Iban
Veian

5. Possessive Pronouns/Adjectives




All possessive adjectives agree in gender and
number with the nouns they describe.
Also, they have a long form which is more
expressive. You this use, for example, when
you are talking about a special friend.
Used to describe something of yours, of mine,
of his/hers, etc.
Definite article is omitted if long adjective
follows SER.
EX: Juan es un amigo mio.
Long FormSingular
Long Form
Plural
Long FormSingular
Long Form
Plural
Mio(a)
Nuestro(a)
Mios(a)
Nuestros(as)
Tuyo(a)
Vuestro(a)
Tuyos(a)
Vuestros(as)
Suyo(a)
Suyo(a)
Suyos(a)
Suyos(as)

6. Por and Para

7. Usted/Ustedes Commands
Put in the “yo” form
2.
Drop the “o” and change to opposite vowel (ar→e,
er/ir →a)
3.
Affirmative or negative?
-Affirmative- attach the pronoun to affirmative
command
-negative-pronouns go in front of the negative verb
-negatives are formed the same as affirmative but
with “no” infront
-for affirmitive usted or ustedes command you
replace –ar verbs with e/en and –er/ir with a/an
EX: Limpiar→Limpio→Limpie
1.

8. Present Subjunctives
Characteristics
-2 clauses
-special verbs
- “que”
-two different subjects
EX:
Es necesario que lo
arregles y es importante
que sucudas los muebles
tambien.
Special Verbs
Es bueno que
Es malo que
Es necesito que
Es mejor que
Es importante que
Es urgente que

9. Subjunctive with Verbs of Will
and Influence
When using verbs of will
and influence, you still
need all the factors
 However, you use verbs
that will and influence
the subject
 A direct pronouns is
always used before the
verb of will and
influence.
EX: Te aconsejo que tu
hagas tu cama.

Verbs
Translation
Aconsejar
To advise
Importar
To be important
Insistir(en)
To insist on
Mandar
To order
Prohibir
To prohibit
Recomender (e:ie) To recommend
Rogar(o:ue)
To beg, plead
Sugerir(e:ie)
To suggest

10. Subjunctive with Verbs of
Emotion
When feelings of emotion, such
as hope or fear, are used in the
main cause of a sentence, the
subjunctive is used in the
subordinate clause.
EX: Nos alegramos de que te
gusten las flores
 The infinitive is used when there
is no change in subject from
the first verb to the second
EX: Temo llegar tarde.
 The verb ojalar is always
followed by subjunctive and
que is optional.
EX: Ojala te mueras.
Verbs

Alegrarse
Soprender
Ojalar
Sentir(e:ie)
Temer
Es triste

11. Subjunctive with Verbs of
Doubt, Disbelief, and denial
The subjunctive is used in a
sentence where there are two
subjects and the main clause
shows negation or uncertainty
EX: Dudo que tengas un telefono
celular.
 You use the indicative when
there is no doubt or
uncertainty
EX: Creo que tiene un razon.
 The word quizas and tal vez
are followed by the
subjunctive because they
suggest doubt.
EX: Quizas hagas sol manana.

Subjunctive
Indicative
Dudar
No dudar
Negar(e:ie)
No negar
Es imposible
Creer
Es improbable
Estar seguro
No es cierto
Es cierto

12. Subjunctive with Conjunctions
Subjunctive is used with conjunctions when a
sentence provides
a) a hypothetical situation
b)uncertainty about an action
c)Unfulfilled condition
 When there are usually gerunds, the verb is
replaced with a subjunctive
 When using conjunctions from the third column, only
use subjunctive if the main clause uses a future
action or command.
 Use the indicative if the main clause expresses a
habitual action or a past action

Always Subjunctive
A menos que
Antes de que
Con tal de que
En caso de que
Para que
Sin que
Both
Preposition>infinitive
Cuando
Antes de
Despues de que
para
En cuanto
sin
Hasta que
Tan pronto como